{"id":8244,"date":"2019-01-14T14:22:02","date_gmt":"2019-01-14T14:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/?p=8244"},"modified":"2025-04-30T12:44:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T12:44:19","slug":"the-best-of-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/the-best-of-2018","title":{"rendered":"The Best of 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every December, we start reminiscing about what\u2019s happened at Timbuktu over the past 12 months and the wonderful trips our guests have designed. More often than not, we think that it couldn\u2019t possibly have been a more jam-packed and wildly-wonderful year than the one before \u2013 and every year, we\u2019re proved wrong! In 2018, we sent more people than ever before on some amazing trips across the continent (and even had a few firsts!). So, without further ado, here\u2019s what our travellers got up to in 2018\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/a>

Gaze upon the majestic gnus in Tanzania<\/p><\/div>\n

Most popular country<\/h2>\n

Tanzania<\/em><\/p>\n

Voted for (or should we say, booked) by you, our trusty travellers, Tanzania<\/a> was our most popular country for trips in 2018. No surprise really, for the East African favourite is home to some of the most incredible scenery, wildlife and experiences on the continent. How about the Great Migration, in which millions of wildebeest thunder across the Serengeti<\/a> in search of fresh grass? Or the stunning coastline, home to palm tree-bedazzled beach destinations like Zanzibar<\/a> and Mafia Island<\/a>? Or the truly off-the-beaten-track boltholes like Mahale Mountains<\/a> or Katavi National Park<\/a>, where you really do feel like the only people on the planet, surrounded by the wildlife of storybooks\u2026<\/p>\n

Join the fun and start planning your 2019 trip to Tanzania right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/a>

Immerse yourself in a remote getaway at Hoanib Valley Camp<\/p><\/div>\n

Best for brand-new destinations<\/h2>\n

Minh Phuong & Fonthip\u2019s trip to the Skeleton Coast, Namibia<\/em><\/p>\n

Namibia<\/a> was one of the hottest destinations to visit in 2018, thanks in part to a host of ritzy, glitzy new lodges that sprang up all over our favourite, desert-baked country. Two of those lodges were Hoanib Valley Camp<\/a>, a serene oasis in the heart of the Hoanib in remote northern Namibia, and Shipwreck Lodge<\/a>, a funky, fantastical \u2018shipwreck-style\u2019 retreat in one of the country\u2019s most fascinating and desolate areas, the Skeleton Coast<\/a>. Our team headed up in June to check out the new arrivals and guests, Minh Phuog and Fonthip were hot on their heels, taking a trip<\/a>\u00a0 in July this year for the desert adventure of a lifetime – \u00a0and you\u2019ll be pleased to hear that all were full of praise!<\/p>\n

Take a closer look at Hoanib Valley Camp and Shipwreck Lodge, or, if you\u2019d like to be first on the scene for 2019\u2019s hottest lodge openings, check out our blog article<\/a> with everything you need to know.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Skeleton\"Skeleton<\/figure>
Skeleton Coast<\/span>
Design your own trip<\/div>\n Choose a destination, pick your properties and we'll do the rest<\/span>\n
Design a trip<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n
\"Best<\/a>

Indulge yourself in a bush hideaway at Sindabezi<\/p><\/div>\n

Favourite trip at Timbuktu HQ<\/h2>\n

Diane\u2019s adventure in Zambia and Malawi<\/em><\/p>\n

We always say we don\u2019t have favourites, but when it comes to Zambia<\/a>\u2026 well, she\u2019s hard to beat. You can imagine our delight, therefore, when Diane and her husband Paul designed their very own trip<\/a> to Victoria Falls<\/a> and the South Luangwa National Park<\/a> before hopping across to the pristine shores of Lake Malawi<\/a>. To make things even better, the lodges they chose were some of our very favourite: beautiful Sindabezi<\/a>, a private island hideaway in the middle of the Zambezi River, Luwi<\/a>, Nsolo<\/a> and Kakuli<\/a> bush camps that make up the famous Luwi Walking Trail in the heart of the Luangwa, and in Malawi, Kaya Mawa<\/a>. We won\u2019t say too much about Kaya, but if we had it our way, we\u2019d make it mandatory for every Africa aficionado to visit at least once (or twice!) in a lifetime\u2026<\/p>\n

Follow Diane\u2019s footsteps to Zambia and customise your own trip to the magical country using our route, rugged Zambia with a Lake Malawi beach retreat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/a>

Spend a tranquil night at the unique Ulusaba Safari Lodge<\/p><\/div>\n

Most-booked lodge<\/h2>\n

Ulusaba Safari Lodge, Kruger, South Africa<\/em><\/p>\n

Tanzania<\/a> may have been the most popular country of 2018, but our most-booked lodge was Ulusaba Safari Lodge<\/a> located in the private Sabi Sand reserve in South Africa\u2019s Kruger<\/a> region. And why do you love it so much? Well, it might have something to do with the phenomenal game drives and walks that go straight through the heart of Big Five territory; or maybe it\u2019s the bush observatory, where you can gaze at the gazillion-star African sky in all its glory; or perhaps even the treehouse-style rooms, accessed by rope bridges for the ultimate in Robinson Crusoe-esque luxury? Whatever it is, Ulusaba has everything you need to experience Africa at its very best \u2013 and we highly doubt that its popularity will diminish in 2019!<\/p>\n

Why not have a go at adding Ulusaba to one of our South Africa routes<\/a> for a safari to remember in 2019?<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/a>

Relax on the pristine island of Lamu<\/p><\/div>\n

The most special of celebratory trips<\/h2>\n

Jennifer goes to Kenya<\/em><\/p>\n

When Jennifer promised her son Miles that he could go anywhere in the world for his 16th birthday, little did she know they would be jetting off to Kenya<\/a>. With a little help and guidance from Timbuktu Kenya specialist Kat, the first stop on the trip<\/a> was Matthew\u2019s Range<\/a>. A real hidden gem in northern Kenya, the area is remote, wild and breathtaking, and Jennifer and Miles spent their days exploring alongside Samburu guide and game driving through the mountains. Then, it was off to Laikipia<\/a> for some serious wildlife-watching and bucket list ticks, before they flew to Lamu<\/a> for some R&R with a difference. A classic trip but with a bit of a twist \u2013 we like it!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got a special occasion coming up (any occasion counts in our book!) why not design a unique trip to Kenya to celebrate? Have a look at our most popular routes<\/a> and customise them any way you like.<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/a>

Explore the rich history of magical Gheralta<\/p><\/div>\n

Most adventurous trip<\/h2>\n

Natale\u2019s exploration of Ethiopia<\/em><\/p>\n

We’re always on the lookout for more wild and beautiful places to add to the Timbuktu website, and Ethiopia<\/a> became our newest destination in May of this year. Our favourite Ethiopia trip of the year followed not long after in October, when Natale and his girlfriend Carina set off on an intrepid expedition. They truly got to grips with the country\u2019s breath-taking history in Axum<\/a> before exploring the iconic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela<\/a>, but they also managed to squeeze in a spectacular mobile safari in the Danakil Depression<\/a> and sleep on the rim of Erta Ale, Ethiopia\u2019s most active volcano. Not only did they have the trip<\/a> of a lifetime, but the couple came back engaged too \u2013 what a trip!<\/p>\n

Check out all Ethiopia has to offer and our suggested routes<\/a> \u2013 then start planning the trip of a lifetime for 2019\u2026<\/p>\n

\n
\"Wizard\"Wizard<\/figure>
Not sure where to go?<\/div>\n Answer a few simple questions to get instant trip recommendations<\/span>\n
Start the wizard<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What did we, and our travellers, get up to in 2018?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":8245,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173,119],"tags":[4321,2139,42,3214,4215,2218,3523,4221,2319,2271,3305,3036,3298,4204,4001,3246,72,139,1502,1630,4210,3311,3380,129,124,1250,4124,1431,4109,92,3276,3387,3275,93,3064,96,4322,1529,107,110],"class_list":["post-8244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-safari","category-timbuktu","tag-4321","tag-adventure","tag-african-safari","tag-african-wildlife","tag-axum","tag-best-of","tag-boat-trips","tag-danakil-depression","tag-december","tag-desert","tag-ethiopia","tag-hoanib-valley-camp","tag-july","tag-kakuli-bush-camp","tag-katavi-national-park","tag-kaya-mawa","tag-kenya","tag-kruger","tag-laikipia","tag-lake-malawi","tag-lalibela","tag-lamu","tag-luwi-bush-camp","tag-mafia-island","tag-mahale-mountains","tag-malawi","tag-matthews-range","tag-namibia","tag-nsolo-bush-camp","tag-serengeti","tag-shipwreck-lodge","tag-sindabezi","tag-skeleton-coast","tag-south-africa","tag-south-luangwa-national-park","tag-tanzania","tag-ulusaba-safari-lodge","tag-victoria-falls","tag-zambia","tag-zanzibar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Best of 2018 - 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