It’s been a while since I last checked in here, so I thought it was time for a little update.
A lot has changed for me over the past few years — in my life, travels, career and even in how I create content. I also know there are some new faces visiting my blog daily. 🙂
So, I’ve put together a Q&A that I hope will shed some light on what I’ve previously shared, where I’m at right now and where I’m headed going forwards, both as a blogger and writer.
Whether you’ve been following this blog since day one and its official launch in June 2015 – or you’ve only just stumbled across it now, I wanted to share a bit about where I am currently at with my brand, what’s in the pipeline and what you can expect from Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust – Travel Writing and Photography for the rest of 2025 and beyond.
In this post, I share what it means to travel with a baby, cats and a carefully planned itinerary.
1) For new readers and followers, what is Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust – Travel Writing and Photography Blog all about – and where did the blog begin?
Presently (and indeed for the past several years) my blog is a creative mix of everything from child-friendly restaurant posts to pet-friendly accommodation, solo travel inspiration, hosted reviews and above all, all things food, experiences and travel in Cape Town, the Western Cape, South Africa and beyond.
As for where it all began – well, my blog was a university assignment that cemented my goal of becoming a travel writer.
Growing up, I’d pore over Getaway magazine and the Weekend Argus’ Travel guide and imagine telling my own travel stories someday.
And while I always imagined doing it for a publication or travel site (and I did for some time while I worked at The Inside Guide or freelanced for Timbuktu Travel), creating and running my own blog, with my own creative vision and editorial rights, is somehow infinitely better than anything I dreamt up.
It’s harder work for sure, especially as I have always worked a full-time day job and been a part-time freelancer simultaneously, but it is definitely more rewarding.
2) How has becoming a mother influenced or changed the way you travel and blog?
Honestly, more than I thought possible. Last year was incredibly challenging for me on a personal level. I lost my beloved soul cat and very soon after, fell pregnant with our first baby so I was a bit of an emotional mess.
Add to that, a careful pregnancy (I was cautiously monitored for pre-eclampsia throughout), chronic morning sickness that basically lasted every day for eight, maybe nine, months solid and excessive weight gain and fluid retention… And you end up with a pretty unhappy camper who couldn’t drink wine, struggled to eat and did not have her usual zest for travel.
I also had so much to prepare for – and then I had a long, somewhat arduous labour and very intense, demanding newborn to navigate, both of which really changed my recovery and long-term plans… So becoming a mother was rough at first.
But thankfully, I had an amazing, top class medical team, doula and fiance – plus, my dear good friends – all of whom got me through it relatively unscathed.
I was reborn with my child into an entirely new person almost. And yet, despite this, I still wanted to continue with my blog.
It just means my life, and blog, looks different now.
A Career Break… for Now
Since June, I have stepped away from my full-time job to care for our baby, who is honestly the best thing on this planet in my eyes.
But that means for the first time ever, my blog and freelancing are my career. That change has been exciting and stressful and something of an identity crisis for me.
Still, motherhood has given me new perspective, softened and matured me in so many ways and made me fiercely protective of my time, my little family and even my privacy.
I have questioned how to be vulnerable and authentic without exposing my family or child to social media or the internet too heavily.
But, at the same time, we are raising a child who loves travel, has a curiosity for the world and enjoys interacting and engaging with people so that has been beautiful to see and experience.
It’s really let me see the world through a different lens and it does alter how I travel and why.
3) What kind of blog and social media content can readers and followers expect going forwards?
So I have lots of hosted but family-friendly accommodation and travel reviews on the way. As well as some small town charms and the odd foodie or wine farm highlight too.
My blog also features new categories, like the Baby Travel or Pet-Friendly ones. Because I have spent the past six to seven years travelling with my cats and now we are travelling with an infant and a cat at times, my travel itineraries are different. Less rigid, more relaxed. They have to be.
But also, since 2020, the child-friendly and pet-friendly content has been my best performing content – so it works for me and my audience.
4) Will you ever feature your child(ren) on the blog — and if so, in what way?
No, not in the sense of, say, a parenting blog or mommy blogger.
My fiance and I both work in IT and understand the digital landscape, dark corners of the internet and bad side of AI a little too well for me to ever expose my child(ren) to it in certain ways.
For example, we don’t even post our child’s face or clear images on our private accounts and have strict rules around how and where we share photos or videos of our baby.
Parenting and Blogging in the Digital Age
I also won’t share my child’s name or our live location at a venue or event because I want to safeguard my family.
But I do share some life updates, like announcing the pregnancy or birth, if it directly influences or impacts my blog or ability to write, create content or travel.
And I might share the odd generic photos or feature my partner, for example, with his consent because that’s something we have both carefully discussed and approved together.
In time, I will also allow my child to be part of my travels and content reviews but only in a way that shares our family’s overall takeaway or what my child thought of a travel product or children’s playground, restaurant or experience.
I believe there is value in that for other parents and children so that’s not beyond my scope of possibility.
5) What do you have planned for the remainder of 2025 and beyond?
For the remainder of 2025 and beyond, we have some family trips planned.
So far, we have already done Langebaan and Montagu, where I grew up – but we have one or two special trips still to come.
But, because we are travelling with a baby, it means less high intensity travel adventures and more slow paced, gentler experiences.
Which, honestly, I am really enjoying at present. It has taught me to slow down and value longer outings.
6) Now that you’re featuring more family- and pet-friendly travel content, will readers still find foodie, accommodation, and experience-based reviews on the blog?
Of course! Motherhood is a huge part of my personality now (I am obsessed with my child and being the best parent I can be) – but it isn’t my sole identity.
I am still a writer, a blogger, a traveller, a foodie and a wine lover (although I am not presently drinking due to breastfeeding so I do miss wine a bit).
And people will always find food and wine or experience-centric content on my blogs and socials.
7) Will we start to see more international content? And do you plan to travel overseas at all in the near future?
My fiance was fortunate to travel to Valencia, Spain last year. But I couldn’t tag along as I was heavily pregnant – so that has definitely increased our desire to travel internationally.
He also has family overseas in Europe so we really want to visit them and discover that part of the world.
So it is in our game plan to travel internationally and, when we do, I will blog about and share it on social media for sure. For now, we don’t have any set plans to travel abroard… yet!
We did explore Mpumalanga and Gauteng in 2024 though and that was great because I added two new SA provinces, cities and towns, like Dullstroom, to my cap – so there are just two (Limpopo and North West) of our nine provinces left to go for me.
8) What’s the best social media platform for readers or brands to connect with you on?
If you want to engage with me or DM me, definitely Instagram. I have a great community on there.
The platform isn’t my best because I can’t seem to grow there any more – but I do love engaging with my followers and fellow bloggers on Insta.
Since 2018, I have also connected with and promoted some incredible brands and local businesses through Instagram, so I can’t complain.
9) What’s your favourite social media platform — and why do you enjoy it the most?
Oh, definitely TikTok! I joined it for the trends and meme-y content but stayed for the growth and positive communities I found on there.
TikTok does really well for me. I have had some content explode on there so that’s been quite surprising and fun! 🙂
10) Do you still collaborate with brands or feature PR content, like for hosted trips or press drops?
Definitely! I have always worked with local wine farms, fellow bloggers and some incredible brands and that won’t stop.
I love doing hosted reviews or sharing press drops or media trips. It taps into my journalistic side and I really enjoy meeting and working with people and brands to showcase a local business, product or travel experience.
If you want to work with me, please reach out.
I am always open to chatting and can happily share some rates, insights or past work.
11) What’s the best way for brands, PR reps or businesses to reach out or work with you?
You can email me (tamlyn.ryan63(at)gmail.com), comment on my blog or send me a DM.
I am always happy to chat online. Or, to see how we can work together.
As for my readers or followers, they can reach out on socials or my blog. I love to meet you guys and I often happily share tips or advice via my blog or DMs! 🙂
In Summary
Thank you so much to everyone who follows along — whether you’ve been here since day one or have only just found Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust.
My blog has changed a lot over the years (as have I thankfully!), so I really appreciate everyone who has stuck around and supported me through it all.
I’m excited for what is still to come for the blog – and I’m glad to have you here for my travel journey! 🙂
About the Author
