Category Archives: Private Islands

Just off the rugged coastline of Georgian Bay lies a private island where Ontario has made a big exception to the hunting rules followed just about everywhere else in the province.

Most places in Ontario have an open season on deer that lasts about two weeks. Up until recently, it lasted 11 weeks on Griffith Island, just north of Owen Sound, where the luxurious Griffith Island Club serves an exclusive clientele of North American elites. And earlier this year, the Doug Ford government quietly extended the deer hunting season again for Griffith Island and neighbouring Hay Island, which is also privately owned hunters in both places can now hunt deer with rifles there for 13 weeks, the longest season in the province.

Griffith Island Club doesnt list its current membership fees on its website, but in 1975 it charged $20,000 to join plus annual dues, according to a Macleans article published that year. Members and guests over the past half-century include MPPs and MPs from various parties, along with professional sports executives and plenty of Bay Street types. When the province proposed the idea for an extended season on Ontarios environmental registry last November, it said the change would allow the Griffith Island Club to better manage the islands [sic] deer populations and increase opportunity for clients and club members.

The office of Natural Resources and Forestry Minister Graydon Smith didnt respond to multiple emails and calls from The Narwhal asking why it has such an interest in expanding the hunting privileges enjoyed by members of the private club. The office of Premier Doug Ford also didnt answer when asked whether he or any MPPs in the Progressive Conservative caucus have ever been there.

The Narwhal also asked Griffith Island Club management questions about its price of admission, membership list and how exactly it ended up as the beneficiary of the policy change. In an email, club chairman Marc Dumont didnt answer most of the questions, including whether the club had asked the government for the extension Ontarios lobbying registry shows no record of contact between the Ford government and the club.

Hunting regulations are set by the Province of Ontario, and the club has no influence over the establishment of seasons, or any other legislation relevant to our operations or how these are publicly communicated by the minister, Dumont wrote.

The club, like any other business and employer in Ontario, fully complies with all provincial and federal legislation to legally operate. The club does not release any information that is considered personal or confidential in relation to our members and their activities. Dumont also didnt answer questions about why the clubs site advertises wild turkey hunting even though Ontarios publicly-posted regulations dont allow the bird to be harvested there.

While the dates for Ontarios hunting seasons in most areas are posted in an online provincial guide, that site contains no such information for Griffith Island and Hay Island, saying only that each has a unique season and that the public can call for more information (two other areas in Ontario have the same disclaimer, but those exceptions seem unrelated to the islands). This opacity has drawn criticism, especially about whether its fair for the 70 or so members of the club to enjoy a longer hunting season than everywhere else.

Lawrence Kowal is from the Kawartha Lakes region, northeast of Toronto, and has hunted for years near Haliburton, Ont. He heard about the changes to the hunting season on Griffith Island when a friend forwarded him the environmental registry posting, in which the idea was lumped in with a series of other adjustments to Ontario hunting regulations.

Why would you have to add two more weeks to a hunt season? he recalls thinking. That seems excessive.

The more he looked into it, he said, the more he saw red flags.

It was an absolute absence of information, he said. There should be more transparency.

The Ontario Federation of Hunters and Anglers, which represents over 100,000 members in the province, formally opposed the extended season when the government proposed it. The federations manager of policy, Mark Ryckman, said in an interview that some members were concerned, and that the organization generally doesnt support landowners getting preferential access to hunting opportunities.

Ultimately these are public wildlife resources or natural resources, managed on behalf of all Ontarians by the provincial government, so we dont want to see hunting or fishing for that matter become a pastime that only the wealthy can afford, Ryckman said.

Griffith Island is about 2,300 acres, though reports of its exact size vary. The federal government maintains a historic lighthouse on one side. The rest is owned exclusively by the Griffith Island Club.

The modern-day club can sleep 22 guests at a time. Theyre fed gourmet meals by a private chef and treated with access to a games room and sauna. Photos on the clubs website show cushy bedrooms and a woodsy guest lounge, adorned with glossy leather chairs, a pool table and a stags head mounted on the wall.

An airstrip on the island allows some to fly in on chartered aircraft (no jets, though those use the nearby airport in Wiarton, Ont.). Many cross over on the clubs ferry, Islander II. Guests can also fish, swim in the turquoise water or shoot clay targets on about a dozen courses.

The Griffith Island Club has a limited number of membership opportunities available to suitable candidates, its website says. All candidates are subject to a review process by the Club Board, with circulation to all members.

On Facebook and Instagram, visitors have listed the island as their location when posting photos of their time there. The pictures show ladies in billowing white dresses at the steps of a private plane, a hunter green napkin embroidered with the clubs logo and people with guns and neon orange vests posing by the deer and heaps of birds theyve bagged. One photo taken in front of a gun rack shows a teenage boy in a fur coat wielding a wad of cash the size of his head in one hand and an even larger bottle of brown liquid in the other.

Personalities like NHL executive Brian Burke and Chip and Pepper clothing line cofounder Chip Foster have made appearances at the club, as have former Progressive Conservative MPP Michael Harris and the former Conservative MP for the area, Larry Miller.

The clubs website boasts of the islands history stretching back to the landing there of Samuel de Champlain, but the Saugeen Ojibway Nation traces its history there much further back. The nation didnt respond to a request for an interview, but has said the Bruce Peninsula, which Griffith Island sits next to, and the surrounding area of Georgian Bay was stolen from them by the Crown in the 1800s. In an 1899 newspaper ad, the Department of Indian Affairs announced that it would accept bids for Griffith Island and its timber.

The island passed through various hands in the 20th century, including late Toronto Maple Leafs owner Jack Bickell, also a member of the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame, and a group of his businessman buddies. It later became the property of Frigidaire, then owned by General Motors. The company used it for the schooling and recreation of GM executives from all over the continent, The Globe and Mail wrote in 1957.

It was about that time when Griffith Island started appearing to be subject to different set of rules.

At the time, no deer hunting was allowed in the rest of Grey County, which Griffith Island is a part of, but it happened year round on the island, the paper reported. The Liberal MPP who represented the Bruce Peninsula at the time, Ross Whicher, raised the issue in the legislature, arguing that it was an injustice for deer hunting to be allowed so freely on the island when his constituents on the mainland would be fined for doing the same thing, even if they were trying to feed their family.

The company hung onto the island for about 13 years before selling it: GMs interest in it declined after one of its senior executives was killed in a hunting accident several years ago, said a 1975 article in The Globe and Mail.

By then, Griffith Island was owned by the group of wealthy businessmen who started the nonprofit Griffith Island Club. Its ties to Queens Park go back to its founding: the clubs first president was former Ontario premier John Robarts, a Progressive Conservative. Other early members included Frederik Eaton, president of Eatons of Canada, and a corporate director of the company that owned the Labatt brewery.

In 1975, a Windsor Star reporter who visited the island found that hunters there were allowed to shoot pheasants for seven months, though the season elsewhere in the province was just two weeks long. Deer seasons lasted a few days on the mainland, but two months on Griffith Island. The same year, the clubs manager paid a $100 fine for hunting without a license. Members of Ontarios cabinet hunted there at the time a former club manager gave the Windsor Star blunt assessments of their abilities in 1976, saying natural resources minister Leo Bernier was a good hunter, but transportation minister James Snow doesnt know a cockbird from a hen pheasant and cant hit a barn door.

After the Windsor Star began publishing stories about the club, an MPP questioned then-Ontario premier Bill Davis about it at the legislature, referencing reports of armed guards on the island, and the club serving alcohol without a liquor licence.

I have been there for dinner on one occasion, Davis said, redirecting questions about it to another minister. I have never hunted at Griffith Island. In fact I have never hunted anywhere.

According to media reports, Griffith Islands lax rules and mystique persisted: by 1983, the Toronto Star which investigated reports that club staff were making just $45 per day for 16 hours of work said that former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau had been spotted there. The younger Trudeau has never visited Griffith Island, with or without his father, the Prime Ministers Office said in an email.

Dont we have any rights? the club president at the time, William Doherty, said to a Star reporter. Youre going to write about us whether we want you to or not, is that quite cricket?

The desire for privacy was a theme then, too: amid a 1978 controversy over a planned and subsequently cancelled foxhunt at Griffith Island, the secretary for the club said he didnt think its anyones business Its a private club, we pay our taxes, were within the law.

In 2004, The Globe and Mail reported on a trip to the island taken in fall 2002 by then-Hydro One chair Glen Wright, who expensed a trip to Griffith Island to the utility provider in the years before it was privatized. Wrights bill to the Crown corporation was over $5,000 for a group trip: his guests included a Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, Tory political advisors and two Hydro One union leaders. The paper reported it cost $750 per night, and that Wrights expenses included $297 for shotgun shells and $178 for 17 pheasant pies. Wright reimbursed Hydro One after he learned The Globe planned to report on the expenses.

By 2003 the earliest year for which Ontarios hunting regulations are online the deer hunting season on Griffith Island had become an expansive 11 weeks. It stayed that way until being lengthened this year.

There isnt much out there about what happens at the Griffith Island Club today. The club has no public membership list, and the list of directors on its corporate registration appears outdated for example, it includes current Porter Airlines CEO and president Robert J. Deluce, who told The Narwhal that he hasnt been involved with the club for at least a dozen years and cant remember much about the membership process. Basically I lost interest because I was far too busy at Porter, he said in an email.

Others listed on the registration include a variety of Bay Street executives, big names in the road construction industry, a former CFL player, and Niagara Region Coun. Vince Kerrio who is seeking re-election this fall and didnt respond to an email sent through his campaign website. Other listed members who have mentioned visits to the island publicly include corporate leaders of trucking and mining companies.

Along with social media, other snippets of information can be found in job postings. The club is staffed year-round, though members can only visit from April until December. A recent posting for a receptionist describes managing the clubs membership list as a task that requires absolute discretion and confidentiality. Another for a head gamekeeper says candidates should be able to raise over 25,000 gamebirds, duties which include breeding and incubating eggs. Other workers who manage game on the island make $43,000 per year, according to a third posting, and pay $100 bimonthly to live onsite.

Across most of the province, hunters have voluntarily reported how many deer they harvest every year, with numbers online going back to 2008. Hunters on Griffith Island did not report any until the practice was made mandatory in 2019. The same is true on nearby Hay Island, which is also private and enjoys an equally long season: there, only one or two deer have been bagged each year for which there are records.

On Griffith, hunters have reported bagging roughly 70 deer per year, about the same as the number of licenced hunters active on the island, according to provincial data. Kowal, who hunts in Haliburton, said thats a lot a young deer would weigh at least 100 pounds, and big bucks can be four times that.

What they do with it is up to them, Kowal said. But thats an awful lot of people getting a very large serving of venison.

Usually, the Ontario government decides the length, timing and other specifics of local deer hunting seasons by considering how many of the animals live in an area and consulting with stakeholders, including experts in wildlife management. Rifle hunting is most tightly controlled hunters using less powerful weapons, like crossbows, can hunt for longer, in part because they tend to bag fewer deer.

Ryckman, of the hunters and anglers federation, said there could be a biological reason why Griffith Island needs a longer deer hunting season. The balance between predators and prey can easily be thrown off on islands, resulting in either too many deer which could necessitate a longer hunting season or too few.

But if thats why the Ontario government has given Griffith Island an extended season for so many years, the province hasnt said so: along with the current Progressive Conservative government, the Ontario Liberal Party didnt answer questions from The Narwhal about why it allowed an 11-week hunting season on Griffith Island during the most recent 15 years it was in power. The party also didnt answer when asked whether any of the partys current MPPs or staff had ever visited the island or been a member of the Griffith Island Club. The Ontario NDP and Green Party, likewise, did not agree to an interview about Griffith Island.

And if biological concerns are a problem, it may be odd that the longer deer season does apply to Griffith Island and neighbouring Hay Island which sold to a new owner last year for $14 million, after being advertised as an idyllic retreat with an extended hunting season but not White Cloud Island, which is just a stones throw away. On the provinces online proposal to add two weeks to the season on Griffith and Hay, one comment is a complaint that the extended season doesnt apply on White Cloud, where landowners arenot huge corporations but private people who own land on a private island. The comment, which was anonymized, said the move amounts to nothing but someone catering to big money and ignoring others who have spent their own money. It is a biased and blatant example of favouritism.

Ryckman said that while the federation is opposed to the exclusive access and the very long season provided to the owners of Griffith Island we dont really have any population health or sustainability concerns about the deer population on the island. For that reason, his organization is unlikely to push the issue much further: The primary focus of the OFAH is the conservation of the resource, he added.

Kowal said its unfair that Griffith Island gets preferential treatment. He gets exactly 13 days to hunt deer, rain or shine he usually spends them in the bush with friends, and if the weathers bad, they dont have the luxury of going again. They limit what they hunt and eat what they harvest, always thinking about conserving the deer so theyll be around next year.

Its something that you have to be mindful of and protect, he said. Its not mine to take without some form of rules.

To him, thats not the spirit of whats happening on Griffith Island.

Everyone should have to play under the same rules. They dont. Theyve been given privilege, and done a very good job of keeping it out of the public view.

Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal. Satellite image: Apple Maps

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Most Ontarians get 13 days to hunt deer. Members of this luxe club get 13 weeks - The Narwhal

Finding oneself rag-dolling under a canopy of white water rapids on the Nile River isnt an opportune time to wonder: Did my guide say there are or arent man-eating crocodiles and hippos in the water?

Moments earlier, Id been sitting on the front bench seat of a raft with another passenger and a pair of guides. Together wed already paddled through a series of Class IV and V rapids, with names like Overtime, Retrospect, Novocaine, and Itanda (meaning The Bad Place). Even though the bow and stern of the raft were bouncing like a possessed seesaw, we managed to stay within the vessel. However, in this particularly angry junction, a wall of water hit our starboard side, and before the words Hold on! could pass my guides lips, I was airborne.

Not that I was underwater for more than a few beatsaided by a sturdy life jacket, my yellow helmeted head soon broke through the surface of the Nile, sputtering and swearing. A few seconds later, I was clinging to one of the three inflatable safety kayaks, being towed back to the main raft.

That wasnt so bad, was it? the lead guide said before pulling me back in and handing me an oar. Ready to keep going?

One amenity of Wildwaters Lodge? Sipping gin and tonics pool (and river) side.

Courtesy of Wildwaters Lodge

Id come to eastern Uganda to visit Wildwaters Lodge, a safari-style setup on a private 2.5-acre island right in the middle of the Nile River near the town of Jinja. The lodge consists of 10 stand-alone stilted suites, each with high thatched roofs, a canopied king bed and daybed, and a deck with a private clawfoot soaking tub overlooking the river.

A few miles upstream, the churning lifesource that is the Nile pours from the mouth of Lake Victoria, pulsing more than 4,000 miles like a heartbeat through northeastern Africa until it spills into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt. In some places, like the islands western side, the river runs as smoothly and steadily as a conveyor belt (were able to access the island relatively easily via a metal skiff boat). In other spots, like the islands eastern shore, where boulders and erosion over time have caused varying water levels and speeds, the river is an unpredictable, convulsing vortex. Signs across the island warn visitors about the dangers of getting too close to the rivers edge.

Prior to booking at Wildwaters Lodge, I wasnt aware that the Nile originated in Uganda (or that it ran through or along the borders of 11 African countries). All I knew was that it was a sedate river in Egypt, popular for cruising. But over the centuries, its waters were originally used for fishing and to aid in farming. Eventually, it became an important transportation and trade route. Its only been in the past few decades that its started making a name for itself as a white water rafting destination.

My room, suite 10, overhangs one of the biggest, most dangerous sections of rapids in Uganda, and the way the water swirls and churns like soup about to bubble over is equal parts hypnotic and stomach-tightening. While the western side of the country is known for gorilla and chimpanzee treks, this area is known more for its adventure sportsmountain biking along the Nile, kayaking along the Nile, bungee jumping over the Nile, and yes, river rafting in the Nile. Even knowing that ahead of time, I had hoped that reading a book from my open-air bathtub would be the most immersive experience Id have. Or at least thats what I told the lodge manager during lunch on the first day.

Everyone enjoys the rafting, he tutted, adding, Go, youll see. And dont worry, the water is warm.

Warm is about 75 degrees, though the latter statement wasnt my primary concern. The next morning, I found myself signing a safety waiver and reading over the rapid namessuspiciously devoid of names like Kiddie Pool or Lazy River and instead given names like Vengeance and Pandemicon the route map. Was it too late to chicken out?

We were going out with one of Wildwaters partners, Adrift Uganda, a company that over some 30 years has seen everyone from locals to royalty (Prince William participated in 2003) and Jedi Masters (Ewan McGregor was a guest in 2009). In addition to the two guides in our raft, three others would flank us in inflatable kayaks as an extra safety measure.

As we push off, our lead guide tells us that white water rafting on the Nile in Uganda is considered among the best in the world. The 12-mile span wed be doing marries quiet zones full of forested islandswhere the water teems with river otters, monitor lizards, cuckoos, and turacoswith booming rapids and sudden drops. (This is also when he tells us there are no crocodiles or hippos in this part, though the information sadly doesnt stick.)

White water rafting trips with Adrift typically run between four and five hours.

The first rapid is easyits only a Class II, and we jitter over the lightly boiling water like a popcorn kernel in hot oil. Just as I start to think this could be easy, we approach a cascading rapid called Big Brother, and well before we reach the lip of the falls, we can feel the water sucking us forward. Over the thunderous roar of the water, our guide yells for everyone to Get down! I tuck my head, white-knuckle the safety rope that runs along the side, and brace for impact as we soar over the edge.

In an instant, were underwater. Not out of the boatjust blanketed momentarily by a giant wave. The raft pinballs between a half dozen or so rocks for another few seconds before were spit forward into smoother water. If not for the wet hair plastered to my cheeks, you might not have known what had just transpired.

High five! our leader says, holding the blade of his oar aloft. We all touch paddles in the air and laugh. I can feel the tension in my shoulders release and my confidence buoy. Sure, this is barely contained chaos, but it is fun.

Honestly, as we continued to wend our way down the river, it was largely calm. We passed mated pairs of African fish eagles sunbathing on rocks, small villages where children waved from the shoreline, fishermen in dugout canoes, and miles of dense jungle. At one point, a guide chopped up a pineapple, and we sprawled along the edges of the raft, nibbling on the treat and soaking up the sun.

Each time we came up to a set of rapids, our leader would instruct us when and how vigorously to paddle, and each time we came out on the other side, wed clap our oars together in celebration.

Other than me being unceremoniously dumped into the drink, we only left the boat onceto portage around a particularly nasty Class VI rapid too dangerous for us nonprofessionals to attempt (though one of the safety kayakers deftly glides over it, as if its a bunny hill and hes a black-diamond skier).

Im not sure whether its natural euphoria or basic human relief, but Im elated as we disembark. As we walked back to the lodgeme drenched, sunburnt, a little bruised, and somehow missing both a hair tie and a nose ringthe manager looked up from his desk and gave me a conspiratorial smile. He could have asked how it was, but he knew the answer.

Fly into Entebbe International Airport in Ugandas capital city and either rent a car or hire a driver. Its about 2.5 hours to Wildwaters Lodge.

Book now: Wildwaters Lodge

The Lodge offers 10 spacious, stilted cabins on a private island in the middle of the Nile River.

The shared spaces include a restaurant and bar where all meals are served, an infinity pool, a circular library, and a decadent massage platform situated over a calmer spot in the river.

Wildwaters Lodge is owned and operated by Lemala, a company that offers boutique camps in Tanzania and Uganda.

Book now: Adrift Uganda

Adrift has been operating rafting trips on the Nile River since 1996. On the morning of your trip, its guides will pick you up directly from Wildwaters Lodge. Tours cost $140 per person and typically take four to five hours. Guests have the option to choose between a mellower Class III course or the more challenging Class V option. All tours include life jackets, helmets, and rafting equipment.

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What it's Like to White Water Raft the Nile in Uganda - AFAR Media

The silver lining to the pandemic has been the opportunity to rethink and reset tourism. As a priority sector in both Cambodia and Bhutan, both nations are moving away from mass tours and consumerism into rare, authentic, and meaningful experiences. By capturing the growing global trend in this direction, they aim to boost economic and environmental benefits and improve livelihoods.

In Bhutan, high-value, low-volume tourism enables investment in transformative programs that preserve Bhutans cultural traditions, protect its heritage and environment, upgrade infrastructure, create opportunities for its young people, and build resilience. This model, which includes a Sustainable Development Fee, also protects the Kingdoms natural resources, with 70 percent of the land remaining under forest cover.

Bhutans appeal is as much about its people as it is about its beauty, which is another important part of the guest experience. Visitors make deep connections with their guides, hosts, and local communities and want to come back.

Located in the Kingdoms western and central valleys, each of the five Six Senses lodges has a unique character and interpretation of Bhutans spirituality, heritage, and hospitality. Six Senses Thimphu is perched on an auspicious hillside overlooking the shimmering lights of Thimphu. The Flying Farmhouse Amidst the Rice Fields Six Senses Punakha is a stones throw from the majestic Punakha Dzong. Six Senses Paro is set among stone ruins and is designed to maximize what is undoubtedly one of the most scenic settings within the Six Senses Bhutan journey. Six Senses Gangtey is in a quaint and charming area in central Bhutan, well-known as the winter residence of the black-necked cranes. Built as a forest within a forest, Six Senses Bumthang is an auspicious base to discover monuments, monasteries, and winter festivals.

Guests can visit one or any combination as part of innovative itineraries or Khamsas, accompanied by a private Guest Experience Maker guide and driver throughout the journey. To mark theReopening Celebration, guests booking by October 31, 2022, will enjoy one additional complimentary night with any six-night paid stay and two extra nights with a nine-night paid stay. Landing at Paro International Airport, the10-Night Khamsajourney offers a mix of some of Bhutans not-to-be-missed sites, visiting some lesser-known places along the way.

We have a real opportunity to showcase the more hidden side of Bhutan, says General Manager Andrew Whiffen. From weaving through glacial valleys, rice fields, and remote mountain villages to joining Thimphu residents for circumambulations at the Memorial Chorten, trekking up to the Tigers Nest monastery, which dangles off a cliffside, or joining young monks for breakfast or a game of football, guests are blown away. We combine these experiences with returning to the lodge to take a dip in the pool, sample local culinary delicacies, and visit Six Senses Spa for a pampering treatment.

Post-pandemic recovery in Cambodia will rely in part on a business-enabling environment for higher-value travel and tourism. Beyond the Angkor complex and Siem Reap, Cambodia is also endowed with beautiful coastlines, important conservation areas, and a significant number of heritage and cultural sites, many of which are easily accessible from Six Senses Krabey Island. With the mainland reception just a 10-minute drive from Sihanouk International Airport, it is then a short 15-minute water transfer to the resort to enjoy cultural, wellness, sporting, and signature dining experiences.

The resort will reopen on December 2 with a renewed focus on community-based experiences to interact with locals, nature, and wildlife. Guests booking theFestive Getawayby November 30 will save 20 percent on the Best Flexible Rate.

The 40 spacious pool villas offer a private island hideaway feel without forgoing guestroom amenities, guest services, and a spa, which crowns the island and offers a wide range of holistic rejuvenation therapies. Days are as hands-on as guests like. A visit to the organic garden on the mainland includes a pick-your-own lunch. The Hook, Line, and Catch experience starts with an ethical fishing line in hand. A Spice Trail trip to the Kampot meanders past paddy fields and houses on stilts to an authentic pepper-infused lunch at La Plantation. Time-honored tips can be acquired during a Khmer Cooking Class.

There is a range of villas, from the Hideaway (perfect for two) to the Ocean (elevated for the views). Groups of friends or families can stay together in the Oceanfront duplex, which sleeps six and extends over two floors to maximize privacy. Set on the west side of the island, The Beach Retreat sleeps five and, as its name suggests, not only offers a private sundeck for lounging and alfresco dining but also direct access to a private beach cove. The toughest part about this one is leaving it.

From December to February, the slightly cooler temperatures, low humidity, and long periods of sunshine make it an ideal time to visit, says General Manager Ateeb Shrestha. During the dry season, you can enjoy morning yoga on the rooftop pavilion or take a spin around the island jungle gym, visit temples, go on a hike or tour, or simply relax and sunbathe during the day and enjoy our boardwalk dining or movie nights under the stars at night. The Experiences Center offers a wide range of on-island and on-water activities within the resort, plus boat excursions to the surrounding islands. Teens will love the Double-Dip Hangout, which is adjacent to the horizon-edge pool and serves house-made gelatos, and children aged 4 to 12 are kept busy at the kids club.

Read more:

Six Senses Reopens in Cambodia and Bhutan with a Renewed Focus on Elevated Experiences that Align with Guest Values - Drift Travel Magazine

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Three years after their first meeting, the top executives of the Music Makers junkanoo group took corporate sponsors Royal Caribbean International into their shack to share an intimate perspective of Junkanoo.

Weve been treated to several performances by the Music Makers onboard our ships for special occasions, including our return to service following the pandemic or for inaugural sailings, said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

Weve even flown them to the Berry Islands, to entertain onboard and dockside at our private island destination Perfect Day at CocoCay, but we wanted to see them in their own home grounds, the place where all the magic is created. It was fascinating to listen, to see and to learn how the pieces are made and carried.

The visit took place at one of two shacks occupied by the Music Makers on Fowler Street in the heart of the inner city of Nassau.

Music Makers long-term chairman Gary Russell played host and described the physical element of Junkanoo performances, which can include carrying large pieces that weigh up to 200 pounds.

Russell, who is also an attorney and performer, has been directing the Music Makers from his wheelchair since a tragic accident took his legs. His spirit for the craft, though, remains.

Bayley first met Russell at the Fox Hill Community Centre in 2019 as the cruise line was exploring ways to link with Junkanoo, wanting to lend support to the national cultural phenomenon. Impressed, he and the team began including the Music Makers, retaining them to perform at special events.

The following year, as Bayley was speaking at the grand opening of the Bullocks Harbour Community Centre funded by Royal Caribbean, he announced a major sponsorship for the Music Makers.

When Mr. Bayley announced Royal Caribbean would sponsor us for $100,000, I was so excited I leapt up in the air, wheelchair and all, recalled Russell. If someone had not been holding me down, I would have gone up in the air and over, thats how excited I was and in disbelief. We can never thank Royal Caribbean enough. They have given us new life.

With the Junkanoo parades back on tap this year for Boxing Day and New Years following a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus, the Music Makers will return to Bay Street.

We are going to make Royal Caribbean proud, Russell said. With their permission, we have renamed ourselves the Royal Caribbean Music Makers and we are going to make some music. Were in it to win it.

Read the rest here:

Local Junkanoo group and Royal Caribbean making music together - EyeWitness News

Many visitors to the ten islands of Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) arrive on package holidays determined to do nothing but sit in the sun, before uncovering a wealth of different experiences to tempt them from the lounger. You can get as active as you like here learning to surf and kite-surf on the beach, taking the steering wheel of a dune buggy on an island tour or trekking through verdant mountains.

Theres wildlife to spot, too, from dolphins leaping through the waves to turtles nesting in the sand. Holidays to Cape Verde can also take in cultural distractions, be it taking in the national music of morna and drinking rum-based grogue at a local bar or exploring the cobbled streets of its Unesco-listed former capital.

Main photo: the beach at Santa Maria (Alamy)

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Boa Vista has its very own chunk of the Sahara; the grains of sand that make up the Viana desert are blown in from western Africa. Many tour operators offer dune buggy and quad-bike tours of the dunes, but for something different, arrive after dark and spend time staring up at the night sky. Youll have a traditional Cape Verdean dinner in your camp before heading out with a guide to gaze up at the Milky Way and beyond. The naked eye is enough to observe the constellations, thanks to no light pollution, but telescopes are also provided and activities put on for kids.

From July to October, several species of turtle arrive on the beaches of Cape Verde to nest and lay their eggs. Visit the island of Sal during this time and you can take an evening excursion to go and see them. Knowledgeable, respectful guides pick you up from your hotel and take you out to nesting sites of the common turtle. Here, youll sit quietly on the sand and watch as the creatures heave their way on shore and dig their nests, before laying a hundred or so eggs. Once witnessed, its an experience never to be forgotten.

If youve ever pictured yourself trotting along the golden sands of a beach, the hooves of your horse splashing water at your feet, Cape Verde is an excellent place to turn the dream into a reality. Novice and experienced riders alike are well catered for on this guided horseback tour on the island of Sal. Youll cover a variety of terrain on the trip, starting in the sand dunes of the Viana desert and continuing through the islands salt pans before finishing on the beach. If youre comfortable in the saddle, this is the perfect place to let rip and gallop through the surf.

Padi-certified divers are in for a treat in the seas around Cape Verde. Its warm waters are rich in marine life and provide all sorts of different environments to explore, from coral reefs and caves to shipwrecks. Sal and Boa Vista are good bases for your aquatic explorations. On the latter, a half-day guided trip includes hotel pick-up, all equipment and two separate dives down to a maximum depth of 35 metres. Your small group might encounter some of Cape Verdes local residents, including porpoises, barracuda and several species of ray and turtle.

Cape Verde is an excellent place to try all manner of watersports, and you should give at least one a go even if youre planning the laziest of beach holidays. On the island of Sal, combine sunbathing with surfing by spending time on Santa Maria beach in the south. Surf lessons on the popular beach are fun affairs with knowledgeable guides youll spend time practising your moves on dry land, leaping up onto your board from a horizontal position, before moving to the water and attempting to catch your first break.

If youve ever fancied yourself an extra in Mad Max, youll certainly look the part by joining a guided buggy tour of Sal. Goggles, helmet and face scarf on, youll leap into an open-sided all-terrain vehicle and quickly be whizzing around the island. Apart from being huge amounts of fun, the tour is also a great way to see a lot of the island in a short amount of time; youll take in salt flats, desert, volcanic craters and fishing villages among other things on the two or four-hour itineraries. The same company also runs a night-time option, if you need to up the adrenaline a bit more.

Youll likely tuck into all manner of grilled seafood and fish stews while youre in Cape Verde, so why not try catching your own ingredients? On this private tour, youll have a boat to yourself. Putter along the coast from Sal Rei on Boa Vista before the captain casts anchor and cast your line into the ocean, perhaps pulling up a red snapper or a grouper. The next stop is the small island of Djeu; youll swim, snorkel or sunbathe while a beach barbecue is prepared to cook your catch. Lunch never tasted so good.

The previously uninhabited islands of Cape Verde were discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century and they quickly set about founding their capital on the island of Santiago. Cidade Velha remains intact today the Unesco world heritage site is a short drive from the current capital Praia. You can visit on a guided tour, strolling its cobbled streets to take in its traditional stone houses, a fortress used to defend the island from pirates, an old slave market and a convent, all the while learning about Cape Verdean culture and history.

Its impossible to visit Cape Verde and not get out on to the water at least once. The crew of the Sodade on Sal make it easy for you, picking you up at your hotel before transporting you to the deck of the catamaran. Youll then cruise along the western coast of the island, stopping to swim and snorkel. Theres a lively atmosphere while youre on board, with a bar serving cocktails to a soundtrack of local music. Note that this particular trip is adult-only; the same company also has a family-friendly version.

The island of Fogo is aptly named in Portuguese, the word means fire, and reflects the fact that its home to an active volcano. The last eruption of the Pico do Fogo occurred in 2014 and lasted several months, its lava flow destroying land, roads and houses. Its safe enough to hike up now, but youll need to be fit to tackle it. The strenuous, guided ascent starts in the fertile, coffee-growing fields at the volcanos base and continues all the way to the crater, passing through otherworldly landscapes shaped by ash and lava as you go. The views across the island from the top (2,800m) is worth every last bit of puff.

Cape Verdeans have a name for the season from January to March when strong winds whip in off the Atlantic to batter the islands Tempo das Brisas, or wind time. The activity is available at any time of year, but this is an ideal time to harness all that natural power and try your hand at kitesurfing. During this six-hour lesson, youll start on dry land, getting to grips with the equipment and learning how to control it on the beach. Once youve mastered your technique, youll head to the waves where the friendly instructors will encourage you in your first ride.

If your natural instinct is to get out of the water if you learn theres a shark in it, the tour of Shark Bay is not for you. The coastline on the eastern side of the island is home to colonies of lemon sharks, 2.5m-3m-long fish that feed just offshore. You can stay firmly on terra firma and watch from the beach as their fins glide through the water, or wade out into the shallows to join them for an hour. A naturalist guide is on hand to talk you through the experience.

The verdant slopes of the Serra da Malagueta mountain range in northern Santiago give hikers plenty to get excited about, with trails winding through valleys and over peaks, and something for all fitness levels. A six-hour trek in the Serra Malagueta Natural Park is a great introduction to the region. Starting at the top of the islands second-highest peak, youll meander along narrow tracks through forests and past small farms growing mango and banana perhaps being invited in to try some homemade grogue, a type of rum distilled from sugar cane, if youre lucky. Be sure to keep an eye out for some native wildlife, including Cape Verde buzzards and a vervet monkey or two.

Not only do the Cape Verde islands have their own little Sahara (Viana desert on Boa Vista), they also have their own version of the Dead Sea. Pedra de Lume is the centre of Sals salt production, a series of evaporation pools, a lake and factory on the eastern side of the island. You can learn about the history of the industry on a tour, and even better strip off and head into the salty lake, to bob about like a cork. Many organised trips offer a visit as part of a wider itinerary; the all-day tour suggested below includes many off-the-beaten-track locations and finishes at the Pedra de Lume.

Keen birders will find good reason to bring their binoculars to the Cape Verde islands. Among its 150 bird species are a number of endemic ones, including the Alexanders swift, Cape Verde warbler, Iago sparrow and Raso lark. You can see some of these on a half-day birdwatching tour on the island of Boa Vista. Youll spend some time at the Lago do Rabil wetlands on the west coast, with a professional guide helping you spot and identify lesser-known species as well as Egyptian vultures and red-billed straw tails.

Just offshore on the north coast of Boa Vista is the most unlikely sight: the rusting hulk of a cargo ship. The M/S Cabo Santa Maria was on its way to Brazil from Spain with a bounty that include four church bells destined for the new cathedral in Brasilia when it ran aground in 1968. It can now be reached by 4WD, and many wider tours include it on their itineraries. One example is a Toyota Landcruiser trip that takes in many sights of northern Boa Vista, including the wreck, Viana desert and the lonely Chapel of our Lady Fatima.

From March to May, pods of blue whales congregate in the waters off Cape Verde to mate and give birth. If youre on the islands during this period, dont miss the chance to take a boat tour to go out and see them. Leaving from Boa Vista, youll head across the waves to the mammals, while a local marine biologist gives you a briefing on their behaviour and habitats. Once the breeding grounds are reached, youll spend time spotting the creatures, with any luck watching as any number breach the water and plunge back into the depths, flipping their tails as they go.

Set around a horseshoe bay, the town of Mindelo on the island of Sao Vicente is widely considered the cultural capital of Cape Verde. Its cobbled streets are home to colourful houses containing boutiques, craft shops and bars, and are the place to come to hear the soulful national music of morna. You can hear live music and get a proper cultural understanding of the islands on a private, full-day tour of the town. Youll visit both palaces and markets, forts and squares and call into the home of Cesria vora; the barefoot diva used to perform in bars in Mindelo and became known as the queen of morna.

Sitting on the prow on a yacht, cresting through the waves as the sun sparkles off the water and dolphins weave around the boat there arent many better ways to spend a day on Cape Verde. Half and full-day tours are available from Santa Maria pier on the island of Sal. Youll head out along the coast, watching for pods of dolphins as well as flying fish and turtles as you lounge on deck. When the yacht weighs anchor, youve a chance to join them jumping into the warm water to swim and snorkel.

One of the greenest and most scenic of the Cape Verde islands, mountainous Santo Antao is also one of its least touristy. This makes it a great base for some terrific hiking. On a guided tour of the Paul Valley, youll follow old mule trails through small villages and farms, past fields positively overflowing with yams, bananas, sugarcane and coffee plants. As you stop to meet locals, your friendly guide will bring the valley to life by sharing stories and explaining its flora and fauna.

There are multiple reasons to pack your hiking boots on a trip to Cape Verde, with trails criss-crossing the islands and options for every level of fitness and enthusiasm. The guided trek up Monte Verde, the highest peak on Sao Vicente, is a good choice for beginners and families. The path is paved all the way to the top and walkers are rewarded with stirring views over the island and out to sea once theyve completed their two-hour ascent. Near the summit is a sweet little teahouse, the Cabana de Cha do Monte Verde, which brews tea using plants collected from the mountain.

Inspired to visit Cape Verde but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Tui* and Tropical Warehouse*.

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21 of the best things to do in Cape Verde - Times Travel - The Times

By LETRE SWEETING

lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

PRESS Secretary Clint Watson says private owned land has made it difficult for the government to stop the growth of shanty towns in Abaco.

"The reason why its so difficult for government to be able to intervene and stop it is because of one major thing, private land, Mr Watson said Friday at an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing.

The private land is owned by people and if you own your land, you can give somebody permission or you can enter an agreement with people to be on your land. And guess what they do? They pay you to be there. You understand its not government land, private land, he said.

And so its very difficult for government to step in and tell somebody, No you cant let them do that, because its not the governments land.

Mr Watsons comments came a day after Immigration Minister Keith Bells statements at a press conference.

After being asked about the land on which unregulated houses were being built in Abaco, Mr Bell said, Some of it, in some cases is Crown land. And some of it we are aware of is Crown land that was leased to Bahamians who subleased it to other people.

He added, that there will be an increased number of immigration officers deployed to Abaco due to the recent expansion of several shanty towns there, with one unregulated community mushrooming to 200 acres since 2019.

Amid these concerns, Mr Watson said Friday that Mr Bell and other ministers were doing their best to ensure the problem was dealt with methodically and without issue.

I think a lot of times, we want things to happen instantly. It doesnt always work that way, because you have to now methodically deal with how youre going to address issues and do it in the most humane way without violating United Nations clauses, ensuring you are not violating any other laws, Mr Watson said.

Be sure that the administration is keen on addressing the issue. The minister of immigration is mandated and he is well executing his job to ensure it happens, he said.

Mr Watson said the issue of the unregulated homes in Abaco is one in which Bahamians share the blame.

Nowadays if you look at these shanty towns, they arent building them like how they used to build them before. Theyre livable homes now, he said.

But that still doesnt mean you can go in there with a bulldozer and break it down, because its not your land.

People often lay the blame at governments feet without recognising that there are Bahamians at the foundation of this issue, because they are making money off of these peoples desperate need.

To police Crown land, especially on these islands where there are thousands of acres, its almost next to impossible, you dont have the resources to do it. It is a difficult problem.

We have many challenges, more than you could imagine that you have to go through legally to be able to take action and thats what we have to bypass, Mr Watson said.

To date, the government of the Bahamas has spent over $2.2 million on repatriation exercises, with some 2,804 persons being repatriated to their homelands by the Department of Immigration, said Director of Immigration Keturah Ferguson.

A recent operation on Abaco resulted in 52 arrests and exposed the scope of the worsening shanty town problem.

The Department of Immigration launched Operation Expedition from October 7 to 10, when immigration officers as well as the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force went to the island to explore, detain and eventually repatriate any irregular migrants found.

The expedition found that one shanty town in particular - The Farm - had grown from 50 acres to about 200 acres since Hurricane Dorian.

Other shanty towns, including a large area in Marsh Harbour, have also expanded.

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Private land 'makes it difficult for govt to intervene' in shanty towns - Bahamas Tribune

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Have you ever dreamed of staying in an overwater bungalow on the beach?

These are the most beautiful underwater bungalows in the Caribbean to escape to on your next vacation!

Staying in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives or Bora Bora is a bucket list item for many travelers. But you dont have to fly halfway across the world to experience an overwater bungalow.

These Caribbean overwater bungalows are much closer for American travelers, and many are more affordable too.

Some of the best overwater bungalows in the Caribbean are at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

This all-inclusive resort offers a collection of South Pacific-style overwater bungalows where you can wake up and go for a swim in the crystal-clear turquoise waters around you before taking advantage of the many activities, amenities, and dining options included in your stay.

Check Prices At Sandals Royal Caribbean

The Bitter End Yacht Club in the British Virgin Islands has recently reopened after several years of closure due to Hurricane Irma, and they are welcoming back guests with the introduction of their all-new overwater bungalows.

This resort, which has long been popular with sailing and yacht enthusiasts in the Caribbean, is only accessible by boat, making it a secluded hideaway in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

Another great choice for overwater bungalows in the Caribbean is Palafitos Overwater Bungalows, located in Tulum, Mexico. This resort is set on exclusive Maroma Beach, known for its white sand and crystal-clear water.

Guests can enjoy the stunning beauty of Mexicos Caribbean coast in this enclave of 30 luxury overwater bungalows. You can watch the sunrise and sunset from your bungalow, some of which include private plunge pools.

If youre looking for a romantic and secluded getaway, the overwater bungalows at Amanyara in Turks & Caicos will not disappoint.

Set against an 18,000-acre nature preserve on one of the islands most beautiful beaches, this luxury resort offers overwater bungalows that will become your own personal paradise.

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Thatch Caye Resort in Belize offers some of the most affordable overwater bungalows in the Caribbean if you are looking to experience tropical luxury on a smaller budget, with rates starting at $699 USD per night for a couple.

This resort, which is located on a tiny island off the coast of Belize and only accessible by boat, is also all-inclusive. Youll be able to enjoy meals and activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling in your own secluded island getaway.

Check Prices At Thatch Caye Resort

Another one of the best overwater bugalows in the Caribbean is the collection at Royalton Antigua in Antigua & Barbuda.

This all-inclusive resort is known for being one of the most luxurious on the island, and their overwater bungalows are held to the same high standard. Each one includes a private plunge pool and additional exclusive amenities to make your trip as relaxing as possible.

Check Prices At Royalton Antigua

These are the best overwater bungalows in the Caribbean that are only a short flight away for American travelers.

While overwater bungalows are a luxury travel experience, some of these Caribbean overwater bungalows offer more affordable rates than those in the Maldives or Bora Bora.

Rates at these overwaters bungalows start at:

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6 Destinations In The Caribbean With Overwater Bungalows - Travel Off Path

White sand, palm trees, and clear turquoise water. You may be picturing a private island in the South Pacific. But what if you could skip the $2,000 plane ticket and rent your own private tropical island right here in the United States? In Florida, you can! If its a Florida Keys island rental youre after, jump straight in to part 1 on our list. Looking forCentralFlorida island rentals? Then check out part 2! From a 62-acre private island in a lake near Orlando to a 10-acre tropical Florida Keys private island rental, theres a little bit of something for everyone in this list of our8 favorite Florida private island rentals.

If youre searching for something just a bit more tropical, then a head a little farther south in our list of Belize Private Island Resorts or browse islands in the Caribbean. Want to stick to the US? Then check our complete list of more than 60 private island rentals in the United States!

So you want to rent an island in the keys? Seabird Key is an exclusive, 10-acre private island in Florida that can accommodate up to 10 guests in a 4,500 square-foot home. For more information on Seabird Keyvisit the Vrbo listing for this island.

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East Sister Rock Island is a Florida keys private island rental located a quarter mile off the Atlantic Coast of Marathon. This island can accommodate 6 people in a beautiful 2500 square foot Bahamian-style house. East Sister Rock Island Florida is one of the most stunning Florida private island rentals available! This may be the smallest private island on our list but you cant beat the privacy! For more information visit the Vrbo listing for this private island.

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Listed as Houseboat Docked at PRIVATE TROPICAL ISLAND with 17-ft Motorboat + Kayaks!Quiet Cove Key, Florida is a private island in the keys off the coast of Marathon. This Florida Keys private island rental comes with a house boat to sleep on! Not only is this one of the most beautiful and natural Florida private island rentals, it is also the most affordable on our list.Find other rentals in Marathon, FL or see our entire list of private island rentals in the United States.

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Listed as Sanibel FL PRIVATE ISLAND Featured on HGTV Island Hunters.Crescent Island is one of the only Florida private island rentals near the famous Sanibel Island. This 4-acre forested private island can accommodate up to 10 people in a stunning 1850 square foot home. For more information about Crescent Island, Florida, visit the Vrbo listing for this private island.

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Listed as Bridge to Paradise Island. This Florida island rentals near Cedar Key can accommodate 10 guests in a beautiful 2,975 square foot home. You can drive onto the island via a bridge from the mainland.And were so glad to see it because its a beauty. Check out the Vrbo listing for this stunning Florida private island rental!

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Listed as Up to 45 Guests Sleep At This Unique Private Island 62 Acre Estate!The Ever After Estate is a 62-acre private island near Orlando, Florida and can accommodate 45 guests in 3 homes. That makes Ever After Estate the largest of the Florida private island rentals on our list! This island is like having your own private theme park.The Ever After Estate has four video game arcades, poolside movie theater, a basketball court, soccer field, horseshoe pit, and a 14-hole mini golf course! Theres even a 2-story water slide and a ballpit room featuring 23,000 balls!For more information visitthe VRBO listing for this private island.

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Listed as Private Island Lodge Anglers, Scallopers, Get-A-Ways, Golfers, Retreats.Homosassa Island Lodge is a private island in the Homosassa River on the gulf coast of Florida . The island can accommodate up to 8 guests in a 2800 square foot lodge. There is a separate bungalow rental so youd have to rent both to have the whole island.For more information visit the VRBO listing for this private island.

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Listed as Rainbow River Home with Private Island. Includes kayaks, pool table!This property on Rainbow River, Florida includes a 5000 square foot home on the mainland and a private island in the river that you can camp on. The rental can accommodate up to 20 guests.For more information visit the VRBO listing for this private island.

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Florida private island rentals - 8 islands that will blow you away!

Located just east of the island of Phuket, an island popular with tourists and estate owners, Rangyai is the largest island currently available for sale in the region.

The island is close to both Phuket and Coconut Island both of which are home to numerous resorts, and are very popular with tourists. Ranyai Island is an advantageous position in the area, allowing the prospective owner to capitalize on the development potential of t ...

Located just east of the island of Phuket, an island popular with tourists and estate owners, Rangyai is the largest island currently available for sale in the region.

The island is close to both Phuket and Coconut Island both of which are home to numerous resorts, and are very popular with tourists. Ranyai Island is an advantageous position in the area, allowing the prospective owner to capitalize on the development potential of this property.

At 110 acres in size, the island comes complete with fresh water, electric generator, and mobile signal. The island is located only 20 minutes form Phuket International Airport and just 10 minutes by boat from the nearest town.

Much like its neighbour, Phuket, Rangyai Island is adorned by beautiful white sand beaches and lush tropical forests. In addition, given its advantageous location between the islands of Phuket, Krabi, and Phangna, the island benefits from incredible 360-views.

Located just east of the island of Phuket, an island popular with tourists and estate owners, Rangyai is the largest island currently available for sale in the region.

The island is close to both Phuket and Coconut Island both of which are home to numerous resorts, and are very popular with tourists. Ranyai Island is an advantageous position in the area, allowing the prospective owner to capitalize on the development potential of this property.

At 110 acres in size, the island comes complete with fresh water, electric generator, and mobile signal. The island is located only 20 minutes form Phuket International Airport and just 10 minutes by boat from the nearest town.

Much like its neighbour, Phuket, Rangyai Island is adorned by beautiful white sand beaches and lush tropical forests. In addition, given its advantageous location between the islands of Phuket, Krabi, and Phangna, the island benefits from incredible 360-views.

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Rangyai Island - Thailand, Asia - Private Islands for Sale

Zuha Island comes from the creators of Abu Dhabis Maldives-inspired Nurai Island

The creators of Abu Dhabis jaw-dropping Zaya Nurai Island are turning their attention to new shores in Dubai. Were already mentally checking-in to Zuha Island, a dazzling new private island resort currently under construction at the World Islands.

According to the Zuha Island website, the private island will be home to a collection of just 30 1, 2 and 3 bedroom residential villas, each on its own generous plot of land with dedicated beach and utmost privacy. But if youve not got a spare million or 60 lying around, youll be excited to hear that alongside the residences, Zuha Island will be home to a boutique retreat.

So even if youre not in the market for a mega mansion on the beach, youll be able to check-in for an idyllic, tropical staycation just 15 minutes from the Dubai mainland.

The website advertises that the Zuha is set to handover in the final quarter of 2024, which is when we expect the resort will also welcome guests. The Zuha resort will feature 70 resort villas perched on the ocean edge, and the first renders suggest that, like the brands original Abu Dhabi resort, many villas will come complete with their own private pools.

With a strong focus on wellness at this stunning boutique retreat, guests will benefit from treatments at a serene spa and healing centre, and will also enjoy access to a central swimming pool.

To keep stomachs satisfied, an all-day dining restaurant, a ceviche bar and a chic beach club are all part of the plan for Zuha Island.

The aesthetic is light and curvaceous, with interiors designed to celebrate and accentuate the shape of the island. Neutral palettes and natural materials are all about ensuring a seamless flow between interior and exterior spaces.

This is the third development to join the Dubai World Islands portfolio. The first hotel within the island archipelago, a luxurious Anantara property, opened at the end of 2021. In the coming weeks, the first hotels at The Heart of Europe will begin to welcome guests, with island staycationers first set to check-in to Cte dAzur Monaco resort.

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Images: Zuha Island

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Check out the out-of-this-world plans for Dubai's new private island resort - What's On Dubai