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TRAVEL 3 Peru’s rainforests and jungles, where you can spot pink dolphins and rare endangered species. The onboard indigenous cuisine and organic wines match the views; recent host- ings have included celeb chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and Ferran Adria. The best time to visit Southeast Asia is from November to February (it’s cooler and drier), so why not chart a 600-mile journey down Burma’s Irrawaddy and Chindwin 1. Featuring a top-deck Jacuzzi, the Aria Amazon cruises through rarely charted Peruvian jungles and rainforests. rivers — you’ll snake past teak huts, 2. One of the master guest suites with Wilderness , which hosted the cast of Mad Max: Fury Road. bamboo forests, gilded monaster- 3. The top-deck bar and lounge of the Aria Amazon. 4. ’s Khwai River Lodge is nestled within the Moremi ies and ancient cities. Launching in Wildlife Reserve. 2013, Belmond’s 25-cabin Orcaella 5. The heated top-deck pool of a river cruise through Burma. 6. ’s Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is an ideal retreat for (three nights from $4,788; belmond. spotting and desert-adapted elephants. com) has four teak decks and a spa- 1 cious swimming pool, and offers a rarely accessible travel opportunity. Or head farther south to Cambodia and Vietnam, where Viking Cruises (the U.S. sponsor of Downton Abbey) is running 18 new patented HOLLYWOOD’S longship vessels that feature solar panels, organic herb gardens and energy-efficient hybrid engines, NEW WINTER which reduce vibrations for a smoother ride. Its Viking Mekong, handcrafted with French Colonial WONDERLANDS teak and brass furnishings, accom- modates 56 passengers and offers Expand your sand-and-ski repertoire with the industry’s 2 adventurous escapes, from upgraded eco-safaris (Clintons, three classes of cabins, all with Katzenbergs, Oprah) to off-the-beaten-path river cruises 4 glass doors and private decks. The cruise down Indochina’s Mekong By Adam H. Graham 1 River encounters mysterious Khmer eight guests with an infinity pool monuments at Angkor Wat, the AFRICAN SAFARIS and staff villas. The Four Seasons French colonial capital of Phnom (fourseasons.com) opened a Penh and the floating markets of Venturing into the wilds of modern lodge on the edge of the the Mekong delta (15 days from may no longer mean dusty ham- Serengeti in 2013, offering guests $3,499; vikingrivercruises.com). mocks and mosquito netting, but a privileged perch overlooking an Jolie Pitt is a frequent visitor to the the popularity of modern-day elephant watering hole and a dis- area (she adopted sons Maddox and safaris is more than the promise covery center for families. Pax from orphanages in Cambodia of eco-chic tents. “People want to The African jewel of sustainable 6 and Vietnam, respectively), and have a real conversation about tourism, Namibia has lunar- 5 currently is shooting her next film poaching, the politics of hunt- like dune reserves that are in Cambodia, Netflix’s First They ing and the effects of global home to desert elephants Camp (from $569 a night), featur- some more. Welcome to Botswana!” his family.) The outrageously lavish year,” says L.A.-based high-end Killed My Father, which she is cast- warming,” says Deeper Africa and crimson waves of sand ing modernist tents and some of the producer wrote on Instagram. accommodations — seven guest travel advisor Gen Hershey. First Cecil’s Legacy ing entirely with local talent. If owner Karen Zulauf, whose Jolie Pitt peppered with lions and the best guides in Africa. Another Belmond’s just launched self-drive cottages with a main house — are in Service Travel president Erika celebrity christenings are more your company specializes in mean- rhinos. During the filming of posh property within earshot of a (belmondsafaris.com) lets set amidst the backdrop of 58,000 Reategui, who has a slew of celeb- IN JULY, WHEN A U.S. DENTIST thing, in 2013 DouroAzul’s boutique ingful travel to Africa. Northern Angelina Jolie Pitt’s Beyond Borders in ’s roar is Little Ongava (from visitors drive themselves across the acres abundant with game, plus rity clients, reiterates the growing killed one of ’s most beloved passenger ship Queen Isabel (three lions, Cecil, the shot was heard around ’s 12,000-square-mile 2003, the actress fell in love with the $760), a three-villa retreat with country from Khwai River Lodge the family’s French chef is on hand. appeal: “There are so many excit- the world. Today nights from $3,099; douroazul.com) Serengeti ecosystem arguably is country and has returned annually private plunge pools and vintage to Savute Elephant Lodge Venture out on a game drive or let ing itineraries now, attracting remains legal in Zimbabwe (and most received the customary champagne the best place to witness Africa’s with husband Brad Pitt and fam- telescopes that hosted Chelsea (both from $740) in the the animals come to you as you affluent travelers looking for an African nations), but his death created smashing from Andie MacDowell. “Big Five” game — lion, leopard, ily; in 2006, daughter Shiloh was Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky Chobe National Park, where relax on the verandah overlooking out-of-the-ordinary escape.” Sailing a global awareness. A new camp run On this European charter, guests buffalo, elephant and rhino — born in Swakopmund. “Namibia during their honeymoon. Liz Taylor and Richard Burton the watering hole where elephants, through the Amazon on an Aqua by Wilderness Safaris, Linkwasha, is embark on a three- to seven-day where Cecil’s cubs and former pride Winfrey and the private Singita Grumeti is Africa’s best-kept secret — that Diamond-prosperous Botswana secretly remarried in 1975. giraffes, zebras and even an occa- Expeditions river cruise doesn’t are living. “We are confident this exploration of Spain and Portugal, Reserve (singita.com) has some is until we came here!” Pitt has is an underrated safari destina- Swarms of tourist-laden sional rhino hang out. require you to sacrifice style for will be the catalyst for some major from Lisbon to Porto along the of the country’s most magnificent said. Wilderness Safaris (wilder- tion — home to the world’s largest minibuses may have overrun the adventure. The company’s two trophy-hunting legislation changes scenic Douro River Valley, the heart- lodges. Its properties have played ness-safaris.com) is the leader of elephant herd, the country has styl- Masai Mara, but also offers RIVER CRUISES Peruvian-based ships, Aqua Amazon in Zimbabwe,” says Deeper Africa’s land of Portugal’s sun-kissed wine host to Natalie Portman, Will Smith conservation-based safaris in ish camps from the Kalahari private ranches for those who pre- and Aria Amazon (three nights Zulauf. “I cannot emphasize how country. Oenophiles will appreciate important the Cecil story is — he made and the Bush family. Sasakwa Africa (it hosted Tom Hardy and Desert to the vast Okavango fer a more intimate safari. Ol Jogi River cruising is one of the fast- from $2,840; aquaexpeditions. a difference for his whole species.” access to ancient terraced vineyards Lodge (from $1,350 a night) is an Charlize Theron during film- Delta. Michelle Obama and (from $8,800 per night; oljogihome. est growing segments of the travel com), feature 12 architect-designed and family-owned estates. The ship Edwardian-style mansion brim- ing of Mad Max: Fury Road). her daughters have toured com), the Wildenstein family’s industry, with dozens of premium California king suites with floor-to- is equipped with a heated swimming

ming with colonial-era furnishings The company runs Desert Theron here, as have Bill and Melinda ranch, recently became available to new ships offering haute-design ceiling windows and marble floors pool, gym and a bevy of outdoor like ostrich-feather lamps and faux Rhino Camp (from $425 a night) Gates, Oprah Winfrey and David rent exclusively for those seeking panoramic cabins (no portholes — not to mention a top deck with decks — ideal for sampling local snakeskin wainscoting, while the in partnership with the Save the Katzenberg. “It’s not everyday you the ultimate experi- here!), smooth hybrid engines and a gym, jacuzzi and bar serving up wines at sundown. private hillside Serengeti House Rhino Trust. In 2014, it opened the get to see a leopard eat a carcass ence. (Recent visitors include Walt amazing land excursions. “River pisco sours. The wildlife-themed

(from $6,800 a night) hosts up to stunning Hoanib Skeleton Coast and then drag it up a tree and eat it Disney president Alan Bergman and RICHARDBOAT: MARK DOBSON/COURTESY OF AQUA EXPEDITIONS. BED: DAVID CROOKES/COURTESY OF WILDERNESS SAFARIS. LOUNGE:AQUA EXPEDITIONS. COURTESY OF ELEPHANTS, POOL: COURTESY OF BELMOND. COAST: DANA ALLEN/COURTESY OF WILDERNESS SAFARIS.GETTY JOLIE: JASON IMAGES. MERRITT/ WINFREY: JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY IMAGES. THERON: DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/GETTYZUMA PRESS/NEWSCOM. IMAGES FOR GLAMOUR. LION: PAULA FRENCH/ cruising has become huge this excursions include passage through Additional reporting by Laurie Kahle

44 | THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER | 12.04.15 www.thr.com | THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER | 45