Through my eyes: Dani Wilson Naqvi shares her favourite travel destinations
I love the Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert for family trips as we enjoy the desert activities and get to explore RAK with unique experiences such as the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp and zipling across Jebel Hafeet. A definite favourite of my family is Atlantis The Royal, as the family can enjoy Aquaventure from morning to night, there's an endless choice of mouth-watering restaurants, and lots of water activities.
@ritzcarltonalwadidesert, @atlantistheroyal Bucket list family trip
A safari in Africa is a must for all families. The most incredible safari experience I have had was in Botswana in the Okavango Delta where we canoed in the Okavango and witnessed many truly wonderful sights. For first-timers, I would recommend Kenya. I work with many luxury lodges that are more private and located in private conservancies, so you get to escape the crowds and have a more up-close experience. A must-try meal
One of my best memories was at the 3 Michelin Star Mirazur in Menton on the border of France and Italy. We were staying in Monaco and drove to the restaurant, which took 30 minutes. All the ingredients served are grown on the side of the mountain around the restaurant, perfectly encapsulating the farm-to-table experience.
@restaurantmirazur Favourite hotel
Bisate Lodge (pictured above) in Rwanda is one of the most incredible hotels – so much so that it actually made me cry. The story behind it is very empowering as it was built by the local villagers, it's located in Volcanoes National Park, close to where you can trek with the gorillas. Aside from that, I love Nihi Sumba on Sumba Island in Indonesia, Soneva Jani or Soneva Fushi in the Maldives for the Robinson Crusoe experience, Gleneagles for a country retreat in Scotland, and Belmond Splendido in Portofino for a romantic couples' break.
@bisatelodge, @nihi, @soneva, @thegleneagleshotel, @belmondsplendidomare A destination everyone should visit
cape town whatson.ae, South Africa. There is something magical about this city. From the amazing hikes to the spectacular vineyard Estates, driving the Garden Route to Hermanus to whale watch, and visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach – the vibe in Cape Town is unmatched. Under-the-radar destination
Raja Ampat in Indonesia, known as The Last Paradise on Earth. We went as a family sailing around the islands for 10 days. From diving and snorkelling with manta rays, to hiking the untouched islands, it was raw and beautiful. The team set up beach days and dinner on private sandbanks, we kayaked around islands and relaxed on the most incredible boat, which had 15 staff to assist with every need. Easily one of my bucket list moments.
Images: Unsplash, Supplied
> Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
What's On
2 days ago
- What's On
Through my eyes: Dani Wilson Naqvi shares her favourite travel destinations
Each month, we ask a local UAE legend about their favourite places to eat, shop and explore around the emirates. But for this travel special, we're going global. So we've tapped Dani Wilson Naqvi ( @daniwilsonnaqvi ), luxury travel designer and founder of Unique Family Travels ( @uniquefamilytravel ) for her favourite spots worldwide. As a travel specialist who's ticked 55 countries off her bucket list, she's well equipped to share the best places on the planet for all vacation styles. Top staycation spot I love the Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert for family trips as we enjoy the desert activities and get to explore RAK with unique experiences such as the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp and zipling across Jebel Hafeet. A definite favourite of my family is Atlantis The Royal, as the family can enjoy Aquaventure from morning to night, there's an endless choice of mouth-watering restaurants, and lots of water activities. @ritzcarltonalwadidesert, @atlantistheroyal Bucket list family trip A safari in Africa is a must for all families. The most incredible safari experience I have had was in Botswana in the Okavango Delta where we canoed in the Okavango and witnessed many truly wonderful sights. For first-timers, I would recommend Kenya. I work with many luxury lodges that are more private and located in private conservancies, so you get to escape the crowds and have a more up-close experience. A must-try meal One of my best memories was at the 3 Michelin Star Mirazur in Menton on the border of France and Italy. We were staying in Monaco and drove to the restaurant, which took 30 minutes. All the ingredients served are grown on the side of the mountain around the restaurant, perfectly encapsulating the farm-to-table experience. @restaurantmirazur Favourite hotel Bisate Lodge (pictured above) in Rwanda is one of the most incredible hotels – so much so that it actually made me cry. The story behind it is very empowering as it was built by the local villagers, it's located in Volcanoes National Park, close to where you can trek with the gorillas. Aside from that, I love Nihi Sumba on Sumba Island in Indonesia, Soneva Jani or Soneva Fushi in the Maldives for the Robinson Crusoe experience, Gleneagles for a country retreat in Scotland, and Belmond Splendido in Portofino for a romantic couples' break. @bisatelodge, @nihi, @soneva, @thegleneagleshotel, @belmondsplendidomare A destination everyone should visit cape town South Africa. There is something magical about this city. From the amazing hikes to the spectacular vineyard Estates, driving the Garden Route to Hermanus to whale watch, and visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach – the vibe in Cape Town is unmatched. Under-the-radar destination Raja Ampat in Indonesia, known as The Last Paradise on Earth. We went as a family sailing around the islands for 10 days. From diving and snorkelling with manta rays, to hiking the untouched islands, it was raw and beautiful. The team set up beach days and dinner on private sandbanks, we kayaked around islands and relaxed on the most incredible boat, which had 15 staff to assist with every need. Easily one of my bucket list moments. Images: Unsplash, Supplied > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
What's On
3 days ago
- What's On
8 luxury safari stays around the world to check out in 2025
In the world of experiential stays, safaris are perhaps the first choice for the discerning traveller. They come in with built-in storytelling, and immerse you into nature's gifts in that sort of salt-of-the-earth way that no other landscape can. You see it all unfolding in real time – the wildlife, the vegetation, the roots, all breathing collectively. If this year, you're looking to explore the safari experience, this list of luxury safari stays will start you off. Happy spotting! Jack's Camp in Botswana Jack's Camp is located in the Makgadikgadi salt pans of Bostwana, a time caspule ironically tucked away in a land so vast and open and somehow still hidden. This 1940s camp is all about the safari life, and every feature so personal and individual, it's unlike anything you'll experience. Founded by Ralph Bousfield in the '90s in honor of his father, Jack, the camp drips a mix of colonial style and archaeological treasures with the bare-earth, exhilarating air of pure, unadulterated nature. Each of the nine canvas tents come with campaign desks and hand-carved beds and, on the outside, broad wood decks, swings, and plunge pools. You spend the day bouncing along on safari jeeps and quad bikes and horseback, exploring the great (truly) outdoors of the surroundings, interacting with the wildlife, and evenings at a communal 36-seater table with guests and guides to sample fine local cuisine. It's a desert dream. @jackscampbotswana The Ritz-Carlton, Masai Mara Safari Camp in Kenya Steeped deeply in the air of Masai Mara, this is The Ritz Carlton's first foray into luxury safari stays, and in the Sub-Saharn African region, set to open in August of this year. The treetop safari camp gives guests a real chance to fully immerse themselves in the surrounding nature, escaping to a different way of life and living in the savannah. The hotel features 20 luxurious tented suites (including a four-bedroom Presidential suite) and will be elevated amongst the trees on a secluded island surrounded by the famous Sand River near the Tanzanian border, and a breathtaking window into the majesty of the Great Migration. Each tent comes with a separate living area, private sunken lounge, infinity plunge pool, and indoor and outdoor showers. Guests will also get a chance to experience exclusively curated game drives as well as other bespoke cultural experiences. @ritzcarltonmasaimara Suján in India Sujan, a property of Relais & Châteaux, has a beautiful story of origin, dating back more than 40 years and centered around a unifying love for the big cat – the tiger – and it's home, Ranthambore. A long history of family entrepreneurship and a love affair with the great outdoors birthed the Sujan chain of hotels in 2000, and they've been showcasing the best of Indian safari life since. Sujan Sher Bagh was the first, and features 12 beautiful tents, designed to evoke the feeling of a life on safari. The Serai will take you into the heart of the Indian desert, on a 100-acre expanse of indigenous desert scrub. This is where you'll find peace, quiet, an expected oasis, and it's a true taste of desert life. There is also the Jawai, set in a spectacular, sprawling dramatic wilderness and fusing luxury with the great outdoors. @thesujanlife Our Habitas in Namibia Set within a private reserve just 45 minutes from Windhoek Airport, at Habitas Namibia you can get up close and personal with The Kalahari desert, one of the largest in Africa, sprawling into Botswana and South Africa with expansive sand dunes, salt pans, and diverse wildlife. The star? The black-maned Kalahiri lion. With 40 luxurious tented suites spread across the savannah, the lodge offers a sense of barefoot luxury in the bush. Think handwoven textiles, outdoor showers, and private decks that open onto vast views. Evenings bring storytelling around the fire and stargazing under Namibia's famously clear skies. The desert is also the spiritual and physical home of the San/Bushmen, who have lived here for approximately 20,000 years and can be visited during specially-curated excursions arranged by locals. @habitasnamibia Wild Coast Tented Lodge in Sri Lanka Yala National Park, known for it's dense leopard population, sits on the Southern coast of Sri Lanka, where the land meets the Indian Ocean. Made up of 28 cocoon-like tents with four-poster beds, freestanding copper bathtubs, luxurious amenities, air conditioning, and private pools, this is luxury personified. Game drives into Yala, led by the lodge's expert rangers twice daily, reveal the park's teeming wildlife: elephants, spotted deer, mongoose, water buffalo, rare birds, and much more. Drinking and dining unfold in the breezy open-air restaurant, where an eclectic selection of Sri Lankan and international dishes is served. Swimming and lounging take place at the stunning infinity pool, which flows down the middle of the bar and restaurant, while sun loungers spill down the sand dunes overlooking the sea. @wildcoastlodge Londolozi Private Game Reserve in South Africa Londolozi Private Game Reserve is located in the heart of South Africa's Sabi Sand. Family-run for five generations, the property began as a hunting camp in 1926 and has transformed into one of Africa's most pioneering luxury safari experiences, guided not just by conservation, but by connection and consciousness. Spanning 35,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness, Londolozi is part of the Greater Kruger National Park ecosystem, where leopards roam free, lions prowl at dusk, and elephants wander through ancient riverbeds. Much attention is put to detail, from the locally inspired cuisine to the hand-carved furnishings. Days begin with dawn game drives led by expert rangers and Shangaan trackers, followed by bush walks, meditative moments in the Healing House, and evenings filled with fireside stories under star-strewn skies. @londolozi Tierra Attacama in Chile A desert safari, for a change, and one set in the otherwordly magic of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. Perched on the edge of the small town of San Pedro de Atacama, this surreal retreat is designed to immerse guests in the dramatic contrasts of the high-altitude plateau: salt flats that shimmer under the sun, jagged volcanoes on the horizon, and lunar landscapes carved by wind and time. Built on the site of a former cattle corral, the lodge was envisioned with sustainability and authenticity at its core. Local materials, traditional adobe techniques, and indigenous details come together in each of the 32 rooms and suites, all offering sweeping views of the Licancabur Volcano and desert beyond. Guests can choose from guided hikes through rainbow-hued valleys, sunrise visits to geysers bubbling with geothermal energy, horseback rides across salt plains, or soaks in natural thermal springs. @baillielodges Longitude 131° in Australia Longitude 131° is Australia's most iconic outback retreat, set at the edge of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This lodge offers front-row views of the sacred red monolith, Uluru, rising from the desert floor. Here, you get a deep immersion into the cultural and natural heartbeat of the Red Centre, rooted in Indigenous heritage, storytelling, and a powerful sense of place. Sixteen luxury tents, each featuring floor-to-ceiling glass, private decks with daybeds and fireplaces, and uninterrupted views of Uluru that shift with the light. Inside, curated artworks and artefacts honour the Anangu people, the land's Traditional Owners. For experiences, think guided walks through Walpa Gorge and private viewings of Bruce Munro's Field of Light. Meals are a celebration of native ingredients, paired with fine Australian wines and served under starlit skies at the Dune Top or around a flickering campfire. @longitude131 Images: Socials
Dubai Eye
5 days ago
- Dubai Eye
The true story behind Michelin guide
Dane and Sana look at the history and rules around the renowned Michelin guide and their dedicated staff that travel the world finding the best of the best. And how is your time keeping? Is arriving early to events ok or rude, all debated on the debrief.
