Contemplate life and nature from these thrones.
1. Kaya Mawa, Malawi
Sit back and admire the bright waters of Lake Malawi from the water closet of Kaya Mawa on Likoma Island. Here you’ll find luxury and peace away from the mainland in your own private house or one of the rooms sprinkled around the property. After a long day of water activities such as snorkelling, water-skiing and kayaking, take time to view the paradise around you from the loo or the stone bath. www.kayamawa.com
2. Otter Trail, Eastern Cape
One of the perks of hiking is communing with nature. The Otter Trail, one of South Africa’s most popular hikes, allows you to enjoy the view while still offering a crucial modern convenience – flush toilets. Set above each camp is a wooden cubicle with a one-way glass window, which allows you to maintain your privacy while watching the ocean pound the coast. To enjoy these facilities you’ll need to plan far ahead; the Otter Trail is booked up to two years in advance.
3. Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, Western Cape
For the less adventurous traveller, the murals of the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice in Cape Town offer plenty of views. The “˜view’ of Cape Town and Table Mountain in the Long Drop cubicle is quite spectacular. Each stall has a different theme so you can also check out Lou Rawls, a cubicle dedicated to the American jazz musician; Stage Fright, in which a painted crowd watches you; or To Let, which is artfully decorated with various To Let signs. PS: Don’t forget to ride in the themed elevators. www.proteahotels.com
4. Leshiba Wilderness, Limpopo
Watch the mist roll in while perched on the loo of the luxurious Venda Village Lodge of Leshiba Wilderness. You’ll feel as if nothing separates you from the lush montane forest as you look out from a private bathroom verandah. Leshiba Wilderness is a family-run private nature reserve and forms part of the Western Soutpansberg Conservancy. When you’re done admiring the view, there’s plenty more to see on game drives, including white rhino, giraffe, Burchell’s zebra and large antelope such as kudu. www.leshiba.co.za
5. Donkey Trail, Western Cape
View one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots in the Swartberg Mountains (one of SA’s best scenic drives) while you spend a penny on the Donkey Trail. You’ll camp among the peaks and get to use this open-plan can. Opened in 2008, the Donkey Trail is slackpacking with a difference – as in days of yore packs are carried by gentle donkeys while you follow a path left by the Klowers of Die Hel taking produce to sell in Calitzdorp. www.donkeytrail.com
6. Ngepi Camp, Namibia
You’ll be spoilt for choice at Ngepi Camp Lodge in Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. There are so many off-the-wall toilets that an ablutions tour is offered. Take your pick of Poopa Falls, set on a high wooden platform; Garden of Eden, amid flourishing foliage; Boskak (literally in a bush); or The Throne, overlooking the Okavango River. One of the great things about Ngepi is that nothing goes to waste and even the sewage is recycled and used to compost the trees. Now that’s going green! www.ngepicamp.com
Tell us about your favourite loo with a view! Add your pick in the comments section below.
Photographs courtesy of Sarah Duff, James Lightfoot and Marion Whitehead.
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