In addition to ushering in 2013 with positive energy and an appetite for fresh discovery, our annual tradition at JG Black Book is to commemorate all that we and our partners have experienced in the past year.

Celebrate with us each day this week as we pause and rewind to some of our favorite, most popular Black Blog of Travel entries from 2012.

Thanks for the memories!

Cheers to 2013,

-the JG Black Book team

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Welcome to Singita Week on the Black Blog of Travel! This week, every post on the Black Blog of Travel comes from our partner, Singita, boasting Travel + Leisure's 2012 #1, #7 and #10 Best Hotels in the World!

Singita Explore

Today, Donna Patterson, Singita Chef, shares her experience visiting Singita’s new mobile tented camp, Singita Explore.

""In the quiet, open plains of the Grumeti Reserves the Singita Explore tents are strategically placed on hidden sites; they secretively exist among the wildlife and grasslands alone. The quiet serenity created by the absence of background noise, generators and mundane operations is mindful; I would even go as far to say soulful. The comfort and luxuries of camping are endless and the food served off the wood burning fires is a highlight of everyone’s day.

The use of amber coals is the chef’s signature at Explore and fires are a priority at every meal. Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner at least one item on the menu is prepared on the open fire. What a unique concept and so challenging, yet Chef Janine Lourens handles it as if she was altering the heat on her convection oven in a normal kitchen! I am clearly a chef in a comfort zone working at Singita Serengeti House. The delights that are served are of such a high quality, never mind that they are exposed to the open elements of an uncontrolled environment, and they are delivered with perfection.

Beautiful compositions of fresh salads, coal cooked meat and fire baked breads entirely meet every guest's desires. Rounded off with a light and oh-so-heavenly dessert, who could ask for more?

The entire experience of spending nights under the African sky so close to nature, blew me away. Creature comforts exist such as the comfiest beds, hammocks, yoga mats, flushing toilets and warm water showers – all enveloped by the robust structures of canvas, rubber and steel. Showers are prepared by the night staff and brought to your room in a bucket, hung above your tent outside your bathroom and connected to a showerhead that you have full control over, just as you would back home with a tap/faucet. And may I add, the showers are long enough to wash and condition my long hair! Complete luxury." A view seen only from Singita Explore