Family of mine live on a 6th generation Merino sheep farm outside of Bloemfontein that they also run as a guest farm called De Oude Kraal Country Estate & Spa. On our way back from George a month or so ago, we made time to stay over and reconnect with family we haven’t seen in ages. Family is such an important part of life and I believe it should never be taken for granted.

There’s a place where the sun paints pictures with lacy leaves against the walls and where birdsong and frog chatter are the main choices on the playlist. Nehema Manor is one of the destinations I regard as a special find. Here you feel far enough from the outside world, but close enough not to feel disconnected.

It's a village that forms part of numerous South African songs' lyrics. It's a place where the people are human and the pace is slow. Here, the air smells different; the sounds are different; the tastes are different. The village has a way of highlighting the...

Don’t you just love it when there’s a proper story attached to a song? Let alone a whole album! Jan Blohm’s latest album is a collection of songs that tell the story of Jenny’s life and the songs remind me that there is not much to this life when there’s no love or human connection.

You can be one of two lucky Suitcase & Chardonnay readers to WIN Jan Blohm’s latest album, JENNY!

In these uncertain times, the closest you’ll get to spotting Japan’s cherry blossoms (a bucket list item for me) is at Rockets Menlyn. Yup, now that the Jacaranda blooms are fading, you can head over to Time Square for some ceiling-high cherry blossom murals, coupled with top South African entertainment and fantastic fusion food.

Suitcase & Chardonnay is excited to announce the launch of its very first House Concert & Wine Tasting event in the heart of Brooklyn, Pretoria on 28 November 2020! The inspiration behind it is to support industries that are dear to the Suitcase & Chardonnay brand, like the music and arts industries, as well as hospitality and tourism industries and of course, the South African wine industry.

Wildnerness is our special place for more than one reason and after visiting Treedom Villas & Vardos, there is yet another reason to return. From late-afternoon laziness on a daybed under the trees and cooking up a storm in the villa’s well-equipped kitchen, to taking the buggy for a spin and exploring beautiful hiking trails, this is a place that needs to be on your bucket list when it comes to travelling local.

During our visit to Treedom Villas & Vardos in Wilderness, we had some time to explore the area. Here are some of the things that we found were worth doing when you’re in Wilderness.

I love red doors. There are many meanings behind a red door and various cultures attach different beliefs to it, but for me a red door is inviting and that is exactly how I felt when I walked through The Turbine Boutique Hotel & Spa’s red door. Knysna’s Tourism It...