Read our travel stories from around the world
Recently, we decided to get away for a few days at the beautiful Fancourt golf and lifestyle resort in George on South Africa’s Garden Route. While we don’t play golf, we chose Fancourt for the myriad of activities and offerings that it held for our young family.
We were recently lucky enough to spend a few nights exploring the beautiful Muratie Wine Estate just outside of Stellenbosch in the stunning Cape Winelands.
Recently we had the privilege of spending a few nights at Simbavati’s Fynbos on Sea. A new addition to the Simbavati Lodge collection and their only coastal property, Fynbos on Sea, is perched high on the hill above the quiet town of Sedgefield along the Garden Route of South Africa.
The tiny seaside resort of Brenton on Sea is known for its endless stretch of beautiful beach, fabulous sunsets, and the endangered Brenton blue butterfly that can be found nowhere else in the world. It’s a quiet part of the Garden Route that attracts families looking for a relaxing seaside vacation away from the worries of everyday life. more “Views for days at Brenton on Sea”
With the easing of South Africa’s COVID restrictions, we have seen a resurgence of festivals and gatherings, particularly as the weather is warm and we can all enjoy being in the great outdoors. The month of February in particular saw the return of the Constantia Fresh wine festival.
After a tough lockdown in 2020, we were feeling a need to escape and so it came to be that we discovered Treedom Villas & Vardos in Wilderness in August last year. At that stage, the Vardos part of the name was still just a pipe dream, but owners Debbie and Marc had spent a good few years slaving away to create a unique treehouse villa on their natural plot of land in the Garden Route.
Summer in Cape Town, means long lazy days spent in the sunshine. And, while many may choose to spend these glorious days at the beach, my inner compass takes me away from the sea and to a place where vineyards and mountains reign supreme. That’s why when greeted by one fantastic day at the beginning of summer I chose to pack up my suitcase and head to Franschhoek and Rickety Bridge winery for a weekend of food and fun in a Wineland wonderland…
Every time we venture up that wild coastline where the forest meets the sea, known as South Africa’s Garden Route, we know there are three places we simply have to stop in at. This being Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, and Jukani.
Owned by the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) and led by some of the most passionate animal people you will ever meet, each sanctuary offers a totally different experience. At Monkeyland you can meet a range of unique primates from around the world, while at Birds of Eden you have the opportunity to walk through a forest where birds abound and then Junkani offers the chance to get up close and personal with big cats.
Keep reading to discover more about each sanctuary and the highlights from our most recent visit:
After the lockdown was lifted, we couldn’t wait to get out and enjoy life beyond the confines of our four walls. Although budget and time constraints, unfortunately, meant, just like many others, that we couldn’t travel far. And so it came to be that we booked a weekend escape to the Elgin valley.
Located just under an hour from our home in Cape Town, Elgin held promises of lots of wine, good food, and plenty of adventure. Our overnight accommodation of choice – Trail’s End. more “An overnight adventure in Elgin”
As Spring takes a firm hold over the Western Cape, we recently woke up to one fine Wednesday in Cape Town. The sun was out in force, the mercury was hitting 30ºC for the first time in months, and we were allowed out of the house for the first time in months too, being 2020 and all. The wind was also nowhere to be seen, a rarity for sunny days in Cape Town where our summer days are battered by blustering South Easters.
And so shunning those mid-week blues, we took the opportunity to take a break from it all, and escape down the coast to the beautiful seaside town of Gordon’s Bay. Drive further and further down the coast away from Cape Town, and False Bay seems to stretch into an endless away of blue. Then tucked deep in the corner is where you will find gorgeous Gordon’s Bay. more “A getaway to Gordon’s Bay”