• great-picnics-lunches-cape-winelands

    Great Picnics and Lunches in the Cape Winelands, Western Cape

    19 September 2026 - By 

    The Cape Winelands in the beautiful Western Cape offer some of the best picnics and lunches in South Africa. Regardless of whether you are looking for a classy, yet homely weekend lunch, romantic picnic for two or simply a great family meal – this unique region is a foodies’ paradise. The Cape Winelands: A Foodie Destination for All Over time, I have had the pleasure of dining out at some of the Cape’s loveliest wine farms. I have sampled everything from gourmet picnics to soothing lunches. And in this post, I share my pick of my most memorable picnics and…

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    Dreamy Gardens to Explore Year-Round Near the Cape Winelands

    5 January 2026 - By 

    I love all things garden-related and over the years, I have had the pleasure of exploring many wonderful gardens in and around Cape Town and the Western Cape. Some have been during special, annual Open Garden events while others have come from impromptu solo missions. Regardless of the occasion, the Cape has some glorious gardens to explore. And in this post, I share my pick (so far) of the best gardens to explore year–round near the Cape Winelands! Cape Winelands’ Gardens for Every Season Gardens are always great during spring and summertime. But I want to show that in the…

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    Sustainably Minded Wine Farms near Cape Town

    17 March 2024 - By 

    With our planet under siege and threat from carbon emissions, wastage, single-use plastics and more, there can be no doubt that ‘going green’ is essential. In fact, this drive for more eco-friendly practices and methods needs our gravest support throughout every industry. In South Africa’s own wine industry, the threat of climate change is already apparent in the droughts, changing wine seasons, varying harvests, unseasonal rainfall, wild fires and sweltering temperatures we see each year. Yet, for years now, the wine industry has quietly shown the power of sustainably minded farming – through solar-powered cellars, water-friendly farming practices and of…

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    Interesting Day Trips Near Cape Town to Enjoy

    2 April 2023 - By 

    Day trips are some of my favourite travel adventures. I am a sucker for road trips, hidden gems and new places and a day trip is the perfect chance to enjoy all this and more! Happily, there are so many interesting day trips near Cape Town for locals and tourists to enjoy. In this post, I cover some of my favourite day trips by region. This should help you get the most out of your day. My Most Interesting Day Trips Near Cape Town Whether you go wine farm hopping, dive into nature or road trip to your heart’s content,…

  • spier-wine-farm-picnics

    7 Romantic Wine Farms near Cape Town

    26 March 2023 - By 

    To me, South Africa’s Cape Winelands offer no shortage of romantic experiences, accommodation and activities for couples to enjoy. Honestly, our local wine farms can be some of the most romantic destinations around! In this post, I look at some of the most romantic wine farms near Cape Town. Whether you are looking for a stunning wedding venue, couples’ getaway, date ideas or fun day trip to enjoy together, these wine farms offer something for all couples to enjoy. Best of all, they can be enjoyed year-round. So you don’t have to pay any heed to Valentine’s Day pressures or…

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    My 20 Best Travel Blog Experiences… So Far

    26 December 2020 - By 

    In the few short years that I have been blogging, Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust has grown from strength to strength. This year especially, I have had the joy of engaging with my peers and followers online; assisting my readers with travel queries; and producing solid content, all while weathering this trying year. Usually, I share a round-up post of my best travel blog experiences for the year with my readers. This is another way of engaging with them. It also allows me to recap on my own blogging highlights and reflect on the year that has been. But, with COVID-19, my…

  • covid-19-food-drive

    Western Cape Chefs and Communities Helping During COVID-19

    22 May 2020 - By 

    Previously on the blog, I compiled a short post on some of the wine farms banding together to help during the COVID-19 pandemic… And it was wonderful to see the response and viewership that post enjoyed. In light of this and because I feel people need good news now more than ever, I wanted to promote more positive action and brave efforts in a time where, for much of South Africa (and indeed, the world), it is hard to make ends meet and in many cases, even to put food on the table. For this post though, I decided to cover some…

  • de-grendel-wines

    How Wine Farms Have Responded During SA’s COVID-19 Lockdown and Restrictions

    26 April 2020 - By 

    Although South Africa’s wine farms have been unable to operate or deliver wines during the nation’s lockdown, they have found ways to offer support and upliftment to the people and communities around them. In true South African spirit, their generosity and kindness has been a joy to see. Since the national lockdown was first implemented on midnight of 26 March 2020, wine farms have been unable to keep their doors and cellars open to the public. An alcohol ban/restriction remains firmly in effect for the foreseeable future – so, while estates can still take online orders – no one is…

  • chapmans-peak-drive

    My Best Scenic Drives in and around Cape Town

    19 March 2018 - By 

    The Western Cape is blessed with a wide array of jaw-dropping, impressive country or coastal drives. From Chapman’s Peak Drive to the Route 62 and Cape West Coast, there is a drive for every kind of traveller. 2025 update: Please note: This was a collaborative post between Afristay and Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust from 2018. However, in 2025, Afristay shut its doors. And, if you’re looking for some accommodation inspiration during your trip, look no further than Afristay.com, one of South Africa’s largest accommodation booking portals. Book directly through Afristay.com’s awesome website – which allows for effortless online bookings – and enjoy…

  • spier-wine-farm-picnics

    Picnic Review: Stunning Farm Picnic at Spier

    18 November 2017 - By 

    Spier Wine Farm is a traveller’s destination of note… and if you think that makes it in any way ‘commercialised’, you are gravely mistaken. Spier is known for its amazing experiences – everything from garden walks to Segway tours – but it is also a place where Cape beauty, interesting art and good food come together. And, as our first visit to this stunning Stellenbosch wine estate revealed, it is the Spier picnics that truly steal the show… After exploring almost every inch of the farm and engaging with some majestic birds, we made our way over to the charming…