“Let tradition be your guide, not your anchor.” Do you stick to traditions and pass on the torch so to speak, or do you prefer to ignite your own ideas and start new family trends of your own? With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and romance on the minds of many, we thought we’d add our own &Beyond take to the widespread and time-honoured tradition of connecting wedding anniversaries with specific gift ideas. When in doubt, just be creative, add your own personal touch and make it memorable.
1st: paper
Build a scrapbook or photo album to document your adventures together.
2nd: cotton
Visit the bustling markets of Peru and choose a colourful Andean poncho to keep you warm.
3rd: leather
From chic boutique shops to friendly artisan markets, Buenos Aires in Argentina is renowned for its elegantly tailored leather goods.
4th: fruit & flowers, or linen & silk
Surround yourself with long-stemmed roses at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania. From rose petals in and around your bubble bath to a soft, velvety carpet of petals surrounding your private dinner for two, there are roses (literally) everywhere you look.
5th: wood
Escape to a romantic and secluded wooden treehouse suite, located deep in the heart of a mahogany forest at &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge in Tanzania.
6th: iron
Celebrate the sunrise in Botswana’s Okavango Delta with a delicious, flavour-filled jaffle, toasted to perfection in a jaffle iron on an open fire at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, or a sinful waffle hot off the waffle iron complete with every topping you can dream of at &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp.
7th: wool / copper
Keep warm in the rugged landscapes of Peru with an authentic, warm and luxuriously soft alpaca wool jersey or scarf, or build your own pizza to be cooked in the shiny copper oven at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge.
8th: bronze
9th: pottery
Mingle with the talented traders, weavers and local artisans along the ancient stepped wall of Maje-ki-Baoli in Udaipur, India and try your hand at the time-honoured art of making pottery.
10th: tin / aluminum
Keep the memory of your African safari alive back home with a convenient, stackable tiffin tin and matching coffee plunger and safari coffee mugs.
Image © Matt Yardley.
11th: steel
12th: silk
No trip to an Indian marketplace is complete without purchasing a colourful silk sari.
13th: lace
14th: ivory
Leave the ivory where it belongs, and venture deep into the Ngorongoro Crater to witness the world-famous and truly magnificent ‘big tusker’ elephants.
15th: crystal
20th: china
25th: silver
Come face to face with a mighty silverback mountain gorilla high up in the lush rainforests of Uganda.
30th: pearl
35th: coral
Scuba dive to your heart’s content amidst the colourful coral reefs of &Beyond Mnemba Island, &Beyond Vamizi Island or &Beyond Benguerra Island.
Image © Matt Reston.
40th: ruby
45th: sapphire
Find your 50 shades of blue in Sri Lanka, which is globally recognised as one of the best places to buy these exquisite gemstones.
50th: gold
One of the holiest sites in India, did you know the entire top of the famous Golden Temple in Amritsar is made of pure gold?
55th: emerald
60th: diamond
You know what they say, diamonds speak louder than words. Explore the breathtaking beauty of Namibia, complete with a privately hosted shopping experience in Windhoek where you can enjoy a fascinating tour of the Diamond Works, Namibia’s premier diamond experts, and shop for the perfect cut, clarity and design.
So whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or an important anniversary milestone, we hope these ideas will inspire you. And if you’re still stumped for gift ideas, our &Beyond gift certificates are always a win! Who doesn’t love the gift of travel…?!
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