This recent trip through the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, and Johannesburg was one of those rare, valuable experiences, and I'm still buzzing from it.

We kicked things off at the Twelve Apostles, a hotel I have a real soft spot for and one I choose to stay at personally whenever I'm in Cape Town. Dinner at The Azure restaurant was, as always, exceptional, and we spent a leisurely afternoon wandering around the V&A Waterfront, soaking up that unmistakable Cape Town energy. No visit to Cape Town is complete without a Cape Peninsula tour, and this one has long been a personal favourite of mine, as well as one I book my own clients onto time and again. The highlight of the day, without question, was watching the rare African penguins waddle around Boulders Beach. We followed that with a drive down the legendary Chapman's Peak Drive, affectionately known to locals as "Chappies", with its jaw-dropping views over the Atlantic. 

From there, we took the cableway up to the top of Table Mountain, taking in one of the most iconic views in the world before hitting the road for the next leg of our adventure. Along the Garden Route, Our first stop heading east was the charming town of Swellendam, with a stopover at Schoone Oordt, a beautiful little guest house absolutely brimming with character and old world charm. Next up was Knysna, where we stayed at the wonderfully quirky Turbine Hotel. We spent a day exploring Featherbed Nature Reserve and took time to wander the boutique shops dotted around Knysna's town centre, the kind of unhurried, easy exploring that makes the Garden Route so special.

Into the Eastern Cape Bush.

The next leg of the journey took us into the Eastern Cape, where we stayed at Pumba Game Reserve's Msenge Bush Lodge, with a visit to the Water Lodge as well. There's something about being in the African bush that I never tire of, the hospitality always feels like being welcomed home by family. One small detail that stole my heart at Msenge was the wood burning stoves in the rooms. We were treated to some incredible game sightings during our stay, including the rare white lions found in this part of the country.

Coming Home to Johannesburg

From Port Elizabeth, we flew up to Johannesburg to stay in Rosebank. Joburg was my home for many years, so returning felt like a homecoming in every sense. I'd forgotten just how much I love the cosmopolitan buzz of Rosebank. While there, we joined a Soweto township tour. I'll admit, I went in a little unsure of what to expect and wary of which angle the tour might take. What I experienced instead completely won me over. Our guide was clear from the outset that this was not "poverty porn", but rather a story of hope and resilience. It was one of the most moving and eye opening experiences of the entire trip.

Trips like this are exactly why I do what I do. They let me walk in my clients' shoes, revisit old favourites with fresh eyes, and discover new gems to add to future itineraries. From the fynbos covered cliffs of the Cape Peninsula to the bushveld of the Eastern Cape and the vibrant streets of Johannesburg, this journey was a powerful reminder of just how varied, how rich, and how deeply moving travel through South Africa can be.

As an African specialist and a self confessed Africa addict trips like this helps me curate perfect trips for my clients.