• spier-wine-farm-stellenbosch

    Travel Review: Most Amazing Spier Experiences

    11 November 2017 - By 

    Recently, we finally had the chance to experience Spier Wine Farm first-hand and I couldn’t have left the wonderful wine farm any more besotted! The beautiful Stellenbosch estate boasts a proud, long-standing wine-making history, dating back to 1692… And though Spier may be one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, it has lost none of its youthfulness. In fact, Spier is one of the most family-friendly and engaging Cape wine farms I’ve ever been to – and I’ve explored my fair share! We made the most of our day trip, exploring almost every inch of the stunning Stellenbosch estate and these…

  • gecko-creek-wilderness-lodge

    Accommodation Review: A Rustic Cederberg Getaway at Peaceful Gecko Creek

    21 October 2017 - By 

    Our stay at Gecko Creek Wilderness Lodge – and overall first-time experience of the Cederberg – was something I had planned two months in advance. This was made effortlessly simple thanks to owner Linton and then-overseers and managers, Monica and Glenn. We arranged dates and in reply, they sent me a detailed email highlighting all the dos and don’ts of Gecko Creek. I appreciated this because it made my planning job that much easier. Small touches like this ensure that the traveller is well-prepared for their visit, whether they do further research or not. For instance, we knew that we…

  • Guests’ Corner: Campbell and Alya, Stingy Nomads

    17 October 2017 - By 

    As part of the next instalment in my Guests’ Corner, a new travel interview segment on Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust, I chatted to fellow travel bloggers, Campbell and Alya. Cambell and Alya are a South African-Russian couple who met in a dormitory, while surfing in the Philippines. Since that day more than three years ago now, they’ve been travelling and photographing the world – one country at a time. The couple recently tied the knot in South Africa and now their current mission is to explore their home countries, South Africa and Russia, and showcase them to the world. Their travel…

  • Cafe Review: Ginja Beanz Coffee Cafe, Langebaan

    13 September 2017 - By 

    In late July, our three-day trip to Langebaan revealed some true local gems. One such place was Ginja Beanz Coffee Café. Found in Waterfront Square, this charming coffee shop will surprise more than a few visitors. People always think that small towns can’t have top class food spots… But, having grown up in Montagu where hospitality reigns, we know better than that. Referring to itself as the “coffee capital of Langebaan”, Ginja Beanz takes their coffee seriously. This is evident from the moment you enter. Inside there is an elegant display counter offering a glimpse at their coffee for sale,…

  • black

    Travel Review: Langebaan’s Nano Brewery, Black Eagle Brewing Company

    11 August 2017 - By 

    When I was doing a careful search into the best places to stay/dine at in Langebaan, the name ‘Black Eagle Brewing Company’ kept popping up. TripAdvisor reviewers were hailing this local brewery as a real gem for great beer and eats. In some cases, others even rated it as one of the best little breweries in the Western Cape.  Now, anyone who knows me, knows that cocktails – followed by wine – are my preferred drinks of choice. Still, on a few occasions, I’ve sipped and sampled some highly rated brews, putting my (low) beer-drinking threshold to the test.  A…

  • Travel Review: Discover the Magic of Thali Thali Game Lodge, Langebaan

    7 August 2017 - By 

    Located outside the tranquil West Coast town of Langebaan – and happily found along the West Coast Way foodie and scenic route – lies the vast and unquestionably magical, 1460-hectare fynbos and game farm: Thali Thali Game Lodge. Here, from the moment the gate shuts behind you, closing out the hum of the R27 road, you discover a sense of arriving. It’s like being in the wildest heart of Africa, without even venturing beyond the Western Cape. Our introduction to Thali Thali soon became something powerful… We eased up the driveway past a field of springbok, who pranced off in…

  • Langebaan Accommodation Review: Fabulous Four-Star-Rated Masada Guest House

    6 August 2017 - By 

    Langebaan is indeed the Jewel of the West Coast. Not only is this evident in its amazing natural beauty – like its crystal clear aqua waters, endless, pristine beaches and wilderness havens teeming with wildlife – but it’s clear from its food and accommodation offerings too, as we discovered on our first night’s stay in Langebaan. We had planned a few days away from the city to properly recharge and, in my case especially, to reacquaint ourselves with all that Langebaan accommodation and local eateries have to offer. So, after an easy drive along the R27 in slowly fading light,…

  • Café Review: Hearts 4 Coffee, Yzerfontein

    23 July 2017 - By 

    (Please Note: From what I understand, Hearts 4 Coffee as a cafe has sadly closed – but you can still find their foodtruck at various events and markets in the West Coast Region and beyond.) Whenever possible, any time I know I will be going away on a trip, I do thorough research of the area and its best activities and eateries… usually, we don’t get to half the stuff I earmark but, for the ones we do, they always seem to live up to my expectations. I would say the same was true for Hearts 4 Coffee… except it…

  • khwattu-cottage-accommodation

    Accommodation review: Self-Catering Stay at !Khwa ttu, Yzerfontein

    19 July 2017 - By 

    There is something magical about seeing wildlife up close. I don’t think when we set out for a much needed weekend away to Yzerfontein (after a surprising week) that we ever expected to have zebras within a few metres of us. This is not the kind of textbook travel experience you anticipate when you pack your bags and take to the road – but it’s the kind that you secretly live and breathe for as a traveller. It’s about discovering more about yourself when digital devices and TV screens are stripped away (and even though complimentary Wi-Fi is on offer,…

  • Roadside Review: Beulah Farm Deli, Yzerfontein

    17 July 2017 - By 

    This past weekend, we had the chance to escape to the West Coast for a full day’s relaxation. It’s been about three years now since I headed that side but fond memories of the small, seaside town, Yzerfontein had me eager to pay this region another visit. With an overnight stay awaiting us at !Khwa ttu, we had some spare time before check-in and how better to get to know the area than by visiting one of its most popular pit-stops: Beulah Farm Deli? The deli unobtrusively lies just off the main West Coast Road (R27), a few kilometres outside…