• expat-travel-interviews-places-and-notes

    Expats on Their Time Abroad: Katja, Places and notes

    2 January 2022 - By 

    As part of the next instalment in my new Expat Series on Guests’ Corner, I chatted to blogger, Katja of Places and notes travel blog. Katja, Charlie and Lu (10 years) and Mila (six months), are a Slovenian-French-German family of four who love travelling. They document all their adventures on their exciting travel blog, Places and notes, which features stories from 60+ countries, as well as notes about road trips, backpacking, hiking, winter sports and so much more! As a family, they love to hit the beach, hike, camp, ski and grab a tasty bite to eat. When they travel,…

  • expat-travel-interviews-ninad-chitnis

    Expats on Their Time Abroad: Ninad Chitnis, Walk and Explore

    19 December 2021 - By 

    As part of the first instalment in my new Expat Series on Guests’ Corner, I chatted to blogger, Ninad Chitnis of Walk and Explore. Originally from Mumbai, India, Ninad is a full-time engineer and part-time blogger who now calls Switzerland home. Ninad is passionate about exploring new places and this is something he does whenever he has free time! While Ninad loves his day job and would never do anything else, his blog, Walk and Explore, helps keep him sane and motivated. On his blog, he shares an interesting mix of thought-provoking content and beautiful imagery. I have had the…

  • tokara-estate-stellenbosch

    Tantalising Tokara Wine and Olive Estate, Stellenbosch

    6 October 2021 - By 

    Situated along scenic Helshoogte Pass, at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountain, Tokara Wine and Olive Estate in Stellenbosch is one of the most stunning wine farms anywhere. This estate is famed for its award-winning wines and extra virgin olive oils. Yet, over time, it has become so much more than just a humble wine and olive estate. Owned by GT and Anne-Marie Ferreira, who first purchased the farm in 1994, Tokara (which is touchingly a combination of the Ferreira children’s first names, Thomas and Kara) originally started as a farm for a peaceful family home. Soon, though, it blossomed…

  • fabulous-fynbos-workshop

    Fabulous Fynbos: A Fynbos and Protea Workshop at The Kraal

    27 September 2021 - By 

    Recently, Susan Dehosse of The Kraal at Joostenberg Wine Estate invited me to cover and participate in an exciting floral workshop event. It was a collaboration between local fynbos and protea supplier, Fabulous Fynbos, and The Kraal. What could be lovelier than a fynbos and protea-themed workshop event during spring? Personally, having grown up on Cape farms, both proteas and fynbos have been a huge part of my life. It is also no secret that I am low-key obsessed with our indigenous proteas. (Everything from my home decor to my favourite bouquets are protea-themed.) Taking place at The Kraal Restaurant…

  • picnics-tangled-tree-wines

    Photo Essay: Springtime Picnics with Tangled Tree Wines

    14 September 2021 - By 

    Recently, Tangled Tree Wines invited me to create a spring-inspired picnic experience; this post is designed to showcase the result of that fun wine-meets-picnic collaboration. I am all for local businesses and wine farms finding ways to be more planet-friendly so Van Loveren Family Vineyards’ eco-friendly Tangled Tree wine range instantly appealed to me. Best of all, the wine bottles are planet-conscious, visually attractive and unbreakable. This makes them perfectly safe for enjoying indoors, out in the garden or wherever your next adventure takes you. (With alcohol restrictions adhered to, of course.) Enjoy Heading Safely Outdoors this Spring With the warmer…

  • how-covid-has-changed-the-way-we-travel

    Bloggers on How COVID Has Changed the Way We Travel

    1 August 2021 - By 

    Last year, at the start of the global pandemic, I asked a few bloggers to share their thoughts on where they want to travel when the pandemic is over. Now, a year and a half later, life is still far from normal and we have all had to adjust to a new world, accepting that, at least for the time being, COVID-19 remains a part of it. In this post, myself and some lovely guest bloggers share the different ways that COVID-19 has changed the way we travel. How the Pandemic Has Changed the Way We Travel Some have found…

  • help-south-africa

    How You Can Help South Africa: Donate, Volunteer and Help Rebuild SA

    14 July 2021 - By 

    I hesitated about publishing this post – but a quick search on Google for places to donate during my country’s crisis has made it clear that I should. This is not a travel-related post – but as a South African – especially a SA blogger – and thus, someone who can reach hundreds, sometimes thousands in a day or a week or month through my blog – I feel I must do my bit to help South Africa. Help South Africa In this post, I share ways that you can help too. Regardless of whether you are a fellow South…

  • eat-at-constantia-glen

    Eat at Constantia Glen and Enjoy a Host of Winter Specials

    22 June 2021 - By 

    Found unobtrusively along the forested Constantia Main Road, just before you ascend up Constantia Nek, lies the beautiful Constantia Glen. This boutique wine farm offers visitors both a wonderful tasting room and modern restaurant. And arguably some of the best views that you will encounter anywhere in both. Currently, until end-July 2021, they are running some excellent winter specials when you eat at Constantia Glen’s suave restaurant. Although honestly, this wine farm is a joy to visit year-round and offers an excellent array of both food and wine. Plus, it’s perfectly situated within easy driving distance from some of the…

  • bistro-sixteen82-steenberg-lunches

    Bistro Sixteen82, Steenberg Vineyards: Deliciously Satisfying Lunches

    31 May 2021 - By 

    Tucked away in Tokai, Steenberg Vineyards is a welcoming respite from the everyday bustle of the inner city. More importantly, it is a key part of the idyllic Constantia Wine Valley. This beautiful farm, edged by picturesque mountain vistas and indigenous gardens, is a quality destination for all to enjoy. Steenberg Vineyards Has It All Steenberg offers plenty for its visitors. Especially with its five-star hotel accommodation and spa, golf course, award-winning wines and two in-house restaurants in Tryn and Bistro Sixteen82. Best of all, Steenberg lies a mere 30 minutes from the city centre. This makes it wonderfully accessible…

  • hazendal-picnic

    Hazendal Wine Estate: A Sensory Feast in the Stellenbosch Winelands

    23 April 2021 - By 

    In August 2019, I first had the pleasure of exploring the newly revamped and revived Hazendal Wine Estate. Tucked away along Bottelary Road in Stellenbosch, even then, Hazendal struck me as a sensory feast, in every way. With its tranquil lawns and distant rolling hills, blend of Cape Dutch buildings and other modern additions (like the Pavilion), outstanding food- and wine-offerings and unique experiences (like Babushka picnics, Wonderdal for kids and more) – Hazendal made its presence instantly felt. So, some two years later, I was delighted to re-visit this beautiful estate. Happily, my return showed me that Hazendal has…