Lanzerac: Where Cape Heritage Meets Contemporary Luxury

On 4 August 202612 August 2026 By Yours in Travel, Lindsay QuailIn Accommodation, Activities, Destinations, Travel Reviews1 Comment

What a pleasure it was to spend Friday, 31 July 2026 at iconic Lanzerac, joining Kim and Mira from Sun & Safari for a wonderful site inspection followed by a truly sumptuous lunch.

A special thank you to Kim and Carmen for the invitation, and to Nathan Daly, Trade & Guest Relations Manager, for taking us through this magnificent historic estate and sharing his knowledge and passion for Lanzerac.

There were many highlights during our visit, but one that particularly captivated me was seeing the first bottle of Pinotage showcased in the estate cellar.

The Birth of Pinotage

In 1961, a harvest from Lanzerac was released by Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery under the Lanzerac label. The 1959 vintage became the world’s first commercially bottled Pinotage, forever linking Lanzerac with South Africa’s signature grape variety. It is a remarkable piece of South African wine history—and standing in the cellar where that history is celebrated makes the story all the more special.

The first commercially bottled Pinotage in the world was the 1959 Lanzerac Pinotage, released in 1961 by the Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery. — 1959 Lanzerac Pinotage

But at Lanzerac, you don’t only taste wine, you can also taste water!

Water Tasting

The Water Tasting in The Library, the first of its kind in South Africa, was led by Nico Pieterse, one of only two of South Africa’s Certified Water Sommeliers. Listening to Nico explain the different qualities and characteristics of water was fascinating. The subtle differences in taste and quality certainly opened my eyes to a whole new appreciation of what we drink—and how much the origin and composition of something as seemingly simple as water can influence the experience.

A Sublime Place to Stay

Lanzerac’s accommodation is every bit as impressive as its setting, with 54 individually decorated rooms and suites, each offering its own sense of character and understated elegance.

Seven larger suites feature spacious lounges with fireplaces and private terraces with pools, while five junior suites offer comfortable lounge areas and private terraces. The standard and luxury rooms are equally exquisite, providing an elegant retreat within this extraordinary estate.

And then there is the Spa—beautifully luxurious and designed as a sanctuary in which to completely unwind. It is a retreat in every sense of the word.

Yet perhaps what makes Lanzerac so special is the way everything comes together: its rich history, exceptional wine heritage, exquisite accommodation, superb cuisine, wellness experiences and breathtaking Cape Winelands setting.

This iconic estate at the tip of Africa seamlessly fuses centuries of Cape heritage with elegant, contemporary luxury—creating an unforgettable experience for the discerning traveller.

Iconic Landmark since 1958

Back in 1958 it was the well-known visionary hotelier, “Lord” David Rawdon of Rawdons Hotel Natal Midlands, Matjiesfontein, and The Marine in Hermanus, who ushered in an exciting new era when he converted the historical farm into an elegant hotel and landmark. Changing the original cellar and its surrounding buildings into bars, lounges, dining area and hotel rooms.

I have experienced this iconic landmark with many a visit over the years for a sumptuous Sunday lunch, a weekend stay and a couple of overnight stays to attend friends weddings held at Lanzerac. And after this my most recent visit, I can certainly understand why Lanzerac continues to hold such a special place among the Cape’s most celebrated estates.

Lanzerac

A breathtaking view of Cape Town's cityscape with the iconic Table Mountain in the backdrop during sunset.

From Cape Town to the Wilderness: A Story Worth Telling

On 25 June 202619 June 2026 By Yours in Travel, Lindsay QuailIn Destinations, News, Travel StoriesLeave a comment

When John Mulder, Operations Manager at Cape Tourism, reached out recently with a simple question, “If you could tell visitors just one thing about your business right now, what would it be?”, I didn’t expect my answer to take me quite so far back.

But here’s the thing about Cape Town and the Western Cape. The magic isn’t new. It’s layered.

My clients and friends who visit from the US, Ireland and the UK have all said that the Mother City, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and beyond the Breede River have been beyond their wildest expectations. That never gets old to hear. I’ve lived in Cape Town since 1977 and it still stops me in my tracks.

A Career That Started With Something Extraordinary

Way back in 1977, long before the travel businesses, I was working with an events management company called FACT, Festivals and Conventions Trust, headed by a remarkable Canadian named Bill Mounsey, who taught me so much in those formative years.

We organised major events during what were, it must be said, very dark days in South Africa’s history. And one of those events changed me completely.

The First World Wilderness Congress

The 1st World Wilderness Congress (WILD1) was held on 23–28 October 1977 in Johannesburg, a pivotal moment in global conservation that introduced the wilderness concept as a critical, international issue. Founded by the incredible and iconic Ian Player, it brought together 2,500 delegates from 27 countries to promote the protection of wild nature.

Ian Player’s mentor, Magqubu Ntombela, was equally present in that story, a man of extraordinary wisdom and grace.

I was hugely privileged to get to know both Ian and Magqubu on many a wilderness walking trail. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

View of lush green hills and a viaduct in South Africa's countryside. — Photo by Angel Cristi on Pexels

Why This Still Matters

Promoting South Africa and the Western Cape is a huge joy and privilege, and it has been since those very early days. The country has a way of getting under your skin, of surprising you, of exceeding expectations even when you think you know it well.

That’s exactly what I tell my clients. And it’s exactly what John’s question reminded me of.

If you’re thinking about visiting the Cape, or exploring South Africa more broadly, I’d love to help you plan something truly memorable. Reach out to us, we’ve been doing this for a long time, and we genuinely love every moment of it.

Great Plains Conservation and andBeyond join forces in major rhino initiative

On 29 January 2014 By Yours in Travel, Lindsay QuailIn NewsLeave a comment

In 2013 more white rhino were killed than in any previous years, according to Government statistics. A tragic reminder that this magnificent animal’s survival is being severely threatened. Did you know that rhino horn can sell for up to US$65 000 per kilogramme or approximately ZAR730 000 at today’s rate of exchange? Much of the killing happening in the Kruger National Park bordering Mozambique. So the Great Plains Conservation &Beyond Initiative is encouraging news in this huge battle to fight the poachers and syndicates making millions from the slaughter of these incredible creatures from whom we can learn so much. My heart bleeds when I consider the magnificent white rhino I was privileged to see while walking through the Umfolozi and Hluhluwe Game Reserves many years ago, soon after the launch of Ian Player’s book ‘The White Rhino Saga’ which is now back in print and has more relevance than ever!

PRESS RELEASE:

GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION AND &BEYOND JOIN FORCES TO TRANSLOCATE UP TO 100 RHINO

28 January 2014

With rhino poaching at an all-time high in South Africa, two of Africa’s leading conservation companies, Great Plains Conservation and &Beyond, have joined forces to safely translocate up to 100 rhino from South Africa to the safe haven of Botswana.

“There is a battle for Africa’s wildlife raging as we speak. Rhinos are being poached at a rate of one every nine hours and the official number is 1 004 dead in 2013 alone. The unofficial number, because we simply do not find them all, is well over 1 000. Like everyone, I’ve been watching this desperate situation worsen, which is why Great Plains Conservation and &Beyond have decided to take action. This is not a Great Plains Conservation project or an &Beyond one, it is a global one that we can all play a role in, small and large. I don’t believe in branded conservation — it needs to be something we all get behind to save a species,” says Dereck Joubert, Great Plains CEO.

“Botswana has an excellent security system in place to protect these endangered animals and will be a safe haven for the relocated rhino. Translocations are fundamental to secure the ongoing survival of endangered species and this groundbreaking project aims to protect the species for future generations to enjoy. A project this size requires a strong partnership and a huge resource pool to pull it off. We are therefore very pleased to be joining forces with Great Plains Conservation for this mass translocation. We share the same mission and operating ethos and together we believe we can make this happen,” says Joss Kent, &Beyond CEO.

Having successfully translocated six rhino from South Africa to Botswana last year, &Beyond’s conservation team will lend its expertise to the project. Up to 100 rhino will be captured and safely transported from South Africa and released in Botswana’s remote wilderness. Each rhino will be tagged and microchipped for research and monitoring purposes. A dedicated anti-poaching team will then work in conjunction with the Botswana government agencies to monitor the animals using the latest technology.

This operation will cost USD8 million and both Great Plains Conservation and &Beyond will announce specific fundraising initiatives to enable tourism stakeholders, travel partners, tour operators and guests to help save this iconic species and ensure Africa’s Big Five remains for future generations to enjoy.

The battle to save the rhino from extinction won’t be won tomorrow; however, with joint initiatives such as this, the battle won’t be lost tomorrow either.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Hilton Walker
T. +27 (13) 7502005 | M. +27 (82) 5799055
hilton@greatplainsconservation.com
Twitter @ZerosForRhinos
www.greatplainsconservation.com

10 Coolest Driving Holidays

On 22 June 2010 By Yours in Travel, Lindsay QuailIn Travel InformationLeave a comment

Driving holidays have become more popular in recent years, with the introduction of budget flights, people have more money to spend on car hire. Getting to see the sights of some of the world’s most scenic wonders is one of the perks of hiring a car abroad. For this reason we have put together a list of the top 10 of the most travelled and best driving holidays from around the world.

Great Ocean Road, Australia
If flying into the culturally enriching and modern city of Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road simply cannot be ignored. With the benefit of driving a car, you are at the gateway to a 300km designated route through a number of staggering natural wonders that hug the serene ocean setting.

From the surf beaches of Torquay, the rainforests of Otway Park, waterfalls, shipwrecks, wine tasting tours to the bizarre rock formations of the ‘Twelve Apostles’ that stand majestically from the seabed, every moment is a camera moment.

If feeling adventurous, you can then head on to the wonderful city of Adelaide and enjoy this colourful city and then go on a dolphin and whale watching tour from its harbour.

Sydney to Cairns
Australia’s east coast is simply crammed with innumerable awesome places and natural wonders to go and visit and by driving along this coast you truly get the most out of a trip from Sydney to Cairns. Take in Sydney’s iconic sights and then head north towards Cairns ending up at the inimitable Great Barrier Reef.

On the way, surf at the famous Byron Bay, laze on the beaches of the Sunshine Coast or head to Wild Horse Mountain, take a ferry out to the untouched beauty of Fraser Island, feed Dolphins at Tin Can Bay, go horse riding at Kroombit and then ready the camera at the wilderness of Carnarvon Gorge and kick back on the beautiful beaches of Whitsunday. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed.

Garden Route, South Africa
Without question, the 200km of coastline that make up South Africa’s ‘Garden Route’ are among the most beautiful on the planet. From picturesque towns such as Witsand, Stilbaai and Albertina, this astonishing voyage takes you through mountainous landscapes, gorges, dense forestry, golden beaches, immense lakes and rivers, caves and more before culminating at Tsitsikamma National Park where you will find a plethora of amazing wildlife.

Outdoor pursuits along the way include mountain biking, hiking, bungee jumping, scuba diving and more. However, it is the sheer beauty that greets you at every turn of the meandering Garden Route as you take a leisurely drive that will stay in the mind forever.

The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Arguably, the Amalfi ranks as Europe’s most scenic stretch of coastline. The mesmerising beauty of the landscapes that present themselves are almost too idyllic as you venture through pastel-coloured villages and terraced hillsides nestled in amongst lush-green mountains and dazzlingly blue waters.

Lying at the southern end of the Sorrento Peninsula, your journey will immediately yield cliff-edge views of the mainland as you pass through the famous towns of Ravello, Positano and Amalfi itself which have all influenced the works of some of the truly great artists in the world of art, literature and music through the centuries.

Banff and Jasper, Canada
From the Great Plains through to the devastatingly inspirational mountain scenery of Banff and Jasper National Park, this drive through western Canada could quite easily be the greatest this planet has to offer. The views are simply exhilarating as you traverse forests one moment and dominant glaciers the next.

Drive from the great city of Calgary, before you head 135 kilometres west to Banff where the immense Lake Louise lies in wait before you follow the famous Icefield Parkway driving route towards Jasper.

Hiking tours of the parks are most certainly a must and ofcourse; don’t forget your skis during ski season, as some of the world’s finest resorts are all at your disposal.

Rocky Mountains
Where to begin with the Rocky Mountains? The natural wonder of the mountains and the age-old lure of cowboys, ranches, wilderness and world-beating ski resorts are all yours with the benefit of driving on holiday. Denver is as good as anywhere to begin.

This modern city with traditional values should be your gateway as you take on Rocky Mountain National Park as far as Wyoming to the north. For many, it is the allure of driving in seemingly deserted wilderness under huge open skies that attract many, or the National Park itself with its abundance of wildlife such as elk, pronghorn and moose as you go hiking in the park with the inimitable backdrop of the mountains never out of eyes-reach.

Provence
If getting away from it all is up your street then Provence is for you. Fly into Carcassonne and marvel at the charm of this pleasant walled city before heading into the Black Mountains where panoramic scenery will bombard the senses.

Here you will cross into the Massif Central where you can easily spend a day exploring the Parc Regional du Haut-Languedoc before taking in the charming towns of Mazamet, Castres and Albi. Another great drive in Provence can be had from St-Remy-de-Provence taking in the Roman ruins before the D99 road ascends you into the hills where the views are stunning. The wonderful medieval castles and churches of Eygalieres should also be explored.

French Riviera
The serenity, wonderful weather, ancient ruins and of course glamorous coastal towns of the Côte d’Azur should be visited be everyone at least once in a lifetime.

Many make use of cheap car hire when landing at Nice Airport before heading along the coast taking in the wonderful beaches in famous towns such as St. Tropez and Cannes before heading down to the millionaires playground that is Monaco where Formula One fans are able to drive the famous streets of the world’s most loved circuit after taking in medieval hill towns, Roman Ruins and art galleries along the way.

Many also plump for the ‘Ours Peak Road’ on the Western Riviera starting at St. Raphael and travelling along the ascending twists and turns which yield devastatingly beautiful panoramas as the road takes you to the summit of the Pic de l’Ours at 488m above sea level for views you will never, ever forget.

Pacific Coast Highway, California
Many rank the US1 and US101 of the Pacific Coast Highway as America’s most scenic drive. Begin in Los Angeles head north through California, Oregon and on to the state of Washington taking in the famous settlements of La Jolla, Malibu, Santa Monica, Pismo, Santa Barbara and Venice where the beaches are among the world’s best.

As you head north into the Big Sur region the landscape quickly changes, ascending to steep cliff drops overlooking the sea donning wonderful views all the way to incredible San Francisco. From here, expect wineries and redwood forests as you cross the Oregon state border where spectacular bays and small fishing villages present themselves before the Cascade Mountains and wondrous waterfalls of Washington greet you at the end of this unique road trip.

Rhine Valley, Germany
The Rhine Valley is famous for its historic castles and fortifications, dense forests and beautiful river settings and is regarded by many as Germany’s most beautiful scenic drive.

Begin in Cologne and head to Mainz and you will quickly be treated to some of the greatest castles you are ever likely to see at almost every turn, with many of them now converted into hotels. Stop at Lorelei and enjoy the spectacle of its castle which inspired J.R.R Tolkien to create the much-loved Hobbit/Lord of the Rings stories.

Sourced from: http://www.travelphant.com

Breathtaking landscape of the Grand Canyon's vast geological formations in Arizona.

25 Must See Places

On 21 June 201010 June 2026 By Yours in Travel, Lindsay QuailIn Curated Source, Destinations, Exotic Holidays, Ski-ing, Travel InformationLeave a comment

A collection of 25 cool places to visit around the world.

Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon is the steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in Arizona State of United States. The powerful sources that cause an impact on the Grand Canyon is erosion, first is by water and second is by wind. Nearly 5 million people visit the 1 mile deep Grand Canyon every year. Planning a vacation to the Grand Canyon national park provides a great relief for you and your family.

Photo by Andrew Patrick Photo on Pexels

The best time to visit Grand Canyon is during the summer, fall and mild spring, but most locals agree that winter is the great time to visit. There are various camp grounds both on the top and floor of the Grand Canyon. Camping at the floor of the Grand Canyon needs a permit from the country office.

Great Barrier Reef
This is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. It is one of the top travel destinations in Australia. You can see it from the outer space and it is the world’s largest single structure, which is made of living organisms. The reef supports 10,000 species which consists of 1500 types of fishes and 200 kinds of birds. This beauty inspires many of the travellers to visit the place.

Florida
This state built its entire identity with tourism. This is the south eastern state in the US. It is a most popular winter destination. Florida is also called as the Sunshine State. Central Florida is conquered by Orlando and it is well known coterie of theme parks, sea world, universal studios, Disney world, and many more attractions to tourists.

New Zealand South Island
The South Island of New Zealand is characterized by grand open landscapes. The island is well known for spectacular fiords, large beach forests, golden sand beaches and broad plains. Everybody can enjoy the travel to south island. The south island has ten national parks. These parks incorporate world heritage sites, lakes, glaciers, fiords, native forest, coastline, and world class hiking tracks. The fabulous scenery across the south land attracts many people to plan vacation.

Cape Town
Cape Town is situated at the tip of the African Continent. The only way to understand and enjoy Cape Town is by experiencing the unique range of multicultural lifestyles and scenic national surroundings for yourself. During the summer season, Cape Town is filled with holiday makers enjoying the hot weather, sunny beaches and beautiful scenery. So, if you want to spend your time during holiday season, it is best to make reservations as soon as possible. Before reaching the place, have a rough idea about the places around Cape Town, which you want to visit.

Golden Temple
This temple has a glorious setting and it exists in the middle of the large blue sacred pool. Don’t miss the peaceful and interesting ritual that goes inside the two-story golden temple. When you take a tour to India, you should visit the golden temple.

Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the largest city in the state of Nevada. This is commonly referred to as entertainment capital of the world. The city has great casino hotels and creates a fantasy like atmosphere. Las Vegas is a great travel destination for honeymooners and travel addicts. A trip to Vegas is usually a trip to “the strip”, about 20 long blocks of neon lights, public drinking and casinos.

Sydney
Sydney is the economic powerhouse of Australia. The place is full of sun-drenched natural attractions, delicious and daring restaurants, dizzy skyscrapers, friendly folk and wonderful shopping, so most of the travel addicts want to visit the place. You can take a trip to Sydney at any time of the year.

New York
New York is the USA’s largest metro area. The city is a great centre for fashion, culture, finance, research, media, food, art, and trade. The city consists of 5 boroughs and each is differentiated by its own culture. New York is cinematic. Every year this is a backdrop for about 200 movies.

Taj Mahal
According to most of the travellers, Taj Mahal, most beautiful building, in India is one of the great wonders of the world. This is a hybrid of many artistic styles. Once you visit Taj Mahal, you can enjoy various places near it. The river side behind Taj Mahal provides a wonderful environment. You can enjoy greatly along with your family.

Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies is one of the most spectacular places of the earth. This place has potential outdoor opportunities and world class resorts. Visit the two national parks of Canadian Rockies and find why most of the travellers choose Canadian Rockies as their home away home [Canada Travel]. This place offers you the best of the best. It offers you the hikes that you don’t want to miss, scenic drives and many more natural highlights. You can go for the vacation even along with your children. Winter is a great time to enjoy the place. During this time, you can try sports like skiing, snowshoeing and then relaxing around a roaring fire on every evening.

Uluru
Uluru or Ayers Rock in Australia is one of the world’s great natural wonders. Planning to visit this place is a great way to explore and experience the cultural and physical significance of this Australian icon. The rock is at its visual best at sunrise and sunset. Most of the travellers like to climb the rock by using an ancient aboriginal trail.

Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is a Mayan word. Chichen Itza is one of the largest archaeological cities of Mexico and one of the seven wonders. It is the most visited tourist destination. Travellers like to visit Chichen Itza as a day trip. If you want to enjoy all the activities nearby Chichen Itza, it takes 2-3 days stay. Before entering into the Chichen Itza, you will come across an informative museum, clean rest rooms, a dining room, few vender stands and gift shops. You can visit the site at any time of the year.

Machu Picchu
It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This is mystical place and a great spot to divinity. It is the Peru’s most popular place, so most of you like to see the place. People of Machu Picchu feel that they are the creators of god. This place offers you strange forces of nature that permit the individual to attain a contrary cosmic state. The place is located at 2300 meters above the sea level. So, you can enjoy the vicinity of the place. One day is enough to visit the spots around Machu Picchu. While planning to visit Machu Picchu, you need to understand a little about the geography of this area, because the location is remote and inaccessible.

Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls can be accessed from both the American and Canadian side, but the best view facing the falls is completely from the Canadian side. When you take a trip to Niagara Falls, don’t forget to take a ride on the famous maid-of-the-mist boats. You won’t get the entire experience of Niagara Falls until you ride one of these boats. It is the foundation for many interesting places to see and things to do. If you love beautiful landscapes, romantic getaways, family adventures and vibrant nightlife then Niagara Falls is the best place to visit.

Petra
Petra, one of the seven wonders, is fabled rose red city and is a well known earliest Nabataean city in the south Jordan. If you have decided to travel to Jordan, then Petra is at the top of your priority list. The solid red sand stone buildings in Petra are unlike anything that you have ever seen before. One full day is enough to see everything around Petra. This town offers you a wide variety of hotels to fit your budget.

The Pyramids
Pyramids and wonderful temples are the great things to enjoy in Egypt. Travel to Egypt offers you the nature and desert treks, fishing, golfing, scuba diving and birding groups. You can choose the places like Sinai coasts or red sea to relax. Winter is the best season to go for a vacation to Egypt. March-May and September-November is the best time to enjoy the warm days of Egypt.

Venice
Venice is one of the Italy’s greatest tourist places. You will be surprised by hearing how the city is built up. The city is built on 317 small islands and has 150 canals which are connected through 409 bridges. During the spring time, Venice is completely filled with tourists. At that time it is very difficult to find the accommodations.

Maldives
Maldives is a great place for tranquil tropical islands, palm trees, white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons. Maldives is a group of 1190 coral islands. This place is a great destination for scuba divers. Visiting Maldives between December and April can makes you to spend some extra hours of sunshine. Also this is the main season for tourism.

Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is the travel icon of China and is one of the most popular travel vacation destinations in the world. It took hundreds of years for its construction. When you have decided to travel to China, don’t forget to see the wall.

Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls was also one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is the most beautiful waterfalls in Africa. This is a cheap travel destination and is full of fun. Those who want to try for adventures will find plenty of activities like elephant safaris, bridge swinging, water rafting and so on. There are two sides of the falls, one is Zambia and the other is Zimbabwe side. Both sides are awesome and are a year round destination.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong, an oriental pearl, is simply amazing. It will be very hard for you to find a more exciting city other than Hong Kong. The best thing about being in Hong Kong is getting confused and fired by the confluences and contradictions of a Chinese city with multi Asian and western elements. The best period to take a vacation to Hong Kong is in the months of October, November and most of December.

Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is located on the western slopes of Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is one of the nation’s most famous national parks in US. Yosemite Valley is the most famous destination in Yosemite. Every year more than 4 million people come to visit Yosemite Valley. It is packed with restaurants, shops and campsites. This has hundreds of miles of hiking trails. You will find a great variety of wildlife along with mule deer, black bears and various bird species. When you plan your vacation to Yosemite, you can enjoy various activities like hiking, skiing, camping, snowshoeing, horse riding and bicycling.

Hawaii
Going for Hawaii vacation will make you feel very happy by the beauty and hospitality. They want to do the things that they would not do at home. The beautiful Hawaii islands offer you to see world famous beaches closely; offer you peace and calmness somewhere off the beaten path. During winter season, Hawaii is fully packed with tourists. When you visit Hawaii, don’t forget to enjoy the activities like: Seeing Molten lava flow at Kilauea volcano, hiking through Waipio Valley, visiting the largest Hawaiian religious temple Puukohola Heiau and playing in the snow atop Mauna Kea.

Paris
It is the most beautiful place and also the capital of France. Springtime is the best time to visit Paris. Paris is the city of life, love and light. You will find romance and magic when you visit Eiffel tower to Mona Lisa and from the bustling Champs Elysees to the winding streets of Montmartre.

I hope you enjoyed these 25 cool places to visit.

Sourced from: http://www.travelphant.com