TRAVEL, FOOD & WINE
The Luxury of Connection: A Slow Family Escape to Val du Charron
If you’ve ever wondered if luxury and kids can coexist, our recent stay at Val du Charron Wine and Leisure Estate - 10 minutes from Wellington in the Bovlei Valley - is proof that it is possible. Escaping routine and the nitty-gritties of day-to-day life is something...
Wine Beyond the Glass: 5 Unexpected Ways to Enjoy South African Wine
Whilst wine has always been consumed as an alcoholic refreshment in a stemmed glass, more and more people want to experiment and refuse to believe that fancy stemware and formal tastings are the norm. By (respectfully) challenging the rituals that come with drinking...
Le Manoir: Facades and Flavours That Transport You to France
What one might have thought to be the final chapter of a French novel with African flair, has been written into the introductory paragraph of a whole new book. A short winter visit to the former Morrells Boutique Estate, now reimagined as Le Manoir, proved as much....
Is the New Toyota Land Cruiser 300 HEV Fit for a Family Adventure?
For families who see travel as more than just getting from point A to B and those keen on off-road adventures and conservation, the ideal vehicle needs to tick a whole lot of boxes. It has to be comfortable enough for long drives, capable enough for gravel roads, and...
Sandringham Private Game Reserve: A New Chapter for Sabi Sabi Collection
Following five years of planning and rehabilitation, the Sabi Sabi Collection’s much-anticipated Sandringham Private Game Reserve has officially welcomed its first guests on 1 August 2026. As the latest addition to Sabi Sabi Collection's travel portfolio, this...
De Hoop Collection: Setting the Pace for a Memorable Family Adventure
An Eland was grazing along one of De Hoop Nature Reserve’s historic stonewalls - unfazed - while a male ostrich pranced around proudly, puffing up its feathers and showing off its tail. In the distance, a couple of bontebok lay basking in the last bit of late...
The Owners’ Lodge: The Ultimate Vineyard Stay in South Africa
There is a new Cape Winelands destination to add to your travel bucket list. Tucked away on a secluded hill on the 67-hectare Brookdale Estate in Paarl, the newly opened The Owners' Lodge is the wine estate’s latest accommodation offering - designed to offer...
World Cheesecake Day: The Best Homemade Cheesecake Recipe
Hedy Lamarr once said: “Because you don’t live near a bakery doesn’t mean you have to go without cheesecake.” I can’t help but agree. In fact, even whilst counting calories, you can easily bribe me with a slice of baked cheesecake. Of course, there are various...
Embracing Slow at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge
In the not too far distance, I can hear hippos grunting. A little closer to my Earth Lodge suite’s patio, with vistas of the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve all round, something scurries from one bush to the next – perhaps a mouse? Other than that, it’s quiet here....
Tasting Your Way Through Thailand at The Thai Table – 789
The natural hues of The Thai Table - 789 have a way of luring one in. The Thai culture’s numbers 7, 8 and 9 have subtly been incorporated, with its design speaking to the numbers’ resemblance of progress, prosperity, wealth and a long life. The restaurant’s luxe...
Foodie Trends That Shape South Africa’s Dining Scene
When it comes to the South African dining scene (and that includes wine for the purposes of this blog, of course), there are certain foodie trends that continue to shape the industry for food and wine lovers alike. Whilst some trends are fleeting, others have been...
New Experiences at Vergenoegd Löw: A Sensory Awakening
Wintertime in Cape Town is always a special time. Especially those rainy, overcast days. It was on one such day that I walked along the pathways toward The Homestead at Vergenoegd Löw. Droplets clung to the roses in front and the air was crisp on my cheeks. Whilst the...