Ian Belcher

Deterrents are rarely so precise. Gazing through the sights of a communist clifftop canon, its rusting barrel pointing due west towards former capitalist foes, my eyes perfectly align with the dying sun as it bleeds into the Adriatic. “This feels like the end of the world,” sighs my ponytailed guide, Pino Vojković. “We waited but nobody came.” They certainly do now. Vis, home to the abandoned Cold War base on the outer edge of the Southern Dalmatian Archipelago, enjoys A-list status among foodies, conservationists, and movie location scouts. One of the most secluded of Croatia’s 1,200-plus islands, it blends pristine, crystal-clear waters and hidden bays with raw, authentic local culture.

Million-strong caravans of wildebeest, darkly efficient lion kills, exuberantly plumaged birds – Africa’s prolific wildlife is a consummate scene stealer. So much so that the continent’s glorious wilderness landscapes rarely earn equal billing. Welcome to the stage Zambia and Botswana, where a two-center, dry season safari upends that formula. While the animals are many and mesmerizing – Moremi is Africa’s “Predator Capital,” the Makgadikgadi a magnet for 50,000 migrating zebra – they’re extras rather than A-list stars; tonic to the scenic gin. Where else to start but Victoria Falls?