Wild, wild, wild! This is how we start the Western New Year in January in our first issue of Travel Africa for 2017. So pack your bags!

We take you to two of the best-known wildlife destinations in southern Africa - Kenya and South Africa - and also show you a lesser-known eco-paradise in the form of Mumbo Island in the magical land of Malawi.

In the second part of my article on the camps at Basecamp Explorer in the Maasai Mara in Kenya, we explore the vast plains and diversity of animals further as well as luxuriating in the splendour that is Eagle View Camp.

I also suggest that you stay at Hemingway's in Nairobi for at least one night on your way to the Mara. It is currently being refurbished and promises to be a never-to-be-forgotten experience.

In South Africa we take a sojourn to a much closer game lodge. Tambuti Lodge is conveniently located just two hours from Johannesburg and practically on the door step of the iconic Sun City resort but you are immersed in the bush here with the Big-Five running around.

One of the most special, magical and off-the-beaten-track places I have ever stayed is Mumbo Island in Malawi. It is not that easy to get there but get there you must. In my opinion it is one of the most closely guarded secrets of Africa and is guaranteed to blow your mind. It is an uninhabited tropical island lightly floating on the vast waters of the Lake Malawi National Park marine reserve in the Southeast African country of Malawi. It is only 1 km in diameter and lies 10 km northwest of Cape Maclear. The lake is 600 km long, 80 km wide and over 700 meters deep and is the southern extremity of the African Rift Valley. If you want to feel like the last - or first - people on earth, there is no place like Mumbo.

So dear reader, enjoy this issue of Africa Travel and until we meet again, bon voyage!