From Sundowners on Safari to Sipping Wine: A Luxury Travel Advisor's Return to South Africa

When I visited South Africa fifteen years ago as a backpacker, I immediately fell in love with it. Coming back now in February 2025 as a luxury travel advisor, I'll admit - there was a little part of me that was curious to see if I'd love it just as much, or if my memories were a bit too romantic. After all, fifteen years is a really long time in the world of travel. 😅

Well, I can officially say that I love South Africa even more now than I did before! From stunning views, incredible food, an outstanding safari experience, must-visit winelands, and a city like Cape Town that “has it all” (ocean, mountains, food, history, art…) South Africa is a place I’ll be recommending to travelers over and over.

You’ll fly into Cape Town, and for me, this city ticks all the boxes. You've got fabulous hotels, an overabundance of incredible food and dining opportunities, and surprisingly awesome shopping with local designers and boutique shops where you can find special pieces to take home. And the best part? These aren't your cliché Africa souvenirs - they're authentic pieces that showcase the unique artistry you find in South Africa.

But what really pulls a South African adventure together is the landscape - it's just stunning with an incredible combination of mountains and ocean that you really don't find much around the world. No matter where you go, you're either enjoying views of the mountain or the ocean, or both. It's just incredible.

South African Cuisine: From Cape Town's Seafood to Unexpected Delicacies 

Let me tell you about the food scene in South Africa, because it's absolutely incredible. Throughout my entire experience - from coastal towns to the Winelands to safari lodges - everything was super fresh. The culinary scene here is remarkable in how they prioritize local and fresh produce, and that really shines through in every single meal.

In Cape Town, you'll find amazing fresh seafood, but don't think it's only a seafood destination. There's plenty of excellent meat options too - we're talking everything from incredible beef tartare to venison to… ostrich?! It was actually quite good! The idea of it is exotic, but when I actually tried it, it wasn’t overly so. Foodies will enjoy expanding their palettes with the range of food options to be found, and the less adventurous will find many “safe” options while also tipping their toes into some unknown dishes.

One of the dining perks you can look forward to is high-quality dining experiences, even some Michelin-star level meals, for very approachable prices. I often found myself paying about half of what I would in the United States for a similar quality meal! Whether you plan your travels around food or just want good-quality, delicious meals, South Africa’s food does not disappoint. 

South Africa’s Wine Regions, from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek 

The South African wine regions are something truly special. Whether you're in Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, or Constantia, you'll find this incredible mix of boutique wineries and more established varieties. It honestly reminded me of the Napa versus Sonoma dynamic - especially when comparing Stellenbosch to Franschhoek. Here's a fun fact: Pinotage, which is now synonymous with South African wine, was actually accidentally invented at Lanzerac Wine Estate! 

Luxury Wine Tasting Experiences in South Africa

While I love wine, I do have to admit that now when I visit a wine region, I don’t do tours at all the wineries. (Once you’ve done one, you’ve done them all…right??) So what I really enjoyed about visiting Stellenbosch and Franschhoek was not just the wine, but also the vibes and environments while enjoying it. 

While at other wineries around the world you often resort to trying wines (outside of a tour) standing at the bar, at every single winery we visited in South Africa there were beautiful sitting areas with stunning mountain views. On a full South Africa trip that involves some time on safari, the winery visiting part of the trip is that “relaxation” moment where you soak in a different type of nature. 🍇 ;)

On this trip, we visited: Ernie Els, Delaire Graff Estate, Noble Hill, and Babylonstoren.

And even if you're not a wine person, there are breweries and gin tasting options in South Africa, too! When you work with a travel professional like me to plan your trip, you can customize your dining and drinking itineraries based on your interests. 

Safari in South Africa: What to Expect on Your Daily Game Drives

Let me walk you through a typical day on safari - and trust me, it's unlike anything else. Picture this: your wake-up call comes at 4:30 AM (yes, you read that right - although in this case that was actually the earliest wake-up call I've ever had on safari…but they are generally sometime before 6:30 am). Your morning game drive runs for about 4 hours, so on this trip from about 5 AM to 9 AM. And then we had free time until your afternoon drive at 4 PM.

Now, you might be wondering, "What do you do with all that free time?" Priority number one is definitely taking a nap! Trust me on this one. Most people aren't used to those early wake-ups. Plus, while safari is “sedentary”, it’s not necessarily relaxing. You are constantly on the lookout for animals, so in the afternoons it is nice to have a moment to relax your eyes and brain. You've also got options like taking a dip in the pool (perfect when it's warm), relaxing with a book, enjoying a nice lunch with some wine, or treating yourself to a massage. I actually did all of the above during this trip! 

The afternoon drive goes until about 7 or 8 PM, but timing is always flexible because, well, wildlife doesn't exactly follow a schedule! A cheetah’s dinner hunt is the only dinner time priority when you’re out on safari. 

One of my favorite parts of a safari is the sundowners - I’m talking gin and tonics while watching the sunset in the bush. On this trip, I even had an elephant walk by during one of our sundowner stops, which was a first for me!

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve Review: Luxury Eco-Lodge in South Africa

I need to tell you about Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, because it's officially landed in my top five favorite hotel/resort stays ever. Let me be clear: this hotel was perfect for me because it hit all of my passion points. It's what I call my "hotel love language."

From literally everywhere you go in Grootbos–your room, breakfast, the pool, anywhere on the property–you have these stunning, stunning views of the ocean and coastline. It's one of those places that just makes you stop and appreciate the beauty around you. And here's what I love: you don't have to pay a ton of money for an upgraded room to get a nice view. Every single room has these incredible views!

The food? Again, divine. Let me give you an example of the attention to detail: not only did they have homemade butter at every meal, but each time it was a different flavor. One time it was honey butter, another time it was mushroom butter. It was the kind of place where the food is so delicious that even if you're not hungry, you're not skipping a meal, and I certainly didn’t want to leave property to eat.

Speaking of not leaving property: the experience and activities to be had at Grootbos are out of this world. The hiking trails, the botanical safari, the fat tire biking along the dunes ... These activities weren’t just fun—they were experiences that you won’t find all in one place very often. 

One of my favorite things we did was the botanical safari, and I wasn’t even visiting during bloom season! A specialist took us out on the 4x4 to help us discover the flora and fauna of the property, and I found it fascinating that a large percentage of the over 900 species are edible and medicinal. I cannot imagine what this place looks like in bloom…but I’m excited to visit again and see. 

And that was just one experience. To be honest, I wanted more unplanned free time to roam the trails, do yoga on my patio, relax by the ocean-view pool, and enjoy the incredible spa. Other activities that Grootbos offers include shark cage diving, whale watching, horse riding, bird watching, cave expliration…and more. You could spend weeks at this property and never get bored!

Planning Your South Africa Luxury Travel Itinerary

Coming back to South Africa has officially solidified it as one of my favorite destinations in the entire world. Whether you're exploring the incredible food and wine scene, waking up before dawn for safari adventures, or just soaking in those stunning views at Grootbos, there's something magical about this place that keeps drawing me back. I'm already planning my next trip–this time during spring when all the botanicals are in full bloom!

Undiscovered Sunsets was a long time in the making, even if I myself didn’t realize it. During my time at the University of Northern Iowa, I studied abroad in New Zealand. Upon graduating, I bought a one-way ticket to France, lived with a French family and studied with classmates from Turkey, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, and everywhere in between. In 2010 I began teaching English as a foreign language. This job quickly took me to China, where English teachers were in high demand and within three years, I began working in a 5-star hotel, speaking Mandarin throughout most of my day. In total, I lived abroad for 7 years.

I consider Undiscovered Sunsets to be the perfect mélange of my personal experience traveling the world and my professional experience working in the hospitality industry.

I look forward to designing your next adventure!