This is the place where you can find informed and inspiring choices of where to WINE, DINE, STAY and PLAY whilst you are on holiday in Southern Africa with us. Constantly updated - and with regular "real life" comments from our travellers - each section simply lists some of the favourite things we love doing in our City of Cape Town and as we travel OUT & ABOUT across Southern Africa and beyond.
We hope you feel inspired to try some of our choices and we would like to hear your thoughts and comments if you do.

Romance was definitely in the air recently when Kim (our senior event coordinator) and her boyfriend Damien spent the night at one of our favourite wine lands retreats, Hawksmoor House just outside Stellenbosch.

A Cape Dutch Manor house on 220 hectares of working farm, Hawksmoor House has been meticulously restored and beautifully decorated with a contemporary feel, but using exquisitely selected antiques. Just 30 minutes out of Cape Town it is conveniently located just off the N1 highway, surrounded by vineyards and is ideal for a one or two night stay away from the city or as a base to explore the wine lands.

Says Kim

“We loved the relaxed and friendly feel of the farm, Maike Harms who runs Hawksmoor insist you treat the place as home and although it is definitely upmarket don’t expect over pampering by the staff, the focus is on being unpolished, allowing you to really do your own thing at your own pace. Lounging by the pool or walking through the vineyards down to the dam and the boat house, it really is about unwinding and chilling out.

We stayed in the White room which was really spacious and quiet. But of all the 8 individually decorated rooms, the Grey room was definitely my favourite, the decor is awesome and next time I want to stay there!

We loved the authenticity and the history of the manor house, plus having a real farmhouse breakfast in our robes outside on the terrace in the morning. But the highlight for us was watching the spectacular sunset over Table Mountain far in the distance, then retiring to the drawing room for a glass of wine in front of a roaring fire- very romantic.

Our tip – We suggest for dinner, like Kim, you ask Hawksmoor to book a table for you at Cuvee restaurant on the nearby Simonsig Wine Estate. We love the intimate but fine dining there and you can sample their excellent wines by the glass too. It’s just right for a special occasion.