LUXLIFE MAGAZINE | 5 Palmares Ocean Living & Golf: The Ultimate Luxury Retreat Natural Diamond Council Global Ambassador, Lily James,Visits Botswana Highlights positive impact of the natural diamond industry on education, conservation, and local business The Natural Diamond Council's newly appointed Global Ambassador actress Lily James visited the country of Botswana to experience firsthand the positive impacts of the natural diamond industry, and incredible process of recovering the rare, billion-year-old precious gems. Her trip began with four days on Safari at The Selinda Reserve, a picturesque wildlife sanctuary home to thousands of elephants and the famous Selinda lion pride. From there, she visited the Orapa Game Park—part of the De Beers Diamond Route—which illustrated firsthand the impact of the natural diamond industry's conservation efforts. Ms. James also met with students and teachers at the Livingstone House Primary School, one of four schools in the community that are run by Debswana—a diamond mining company owned by De Beers and the government of Botswana. This was followed by the opportunity to see natural diamonds at their point of origin with a visit to Lucara Diamond Corp's Karowe Diamond Mine, as well as the De Beers Global Sightholder Sales facility in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. Her last stop was the KGK Diamonds cutting and polishing facility in Gaborone, where she met with some of their remarkable employees—a majority of which are native citizens whose livelihoods are supported by the natural diamond industry. "I've been awestruck by the natural beauty and the vibrant communities I've seen in Botswana," says Lily James. "To know so much of this land— over 1,000 square miles globally is protected by the natural diamond industry makes me incredibly proud to be the NDC's Global Ambassador." "It's been incredible to experience Botswana for the first time with our Ambassador, Lily James. I'd heard so much about the positive impact Nestled in a natural amphitheatre on the Algarve coast sits Palmares Ocean Living & Golf. The resort combines exceptional golfing and leisure facilities with spectacular sea views over the estuary of Alvor in Portugal’s Western Algarve. Property buyers at Palmares can enjoy luxury at every turn. They can choose homes designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects RCR Arquitectes and eat in fine dining restaurant Al Sud, where Michelin-starred Executive Chef Louis Anjos is serving up the very best flavours of the Algarve. Al Sud was awarded its first Michelin star just seven months after opening. Chef Anjos is also in charge of the hotel and clubhouse restaurants at Palmares, both of which operate to the renowned chef’s exacting standards. The clubhouse, also designed by RCR Arquitectes and with views over the Bay of Lagos and the Alvor Estuary, is the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a world-class bite to eat. Since reworking the clubhouse menu when he started there in November 2020, Chef Anjos has delivered gourmet treats such as local Alvor oysters and wedge clams in flavour-packed broth. His Dover sole and deep-water rose shrimp caldeirada is like eating the Algarve on a plate, while the rabbit with Monchique black pudding is the perfect hearty dish after a strenuous round of golf. At Al Sud, Chef Anjos’ six and nine-dish tasting menus take diners on a gastronomic journey across the Algarve, which is known for its olives, almonds, honey and citrus fruit, as well as its bountiful fish and shellfish. Fresh, seasonal flavours are complemented by fine wines from across Portugal. At Palmares’ Experience Cocktail Bar, meanwhile, award-winning mixologist Jaime Montgomery is serving menus of five, seven and nine ‘moments’ that allow customers to sample a flight of flavours. They include modern twists on classic cocktails, such as the Negroni and Manhattan, as well as some exciting and surprising new combinations (Apples & Oysters, anyone?). Palmares Ocean Living’s golfing facilities are also exceptional. The resort’s 27-hole golf course was designed by legendary American architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. It provides the perfect balance of challenging play and moments to drink in the beauty of the setting. Buyers have a range of options available at Palmares Ocean Living. One example, priced at €3.4 million, is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom golf-front and oceanview villa, with turnkey design by RCR Arquitectes. These design-led homes are simply stunning. Every home at Palmares Ocean Living & Golf has been designed with privacy and serenity in mind. The low-density construction, at just 5.7%, forges an exceptional harmony between residential accommodation, golf and the ocean. Strict construction parameters have been put in place to protect the sea views, including building implementation zones and height limits. This ensures that each home has the opportunity to benefit individually from the stunning natural surroundings. Villas and apartments at Palmares Ocean Living are part of a masterplan of 460 homes (103 villas, 357 apartments), a second five-star hotel (complementing the existing boutique 20-room 5*hotel) and an array of sports and leisure facilities. Ownership includes annual golf membership for two. For buyers who prefer to relax on the beach rather than the golf course, the golden sands of the stunning 4km Meia-Praia beach are just steps from the resort. The characterful town of Lagos, meanwhile, is a 10-minute drive away. of the natural diamond industry in this country, but nothing can prepare you for the real experience," says David Kellie, CEO of Natural Diamond Council. "The natural diamond industry is an example to others as to how collaborations between governments and business can transform the lives of so many people and the communities in which they live." Located in the middle of the Kalahari desert and believed to be the birthplace of humans 200,000-300,000 years ago, Botswana is a country with a population of 2.35 million people that has been inhabited and remained an important place in the world. Natural diamonds were discovered there in 1967. Natural diamonds support the livelihood of more than 10 million people worldwide and nowhere is the positive impact felt more than in Botswana, contributing 33% of Botswana's GDP in 2021. Botswana also has the highest percentage of women-owned businesses in the world. The diamond industry's partnership with the government of Botswana sustains a school system educating on average 552,000 children a year. In 1966, there were just three secondary schools. Today there are 300 and every Botswanan child receives free primary and secondary education. Additional benefits of the natural diamond industry include providing healthcare for more than 4 million people globally and funding critical infrastructure development including schools, hospitals, and roads. Further information regarding the natural diamond industry's contributions to economies and communities can be found at the Natural Diamond Council's Thank You, By The Way campaign, which has recently gained support from industry retailers such as Jared and Ben Bridge Jewelers.
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