Author: Chukwu Godlove

Cape Town and the Western Cape offer many places where quiet is part of the experience, writes Miriam Kimvangu. Newlands Forest/Tim Johnson/Unsplash Even with a city as “chill” and laid-back as Cape Town, things can get too loud. We asked you on Instagram and Facebook stories what your favourite escapes where we you just need a moment to yourself. This is not a list of “hidden gems” or extravagant destinations. These are the everyday places that make us feel a little more human. Newlands Forest Newlands Forest sits on the slopes of Table Mountain and offers an easy nature escape…

Moon lovers and skywatchers across South Africa will have the opportunity to witness a partial solar eclipse on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, with the phenomenon visible from large parts of the country, reports Cape {town} Etc. Lucas Pezeta / Pexels According to the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), the eclipse will occur when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, partially obscuring the sun from view. During a partial solar eclipse, the moon, sun and Earth do not align in a perfectly straight line, meaning only the outer part of the moon’s shadow (known as the penumbra) is cast…

Cafés are evolving into something than just places to order a flat white, writes Miriam Kimvangu. House of Machines/Miriam Kimvangu They are third spaces where people gather outside of home and work to connect with their respective communities. These venues function as cultural meeting points, creative incubators, and collaborative hubs. Some experiences even extend beyond café hours into the night, creating a continuous cycle of urban creativity. Music hubs In Cape Town, cafés regularly blur the lines between hospitality and performance space. Café Roux in Noordhoek is known for its intimate live music programme and relaxed setting. The venue hosts…

There is something deeply satisfying about planning a trip around a show, writes Zoë Erasmus. stefano stacchini / Unsplash A film festival in a historic theatre, an open air concert under the stars, a play staged in a century old opera house. Across South Africa, performance spaces are not just venues. They are destinations in their own right. From grand city institutions to unexpected small town stages, these cinemas and theatres are worth the drive, the flight, and sometimes even the detour. The Labia Theatre, Cape Town For cinema lovers, the The Labia Theatre is a pilgrimage site. Operating since…

Rolling green hills, crisp mountain air, and quiet country roads set the tone for a stay in Underberg. Tucked beneath the Southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal, this small farming town is less about ticking off attractions and more about easing into nature at your own pace. View across Lake Naverone in Underberg/Colin Watts/Unsplash Underberg rewards travellers who want access to big landscapes without complicated logistics. A short drive connects you to hiking trails, trout dams, cultural sites and one of the country’s most iconic mountain passes. Families, couples and solo explorers can shape the experience to suit their rhythm. Wide open…

There is something about Cape Town that turns ordinary habits into rituals, writes Zoë Erasmus. Gavin Rain / Pexels Perhaps it is the proximity to the ocean, the mountain looming in the background, or the way light stretches late into summer evenings. Whatever the reason, daily life here has a rhythm that visitors notice and locals quietly perfect. If you are looking to bring a little of that rhythm into your own life, here are some Cape Town routines worth stealing. The early morning mountain walk Before emails, before traffic, before the wind picks up, there is the mountain. Capetonians…

South Africa’s wine scene is often defined by famous names such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Beyond these well-trodden paths, quiet corners of the country offer boutique vineyards, scenic drives, and small-town charm. Image used for illustrative purposes/Rodrigo Abreu/Unsplash These hidden wine regions provide an opportunity to meet passionate winemakers, explore local culture, and taste exceptional wines far from the crowds. Swartland offers bold wines and rustic charm Swartland sits about an hour north of Cape Town and has gained a reputation for bold, terroir-driven wines. The region’s sunbaked plains and windswept hills produce distinctive Chenin Blanc, Syrah, and Mourvèdre wines…

South Africa’s story lives in its museums, writes Miriam Kimvangu. Apartheid Museum Reflections/Katangais/Unsplash These 7 museums provide structured access to information about South Africa’s past and journey to its present, through curated displays and research-based interpretation, told by those who lived it. The Apartheid Museum The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg presents a chronological account of apartheid and its impact on South African society. The visitor experience begins at the entrance, where racial classification categories reflect the segregation policies that defined daily life under apartheid. The exhibitions include photographs, film footage, official documents, and personal testimonies. Displays explain the implementation of…

Chewore Lodge dispute has been portrayed to the public by various local and social media platforms as a stark cautionary tale: a long-standing investor allegedly stripped of his business by a rigid legal system, a Government hostile to private capital and a tourism sector undermined by judicial “technicalities.” Yet this portrayal bears little resemblance to what the courts were actually asked to decide or what they ultimately ruled. An examination of the High Court (HH192/25) and Supreme Court (SC06/26) judgments, alongside the factual record placed before those courts, reveals that the Chewore Lodge matter was never about the arbitrary “cancellation”…

Set along the escarpment and traced by the Highlands Meander, this region feels worlds away from the Lowveld’s safari rhythm. Here, the air is crisp, the landscapes are wide, and the pleasures are simple. A multi-day trip allows enough time to balance comfort with exploration, moving between trout-filled dams, forest trails, and some of South Africa’s most beautiful waterfall country, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. Where to stay in the Mpumalanga highlands Dullstroom and surrounds for country charm Dullstroom remains the Highlands’ best-known village, yet it retains its small-town appeal. Cobbled paths, cosy cafés and art galleries sit alongside fly fishing outfitters…