lackbook sneak peek A tower of endangered reticulated giraffe gather at the watering hole in front of Ol Jogi, the Wildenstein family’s private Kenyan ranch, now available for exclusive-use rental. This 23,470ha sanctuary on the scenically diverse Laikipia Plateau is home to dozens of protected black and white rhinos, hundreds of elephants, dozens of carnivores large and small, primates, ungulates and more than 300 species of birds. And because the vast property is privately owned, visitors are free to explore it whenever and however they wish – on horseback, on foot or by rover accompanied by Ol Jogi’s skilled rangers. Seven individually designed cottages host 14 guests, while the beautifully appointed main house serves as a base for meals and socialising. Between excursions, guests can cool off with a swim in the pool, unwind with a massage or sip a cocktail overlooking the watering hole and its ever-changing wildlife scene with the slopes of Mount Kenya presiding in the distance. It is one of the few places in Africa where the lavish accommodations come close to matching the majestic splendour of their natural surroundings. Alec Wildenstein uses the proceeds from rentals to fund his pioneering efforts in wildlife conservation, which include extensive antipoaching projects, the creation of wildlife corridors, education programmes and wildlife rescue and veterinary centres, which guests are welcome to visit. An all-inclusive week’s stay for up to 14 guests costs US0,000; oljogihome.com Laurie kahle A major draw Thanks to one couple’s benevolence, a once-forgotten corner of France is now firmly in the spotlight HE IS ONE of The country’s best-known contemporary artists and now, Pierre Soulages, and his wife, Colette, have made one of the most significant donations in recent memory, gifting some 500 works and documents to the just-opened Musée Soulages. Located in Rodez, the artist’s 1919 birthplace and home to a 13th-century Gothic cathedral of exceptional beauty, the capital city of the département of Aveyron remains one of France’s most remote regions, known for its gastronomy and diverse, rural terrain. But the area hardly sees the influx of visitors that nearby Tarn and Provence enjoy. The Musée Soulages aims to change all that – in addition to paying homage to the evolution of the artist, who paints primarily in black. The series of steel and rust-clad boxes comprising the museum opens onto recently refurbished public gardens, bridging the city’s historic centre with newer neighbourhoods. At the museum’s heart is Le Café Bras, a casual concept eatery showcasing the gastronomy of two other famed Aveyron sons – Michel and Sébastien Bras – whose three-Michelin-star restaurant is just an hour’s drive from here on the sublime Aubrac plateau. musee-soulages.grand-rodez.com terrY WARD Photos from top: Gaston Bergeret, Ricardo fumanal 24 CENTURION-Magazine.com Take a cultural tour – for museums outside Paris log on to www.centurion-magazine.com
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