Keep Travelling – Your African Story

A Luxury Safari won at Dulini Leadwood: Johan’s Sabi Sands Story

Episode Number: 76 Property / Guest Name: Dulini Leadwood – Sabi Sands, South Africa Johan Adriaanse – Keep Travelling Prize Giveaway Winner Episode Summary: Every now and then, a travel story feels different. Not because it is louder or more dramatic, but because it comes from someone who has actually lived the experience. In this episode of Keep Travelling: Your African Story, Rael Zieve sits down with Johan Adriaanse, the recent winner of the Keep Travelling prize giveaway to Dulini Leadwood. Together with his wife, Nicola, Johan travelled to the Sabi Sands for a stay that became far more than just a luxury safari escape. It was a birthday break, a wildlife experience, a chance to slow down, and a reminder of why Africa stays with people long after they return home. From the moment they entered the reserve, the experience began. A rhino sighting just minutes after arrival set the tone, followed by warm hospitality, beautiful river-facing accommodation, exceptional food, and game drives filled with leopard, lion, elephant, rhino, and those smaller, quieter safari moments that often become the most memorable. In this episode, you’ll discover: • What it felt like to win and enjoy a Keep Travelling prize giveaway  • How easy the journey to Dulini Leadwood was from Tzaneen  • Why Johan and Nicola found the lodge setting, room, food, and staff so impressive  • The special leopard and lion sightings that made the safari unforgettable  • Why Sabi Sands felt quiet, well-managed, and deeply personal  • How guides, trackers, and lodge teams help protect the true spirit of African tourism Guest Information: Johan Adriaanse joins the podcast as a recent Keep Travelling prize giveaway winner. After travelling with his wife, Nicola, to Dulini Leadwood in the Sabi Sands, Johan shares an honest guest perspective on the lodge, the wildlife, the food, the service, and the feeling of being properly looked after in one of South Africa’s most iconic safari regions. He also gives special mention to Nathan, their guide, whose respect for nature and knowledge of the area stood out during their stay. Key Takeaways: • The Keep Travelling prize giveaway gave Johan and Nicola the chance to experience Dulini Leadwood for themselves, not just dream about it. • Dulini Leadwood delivered a powerful mix of luxury, warm service, excellent food, and quiet, unhurried safari moments. • The wildlife experience was exceptional, with rhino on arrival, memorable leopard encounters, lions with cubs, elephants, antelope, birds, and even a chameleon sighting. Contact Information: Should you want to contact me directly, please email: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog Post: https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/dulini-prize-winner/ [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/dulini-prize-winner/]

Tripoli Libya Travel Guide: A Refreshing Look At Africa’s Most Misunderstood City

Episode Number: 75 Guest Name: Diana Yu, Publisher of Just Wanderlust https://justwanderlustblog.com/ Episode Summary: Some destinations arrive with a story already written for them. Libya is one of those places. For many travellers, the country is still linked to old headlines, uncertainty, and questions about whether it belongs on a serious travel wish list. But in this episode of Keep Travelling: Your African Story, host Rael Zieve speaks with travel blogger and publisher Diana Yu about a very different side of Libya. Her journey through Tripoli reveals a city shaped by Mediterranean light, ancient history, generous people, fresh seafood, and a travel experience that feels far more personal than polished. This is not the usual African travel story. There are no luxury safari lodges or Big Five game drives here. Instead, there is the old medina, the Red Castle, Roman ruins, palm-lined streets, local markets, and the quiet surprise of discovering a city that is not performing for tourists. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why Tripoli, Libya surprised Diana Yu as a travel destination What guided tourism and safety support looks like for visitors in Libya How local culture shapes the experience, especially for female travellers Why Tripoli’s medina feels raw, real, and untouched by mass tourism The Roman history of Leptis Magna and Sabratha Why Libyan seafood, especially the shrimp, left such a lasting memory Guest Information: Diana Yu is the publisher of the Just Wanderlust blog and a widely travelled storyteller who has visited more than 100 countries. In this conversation, she brings a calm, honest, and curious view of Tripoli, Libya, sharing what she experienced first-hand rather than what many travellers may assume from the outside. Her story opens up a lesser-known corner of North Africa through culture, food, history, and human connection. Key Takeaways: Tripoli offers a very different kind of African travel experience, built around history, culture, food, and everyday local life rather than traditional safari travel. Diana explains that travel in Libya is structured through guides, tourist support, and controlled tourism, which helped shape her experience on the ground. The episode challenges common perceptions of Libya by highlighting hospitality, Mediterranean beauty, Roman ruins, and a city that still feels refreshingly authentic. Contact Information: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog: https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/tripoli-libya/ [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/tripoli-libya/]

5* Polana Serena Hotel - Mozambique

Episode Number: 74 Property / Guest Name: Polana Serena Hotel – Maputo, Mozambique Osvaldo Inguane – Sales Manager Instagram: @SerenaPolana Instagram: @Ozzy_Ingwe Episode Summary: In this episode of Keep Travelling: Your African Story, Rael Zieve speaks with Osvaldo Inguane, Sales Manager at Polana Serena Hotel [https://www.serenahotels.com/polana/] in Maputo, Mozambique. Set in one of the capital city’s most established diplomatic and business areas, Polana Serena offers guests a refined city stay with sea views, warm Mozambican hospitality, and easy access from Maputo International Airport.  This is a conversation about more than just a hotel. It opens up the feeling of Maputo itself. The food, the people, the history, the city tours, the coastline, and the warmth that so often gets missed when Africa is spoken about from the outside. In this episode, you’ll discover: *  Where Polana Serena Hotel is located and why its position in Maputo works so well for international travellers  *  The different room options, from studio rooms and sea-view deluxe rooms to executive suites, villas, and the presidential suite  *  Why the hotel’s spa, indoor heated pool, outdoor pool, gym, and sea views make it stand out in Maputo  *  What guests can expect from Mozambican cuisine, especially seafood, grilled chicken, and peri-peri tiger prawns  *  How visitors can explore Maputo through city tours, museums, live music, local restaurants, island trips, and nearby safari options  *  Why Osvaldo believes Mozambique and Africa have a powerful future in tourism when quality service and smoother logistics come together  Guest Information: Osvaldo Inguane is the Sales Manager at Polana Serena Hotel in Maputo, Mozambique. In this episode, he shares the story of the hotel, the character of Maputo, and the welcoming spirit of Mozambican people. He also gives practical guidance for first-time visitors, from airport transfers and city safety to beaches, island excursions, food, culture, and nearby wildlife experiences. Key Takeaways: *  Polana Serena Hotel offers a polished city base in Maputo, just around 10 minutes from Maputo International Airport, with sea views, strong service, and easy guest support.  *  Maputo is full of culture, history, local food, music, island access, and warm people who want visitors to feel welcome and safe.  *  Keep Travelling features weekly prize giveaways from African lodges, camps, and travel partners, with details available through the podcast page.  Contact Information: Should you want to contact me directly, please email: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog: https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/luxury-hotel-in-maputo-polana-serena-hotel-mozambique/ [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/luxury-hotel-in-maputo-polana-serena-hotel-mozambique/]

Hiking in the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Episode Number: 73 Property / Guest Name: Mambo Viewpoint – Usambara Mountains, Tanzania Herman Erdtiek – Co-Owner Episode Summary: Some places are built for speed. Others are built for stillness. High above the plains of northeastern Tanzania, Mambo Viewpoint offers something many travellers never realise they are missing — silence, space, culture and perspective. Set on the edge of the spectacular Usambara Mountains, this is a stay where sunrise views stretch towards Mount Kilimanjaro, rainforest trails begin at your doorstep, and village life remains warm, welcoming and deeply connected to the land. In this episode, host Rael Zieve speaks with Herman Erdtiek about how Mambo Viewpoint has grown tourism in the region while staying rooted in community, authenticity and nature.  In this episode, you’ll discover: • Where Mambo Viewpoint sits between Tanzania’s northern safari circuit and the coast  • Why the Usambara Mountains offer one of East Africa’s most overlooked escapes  • Accommodation options from camping to honeymoon cottages and family houses  • Rare wildlife including chameleons, falcons, monkeys and nearby safari access  • Community tourism that supports local guides, farmers and families  • Why this region shows travellers the “real Tanzania” beyond classic routes  Guest Information: Herman Erdtiek is the co-owner of Mambo Viewpoint, a mountain retreat in Tanzania focused on nature, culture and meaningful tourism development. Together with the local community, the property has helped create jobs, support guiding, farming and transport opportunities, while introducing travellers to a lesser-known side of Tanzania.  Key Takeaways: • Tanzania has far more to offer than the classic safari-and-beach route  • Mambo Viewpoint blends mountain scenery, village culture and rainforest adventure  • Prize Giveaway: Two-night stay for two people in a Standard Cottage at Mambo Viewpoint  Contact Information: Should you want to contact me directly, please email: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog Post: https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/mambo-viewpoint-tanzania-discover-the-usambara-mountains/ [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/mambo-viewpoint-tanzania-discover-the-usambara-mountains/]

Botswana Safari Tips, Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls

Episode Number: 72   Property / Guest Name: Cary Costello – Director of Sales, Off the Beaten Path Episode Summary: Botswana has a way of changing how people think about safari. In this episode of Keep Travelling: Your African Story, Rael Zieve sits down with Cary Costello from Off the Beaten Path to unpack a first-hand journey through one of Africa’s most rewarding safari destinations.   In this episode, you’ll discover: *  Why Botswana stood out as a lower-impact, higher-touch safari destination for Off the Beaten Path.  *  How starting with a walking safari near Maun created an immediate connection to the landscape.  *  What made the mix of camps, landscapes and activities so important to the overall safari experience.  *  Why the Okavango Delta delivered some of the trip’s strongest big cat and birding moments.  *  How Cary came to see safari luxury as something shaped more by location, guiding and hospitality than by traditional hotel standards.  *  Why Victoria Falls worked so well as a natural extension to the Botswana itinerary.  Guest Information: Cary Costello is the Director of Sales at Off the Beaten Path, a US-based travel company that operates around the world and is growing its safari offering in Africa. In this conversation, he shares what surprised him most about Botswana, from walking safaris and birdlife to camp pacing, landscape diversity and the warmth of the people he met along the way. Key Takeaways: *  A great Botswana safari is not only about game drives — walking safaris, mokoro outings and time on the water can add a completely different layer to the experience.  *  Staying longer in fewer places can help travellers settle into the rhythm of safari and experience each area more deeply.  *  Keep Travelling’s weekly prize giveaways are still part of the show, giving listeners the chance to win unforgettable African travel experiences.  Contact Information: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog: https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/botswana-safari-travel-tips-okavango-delta-victoria-falls/ [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/botswana-safari-travel-tips-okavango-delta-victoria-falls/]