13 July 2017
Foraging and Foliage in Franschhoek
Franschhoek in the winter time is simply magical. The light is soft; the air is crisp, and the scenery is verdant. What’s more, because this pretty, popular little Cape winelands villa...
Read MoreYou’ve arrived! Welcome to our travel diaries. We share the best in luxury travel, news and stories. And we like to keep it short and sweet!
Enjoy the journey.
27 June 2017
Three thrilling days in the Okavango
I recently set off on a whirlwind escape to Botswana's Okavango Delta. By whirlwind I mean three carefully calibrated days of authentic and high-luxe safari; which with direct SA Airlink flig...
Read More23 April 2017
Kruger’s Renewed Ivory Lodge ~ More Than Just Luxury
With a footprint in both the Sabi Sand Reserve and the Kruger National Park, Lion Sands Game Reserve has not only garnered an assemblage of global awards, but it bridges the divide between man and beast. Their flagship - Ivory Lodge- recently revamped at the behest of the More Family is an exclusive and intimate lodge having taken its cue from Mother Nature. And in my recent and first h...
Read More-
23 April 2017
Springfontein Eats – Michelin Stars in the middle of the Overberg
From the misty Elgin apple farms, and gentle Hemel-en-Aarde Vineyards to the Kleinrivier Mountains, you will discover another world worth visiting. The Overberg – a tranquil, step back in time, abundant with wineries and restaurants, but you can’t visit without a lingering lunch at Springfo...
Read More -
12 April 2017
Marigold - A debut for the French Fine Dining Town of Franschhoek
A debut for the French Fine Dining Town of Franschhoek, Marigold on the main street is the first authentically Indian restaurant of its kind and it’s making a fiery impression. Having recently opened its doors, Marigold, reminiscent of authentic India, evokes the exotic with its small plated...
Read More -
9 March 2017
Inside The Tiny Heart Of Africa
When was the last time you visited a place that touched your soul? That’s Sabyinyo Silverback’s strapline and it couldn't be more congruous if they tried. Nestled in the tiny heart of Africa, as Rwanda is affectionately named, Sabyinyo is owned and managed by the award winning Governors’ Ca...
Read More -
28 February 2017
Caroline Dub’s Her Top Three
“What’s your favourite fine-dining restaurant in Cape Town?” I must have heard that question a thousand times in my two decades of luxury travel. The trouble is our Mother City has become a culinary destination with world class restaur...
Read More -
15 February 2017
KWANDWE MAGIC ON A WHIM
In the midst of the New Year madness, I had the opportunity to travel to Kwandwe in early January for a mid-week break. It took me a milli second to say yes, and several hours of questioning whether I should be abandoning the high season madness. I still went, and I’m more than glad I did. E...
Read More -
15 December 2016
NOTHERN ZIMBABWEAN ADVENTURES
We recently explored the incredible and undervalued travel destination of Zimbabwe. Nicknamed God’s own Country in 1970's despite the ongoing Bush War at the time, remains one of the most beautiful, unfettered countries on earth. Their economic and tourist slump doesn’t seem to hav...
Read More -
15 December 2016
ZAMBIA - MY LATEST OBSESSION
Being a travel maestro is undeniably the best job in the world. Who wouldn’t want to spend their lives exploring new lands, immersing themselves in new cultures and having the pleasure of sending clients to experience the same magic? It’s a happy job! In fact for me it doesn’t feel like a job...
Read More -
7 December 2016
Caroline Visits Pebbles - A Ripple For Change
Four years ago I made a commitment to changing young lives. Because I believe that the solution to poverty is through the fundamentals of education. Because I believe children are a product of their nucleus. And because as Mandela so aptly once put it ‘overcoming poverty is not a gesture of c...
Read More -
2 December 2016
Testing the new Test Kitchen
Cape Town’s world class Test Kitchen in the artsy neighbourhood of Woodstock has been redefined. And I was one of the first to experience it a couple of weeks ago. This may not sound particularly impressive for someone who never misses a beat when it comes to culinary, but given their c...
Read More -
3 November 2016
SAFARI ROMANCE AT IVORY LODGE
In the spirit of special offers we take a sneak peak at the new look Lion Sands Ivory Lodge located in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park, South Africa. We think it's perfect for a romantic safari. Here’s how and why: Each villa is furnished with a...
Read More -
3 October 2016
Elevate your Safari with a Private Guide
If you’re serious about safari or you’re a passionate photographer, being accompanied by a private guide will undoubtedly elevate your travel experience - whether you’re trekking for gorillas in Rwanda, exploring the rock-hewn churches in Ethiopia, or searching for the perfect photographic op...
Read More -
26 September 2016
TEN THINGS TO PACK ON SAFARI ... AND WHY
There’s nothing quite like the embarrassment of posing like a Kardashian in front of your light aircraft en route to your safari, only to be directed to unpack your bag because it’s over weight! Over-packing for a safari is common, but not surprising as the International luggage allowance is ...
Read More -
22 September 2016
THE MAGIC CARPET - BLOOMING WONDERFUL
Spring flowers of the Cape West Coast, Cederberg and Namaqualand in the Northern Cape, have a worldwide reputation. Regions that, for 80% of the year could be described as arid and desert-like, are miraculously transformed into a carpet of colours crammed with flowers as far as the eye can se...
Read More -
12 September 2016
The Right Way to Whale Watch
Though better known for its geographic diversity, natural beauty and wildlife, South Africa remains one of the best places to get close to these gargantuan yet gentle giants. Every year, from July to November, the Southern Rig...
Read More -
9 September 2016
Experiential Escapes
Use this advice with caution. These activities could become addictive and possibly cause you to miss your flight back home! Cape Town is quickly becoming the go-to place for adrenaline-seeking travellers, for good reason. It has one of the kindest climates on the continent and e...
Read More -
29 August 2016
FLIRTING WITH FRANSCHHOEK
We live in Cape Town, we love wine and Franschhoek is full of places we adore. So we decided to escape there for a night, because we can! For those who share the same sentiments, or are seeking a head start on exploring this vastly admired ‘French quarter’, our narrative i...
Read More -
25 August 2016
Objet d'art Obsession
Let’s face it … holidays are not just about beaches, safaris, wine, cuisine and relaxation. Retail therapy forms an essential part of the R&R mix! In fact, if the truth be known, you don’t need to be on holiday in Africa to shop in Africa ! We always say avoid the urge ...
Read More -
24 August 2016
MADIKWE MAGIC
.jpg)
I returned to the rugged landscapes of the Madikwe Game Reserve bordering Botswana, with a short, but very sweet two-night stay at Jamala in July! Our one hour flight from Johannesburg ...
Read More -
17 August 2016
The Silo: Cape Town’s take on The Tate Modern/ Eiffel Tower
Liz Biden, South Africa’s ‘Hotel Honey’ is doing it again! She’s busy building the soon-to-be six-storey Silo Hotel on top of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) in The Mother City! Overlooking Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, the site took The Bidens fifteen years to find! The ma...
Read More -
14 August 2016
UNEARTHING ETHIOPIA’S ENCHANTMENT
On 21 July I stepped into a time machine of the Ten Commandments with a seven-day, flash-in-the-pan trip to Northern Ethiopia’s historic route. If you were anything like me, your knowledge of this undervalued country would probably be limited to conversations with friends, David Attenborough’...
Read More -
10 August 2016
Delaire Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend!
Diamonds, wine, art, fine dining and spa treatments are my best friends! And I got to spend time with all five of them this weekend at the jewel of the Cape Winelands. As Cape Town’s wayfaring connoisseurs of discerning travel, we arrived promptly on Sunday afternoon for an overni...
Read More -
28 July 2016
COMING BACK DOWN TO EARTH, AFTER ELLERMAN
Two weeks into my job as Marketing Manager for Classic Escapes and I get given a ninety-minute massage at Ellerman House! I’d never had such a long massage! How was I going to enjoy it when I knew that, one day, just like a good dream, it would come to an abrupt end? Then I remembered my moth...
Read More -
24 July 2016
PHOTOBLOG: THROUGH MY LENS ..... EXPLORING THE HISTORIC ROUTE OF ETHIOPIA
At the foot of The Royal Enclosure at Gondar Aquainting myself with a Gelada Baboon - nicknamed 'The Bleeding Heart Monkey' Mystifying moments with the gregarious Geladas Friendly lip smacking - their primate vocalisations are unnervingly similar to human...
Read More -
20 July 2016
IDIOM CUTS THE MUSTARD
On Sunday we spontaneously lunched at Idiom, the Cape Winelands newest restaurant, tasting venue and a tribute to the Bottega family! It's so new that I’m confident in this case we are the grapevine you are hearing it from for the first time! The Bottegas have taken South African wine d...
Read More -
23 June 2016
WHEN YOU’VE ARRIVED - OUR DOUBLE DOSE AT THE STACK
Let’s face it; these days we rarely have time to reconfigure our corkscrews without another restaurant popping up in Cape Town! This is good news right? It displays our pioneering popularity when it comes to food and wine on a global scale. But this is no restaurant. The Stack is a venu...
Read More -
2 June 2016
MORE-ISH BREAKFAST AT LADY CADOGAN
Built at the turn of the 19th century and ‘Victorianised’ at the turn of the 20th century, this national monument in the heart of Cape Town is home to the now hip and historic Cape Cadogan hotel – owned and operated by the More Family. As foodie enthusiasts we found our Muesli Mecca her...
Read More -
28 May 2016
LOVE AFFAIR IN THE ARCHIPELAGO
In May this year a group of girls, unofficially known as Cape Town’s Luxury African Travel Guru’s, and I humbly include myself, left the city distractions to a place where we thought we’d died and gone to heaven for four nights! Specifically, in Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago. A ...
Read More -
20 March 2016
OUR TABLE UNDER THE TREES
In March of this year I headed off on a special trip to Machaba Camp in the beating heart of Africa with three of my favourites, my boyfriend Pieter, who coincidently is also in the travel game and of course my beloved folks. Machaba, set in the north eastern Okavango, is the local Setswana ...
Read More -
30 November 2015
TANZANIA TO OURSELVES
There’s no doubt that East Africa captures the soul and mine’s lucky enough to have been captured by this captivating country a few times! This time round for three weeks in a life altering exploration of Tanzania’s Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti regions. And, we ...
Read More -
8 November 2015
LIVING ON LIFE - AN ORANGE KLOOF INVITE
The wisest Sunday morning decision I’ve made in a long time was undoubtedly accepting an Orange Kloof invite! Kicking off at Cape Town’s Constantia Neck in the early hours on a fresh summer’s morning, determined to defy the regulars on their standard trails, we headed up Orange Kl...
Read More -
15 October 2015
IMPECCABLE MANNAS
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. Charles M. Schulz. Nor does a trip to Manna Bay! Nestled on the slopes of Table Mountain, one of the New Seven Wonders of The World, this beauty of a boutique hotel is the perfect romantic getaway! You’d expect nothing l...
Read More -
1 October 2015
SCOT’S SEARING WINTER SPECIAL
If you haven’t yet graciously welcomed Winter Twenty Sixteen in The Mother City, then La Calombe will give you one good reason! Their celebrated winter special, which I had the privilege of experiencing this time last year, is back! Which, by the way cost a mere R350 per person for a three-co...
Read More