REVIEW: KLASERIE RIVER SAFARI LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA

Located in a private game reserve in the Greater Kruger area Klaserie River Safari Lodge is the perfect base to see some of the amazing wildlife Africa has to offer. All the accommodation lodges are located on the Klaserie River with private balconies providing stunning views. Game drives are run every morning and evening by the wonderful staff of the lodge where all of the Big Five can be spotted and breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided as well. In-between spotting wild animals on the game drive you can relax by the luxurious pool and can even spot wild zebras, giraffes and impalas roaming the grounds.

Location: Klaserie River Safari Lodge is located in the Thornybush region of the Greater Kruger area. Located on the banks of the Klaserie river, private game drives can take place in the game reserve just opposite the lodge. Within day trip distance is the world renowned Kruger National Park where day trips can be organised from the lodge. 

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Nearest Airport: The lodge offers transfers to and from Hoedspruit airport which is only 16km away. The short flights go daily from Johannesburg making the area easily accessible.  

Rooms: Each of the chalets have en suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, terraces overlooking the river, coffee facilities, mini bar fridge and mosquito nets.   

The rate for the deluxe room including the ‘Royal breakfast’ is around £160 per night in high season.

Facilities/Activities:

Take a dip: There are two stunning swimming pools within the grounds of this lodge on opposite sides. Both the pools also have bars, dining areas and wifi to help you relax during the hot days. There is also wifi around the pool and dining areas for those all important instagram uploads.

Game Drives: The lodge runs daily game drives within the Thornybush game reserve where the big five can be spotted along with giraffe, zebra, warthog, hyena, baboon, hippo, impala, kudu, monkeys, waterbuck, wildebeest, bush baby and steenbok.

Kruger National Park: The lodge provides day trips with lunch included to the national park. Other activities include hot-air balloon excursions, boat cruises, bird-watching, bush walks and horseback safaris.

My husband and I were luck enough to stay in the Klaserie River Safari Lodge for our honeymoon and we had the most amazing time. In the mornings we were treated to a sit-down breakfast with the rest of the lodgers before heading out in the Jeeps for the morning game drive. The safari drivers were incredibly knowledgeable and did an amazing job of explaining how the animals behaved and what was to be seen in their natural habitats. On one of the morning drives we were lucky enough to come very close to a family of elephants who were uprooting trees to get moisture from the roots, it was amazing to see the power of these beautiful animals.

We then had lunch back at the lodge everyday and got to hang around by the pool frequently visited by giraffes and monkeys looking for a quick drink!

In the evenings we then got to go back out on the game drives and have dinner back at the lodge. One evening, the lodge set-up a surprise romantic dinner for us on the island in the middle of the watering hole which was an experience we will never forget, especially as we could hear a wild leopard not to far away from us!

05h30 Wake up call and rusks
 06h00 Bush walk on the reserve or Game drive
 09h00 Breakfast is served – continental followed by hot breakfast
 10h00 Leisure time spent at the pool or on your private deck
 13h00 Lunch is served
 14h00 Time out for an afternoon siesta or refreshing swim
 16h00 Sunset game drive with scenic sundowners
 19h30 Dinner is served at the lodge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Become the perfect Aperitivo hostess

The Aperitivo is derived from Italy, “beverage that is alcoholic which is consumed prior to a meal with the intention to simulating the appetite”

This popular tradition comprises food and drink and who can resist, this should be a firm UK staple and a firm staple in my home so I thought I would share some tips and recipes on how to become the perfect Aperitivo hostess, complete with a shopping list to make life that little bit simpler.

Perfect time for Aperitivo: 

7pm - 9pm.

What to drink

The classic aperitivo usually includes a cocktail with a bitter base commonly using Aperol or Campari mixed with a great fizz, such as Mionetto Prosecco and I have some recipes that you can create with ease, so it won't take you away from your guests.

You could even put the ingredients on the side on a bar cart with the recipe and let everyone create there own 'Pimp your Aperitivo'

The Mionetto Aperol Spritz

A refreshing Aperol Spritz, perfect for a chilled drink in the afternoon under the sun to start your Aperitivo with friends.

• 75ml chilled Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso
• 50ml Aperol
• 20ml Chilled Soda
• Ice Cubes
• Orange Slice

1. Grab a balloon or wine glass.
2. Fill with cubed ice (in this weather it would be a crime not to have this in your freezer)
3. Combine 75ml of Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso with 50ml of Aperol
4. Add a splash of Soda
5. Garnish with a slice of fresh orange

Arancia Spritz

• 85ml chilled Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso
• 55ml San Pellegrino Aranciata
• 30ml Campari
• Fresh Mint
• Orange Slice

1. Mix all the ingredients in a wine glass - leave the Mionetto Prosecco till the end.
2. Add ice, then stir to chill.
3. Top up with prosecco.
4. Garnish with mint and a slice or orange.

Mionetto Italian Honeysuckle

• 75ml chilled Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso
• 1 slice of jalapeno 
• 15 ml lime juice
• 15 ml sugar syrup
• 30 ml Blanco Tequlia

1. Muddle the jalapeno slice and the lime juice.
2. Add the sugar syrup, Blanco tequlia, ice - then shake.
3. Strain into a glass, add the Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso
4. Add a jalapeno slice to finish off your cocktail

Food

Transport your guests over to Italy for your aperitivi and create some delicious nibbles. You do not need to go wild but put on a small spread of some different items and use your creativity. In Italy each bar presents Aperitivi in a different way so feel free to mix it up in any way you would like.

Crostini

More fondly known as, ‘little toasts’ mine are the ones that come in a packet but if you want to go all out grab a ciabatta and baste in olive oil, garlic and roast some vine tomatos. 

Pasta Salad

In a large bowl, toss together fusilli pasta, mozzarella pearls, salami,

bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes and olives. Prepare a simple dressing with

olive oil, vinegar, garlic, Italian seasoning, parsley, and chilli fakes and add

to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate before serving.

Roasted Vegtables

To add some beautiful colour to the table use a range of vegetables, I went for courgettes and vine tomatoes. I just covered with a bit of olive oil, basil and

oregano. Roast for 10-15 minutes.

Olives and more olives

You can't go to Italy and not have olives so create a medley of them - you can't go overboard.

Italian Cheese and Prosciutto Board

This is always a winner, grab a wooden serving board and place a selection of regional cheeses (my favourites are Reggiano Parmesan and slices of Pecorino with some chilli jam) and lots of prosciutto.

Ambiance

The key is to make the afternoon as relaxed as possible and a bit of sun never hurt anyone. So simplicity will help you here, don't over complicate it - you're not hosting a dinner party and everyone wants a stress free afternoon and hosts also need to be stress free.

Choose great friends to join you to eat and drink your perfect Aperitivi with great conversation.

For the decor you can add some Italian vibes with greenery and oranges - my little trees are from Ikea, which add to the simplicity of the afternoon.

 

This post is in collaboration with Mionetto.

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Master Bedroom: Update and new Leesa Mattress

So there has been a lot of movement on the home font in the past few months so I thought I would share a few updates starting with the bedroom. 

We moved rooms from the roof conversion room back downstairs, mainly because the temperature variation was a bit crazy from freezing to so hot you feel like you are melting.

First of all we painted the walls in a cool grey, Dimpse from Farrow & Ball which we actually only did one coat maybe the colour came out the way it did because of the undercoat which was a vile purple like lilac - but I love the colour now. 

We then sorted out the little store cupboard in the room which we are thinking could be transformed into a en suite bathroom at some point but for the moment we painted it in All White, from Farrow & Ball then added some pine shelves storing all my shoes and old school DVDs - more shelves will be added shortly.

The main focal point of the room is the bed and the bed I was looking for ages for a fabric bed and they were all over £800 but i managed to purchase a luxurious light grey one for £249.

I also decided with the big move it deserved a new mattress I have seen everyone getting these ‘pop-up’ mattresses that get delivered rolled up in a box and had heard great things about them so I was excited for my Leesa Sleep mattress to arrive. I have now being using it for over a month and I am in love. The Leesa mattress starts from £399 and if you my code TIME2GOSSIP you can get £100 off and if you want to pay monthly they offer 0% interest. You get a 100 night risk-free trial, 10 year warranty and free delivery and returns - Leesa really believes you will love their mattress that they ensure you wont be out of pocket if its not for you.

BUY YOUR LEESA MATTRESS HERE

The Look: It is a one look fits all as this is the only mattress Leesa offer in a range of sizes. The mattress is really modern with a pretty striped grey & white design, its a shame I have to cover it up with a sheet.

The Feel: It was strange on my first night on the Leesa mattress you literally float on-top of the mattress as it molds around you from the memory foam layer offering significant support. The top Avena foam layer ensures that you get a cooler nights sleep so you can get cozy in your duvet. My sleeps are so much deeper, I am not waking up during the night anymore and I cant feel my other half moving around which is just fabulous.

Making up the bed:

Pillows: Goose Feather and Down Pillows from the Fine Bedding Company

Mattress Protector: Deep Fill Cotton Mattress Protector from the Fine Bedding Company for £18.50

Bedding: Ikea, £17

Dotted around the room are some wicker baskets that have Paul the polar bear on top and also a bench from Ikea - which I think I may move out.

Our bedside cabinets are from Ikea (similar ones here). 

I have my art pint from Brixton market but I need to work on some additional decor for the room maybe some prints above the bed.

The room is super cozy and I have a great nights sleep so its perfect for the moment.

Do you spot the Love Island water bottle :-)

This post is sponsored by Leesa Sleep Ltd

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If I could invent a Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar…

Cadbury and I have a love, love relationship since I was a young child. Flavours have come, and flavours have gone but the iconic Cadbury Dairy Milk bar still remains a strong kitchen staple in my home and this could be in any form of the family favourites such as my favourite, caramel, fruit & nut and whole nut.

This month Cadbury have launched a new nationwide competition, so Cadbury and chocolate connoisseurs like myself can invent your own Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar. Even better your creation could become the newest addition to the Cadbury Dairy Milk range. Cadbury are always looking for new ways to create innovative new creations and this time they are after the people that love it the most to create it.

Cadburyinventor.com

With 90,000 combinations it was a hard choice when trying to come up with my own creation but after hunting through fruity, nutty, sweet and wild food categories my three creations would be:

1.    Rosemary, Crunchy Caramel

I call this one ‘Kay’s Caramel’ and my own little herb garden inspired my creation and my favourite Dairy Milk Bar for the caramel infusion.

2.    Raspberry, Blueberry, Chilli

I would call this one ‘Fruity Fire’ inspired by my love of spice and two of the best fruits.

3.    Brownie, Sea Salt, gummy sweets (shaped like fish)

This one would be aptly named 'Taste of the Sea'; this flavour takes inspiration from one of my worst habits – eating sea salt raw.

So those are my creations but what would be yours?

·  Choose up to 3 ingredients - here.

·         Give them a virtual mix

·         Name your new Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar

·         Tell Cadbury why your bar is a winner

Create your winning bar and be in for a chance to become the latest edition to the iconic Cadbury Dairy Milk range as a limited-edition bar. Three finalists will go head-to-head with the nation to become the bar that is sold across the nation, win a year supply of your creation and a visit to the Cadbury Chocolate Centre of Excellence in Bournville to work with chocolate experts to make your chocolate bar a reality.

The judges will be looking at not only taste but creativity You have until 31^st July 2018 and the competition is open to everyone in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.  

This post is in collaboration with Cadbury.

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