We're always exploring fresh places to stay and keeping tabs on what’s new in the local travel scene.

Our May 2025 travel update reflects a growing, global appreciation for South Africa's natural beauty and lifestyle attractions – with Cape Town's Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and some favourite Joburg haunts in the eyes of the world. 

We share a few hotel stays we've loved of late, from old-world charm to countryside escapes, and some promotions to see you through the winter season. To showcase the city we love best, we made a map in collaboration with Jozi My Jozi – further illustrating how much there is to discover on home soil. 

The National Arts Festival returns to Makhanda (Grahamstown) for its 51st edition, promising more colour and creativity than ever. Our recent adventures in the Cradle of Humankind and surrounds have been nothing short of awe-inspiring; from discovering the story behind the Nirox Sculpture Park to visiting the newly reopened Sterkfontein Caves. 

For photographers and lovers of the outdoors, entries to WWF’s nationwide photo competition are open.

1. Kirstenbosch named one of the world's must-see gardens

In an article published by the New York Times Style Magazine (May 2025), Cape Town's Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden ranks ninth in a list of The 25 Essential Gardens to See in Your Lifetime. Being the first botanical garden in the world dedicated entirely to indigenous flora, and with its mountain vistas and sweeping forests, it's easy to see why it made the cut. We're certain anyone who has visited this spectacular space will agree. Kirstenbosch is one of the many beautiful gardens around South Africa under the custodianship of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Plan your visit with our guide to exploring Kirstenbosch.

2. Three things the world loves about Joburg

It's not just Kirstenbosch flying the South African flag high. A number of Joburg spots are getting global shout-outs, too. 

MAGUGU HOUSE NAMED ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST PLACES

The awe-inspiring showroom, gallery, and store, Magugu House was named in Time Magazine's list of the World’s Greatest Places of 2024. Kimberly-born designer Thebe Magugu has reached for the stars and found them; Magugu House in Dunkeld is a beautifully brought together series of rooms in which you’ll find a celebration of his exceptional designs and many collaborations. From Dior to local Weylandts furniture, the objects are thoughtfully laid out across the space. The label’s emblem depicts two sisters, paying homage to Magugu’s mother and aunt, who raised him. Magugu uses his work to tell powerful cultural stories, focusing on heritage and what has shaped this designer’s path.

THE WHIPPET COFFEE COMPANY MAKES THE WORLD'S BEST COFFEE SHOPS LIST

The Whippet Coffee Company is a beloved Linden joint that was recently voted as No.89 on the World's Best Coffee Shops 2025 list, according to Coffeefest Madrid. And now, the breakfast crowds and brunch-goers will be delighted to know that The Whippet Coffee Company is expanding. If you've been in the queue to get a table here on a weekend morning, you'll know what a big deal this is. The new and improved venue will feature art and furniture from local entrepreneurs, some added legroom, and a refreshed menu. Follow @thewhippetcoffee on Instagram for details on the expansion and reopening. 

OBSCURA COCKTAIL BAR & EATERY ON THE WORLD'S 50 BEST DISCOVERY LIST

Launched with business partners Ricardo da Costa and Lee Govender, owner and mixologist George Hunter wanted Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery to be a welcoming space. It's sexy yet unpretentious, playful, yet intimate, and the cocktails (of course, the star) have been hailed as some of the best in Joburg. We have to agree. It also smells as good as it looks, an intriguing touch. In February 2025, Obscura cracked the nod on the World's 50 Best Discovery list. All the more reason to visit this spot in Oxford Parks, Rosebank. 

3. Recent stays: French-inspired luxury and a mountainside retreat

OH LA LA: THE 'FRENCH 75' AT THE GREAT GATSBY

Originally completed in 1918 during Joburg’s gold rush, along Houghton's iconic Munro Drive you'll find The Great Gatsby guesthouse; a former Randlord mansion. Built in the 1920s, a stately façade sets the tone for the home's glamorous interiors and gorgeous garden. Under the stewardship of owner and hostess Gina Gabriel, guests can enjoy daily housekeeping and delicious meals in one of 12 uniquely styled rooms. 

For added privacy, a newer addition, the French 75, is a self-catering two-sleeper suite perched on the property's sandstone cliffs, with sweeping views of Joburg and the northern suburbs. With antique furnishings, soft lighting, Schiaparelli pink drapes, a secluded balcony, and a bathtub made for sunset soaks, the space offers French-inspired luxury at an affordable price. Make your reservation here. 

SERENITY NOW: QUIET MOUNTAIN COUNTRY HOUSE

Having visited many years back, it was a real treat to check back into this secluded spot in Hekpoort. Just an hour outside of Joburg, Quiet Mountain Country House is nestled at the foot of the Magaliesberg mountains. It's a true escape from city life, with over 100 hectares of indigenous bushveld and walking trails. The historic homestead is utterly charming, and you will be very well looked after with gourmet meals made from local produce, including farm-fresh eggs and homemade yoghurt. The excellent wines are as warming as the hospitality. Our full review is coming up, but if you're sold already, you can make a booking here. 

4. The city in your pocket: Making maps

Johannesburg In Your Pocket hadn’t published a city map in five years, so when Jozi My Jozi asked us to take on the challenge, we sharpened our pencils (and geography skills). The brief? To create a locally-rooted mini map guide to Johannesburg for Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban, the continent’s biggest leisure tourism showcase, held in May 2025. 

The resulting map guide does more than lead you to great coffee and cool galleries; it highlights close to 100 attractions, destinations, and small businesses that are shaping a more sustainable, resilient, and proudly local Joburg. By linking vibrant pockets of the city and spotlighting the tour guides, storytellers, and community members who move between them, the map becomes not just a map of places – it’s a map of people shaping a more accessible, connected, and dynamic city. Read more about the project here. 

5. Hotel specials

The Capital on Bath hotel puts you in the heart of the vibrant, walkable neighbourhood of Rosebank and its many art attractions, family-friendly activities, great restaurants, and shopping spots. For locals, it's worth the staycation. Choose from the hotel's sleek rooms, spacious apartments, or stylish penthouses –made all the more enticing with two specials running at The Capital (valid until Tue, Mar 31, 2026). 

Woza Weekend Deal: A chic room, vibrant weekend energy, and the freedom to explore Rosebank’s galleries, restaurants, and markets at your own pace. The perfect base for a fun and flexible stay. Book now.

You Booze, Come Snooze: Your ultimate no-stress weekend escape. Enjoy a R300 drinks voucher, a tasty bar snacks platter, and a Hangover Pack for the morning after. The ideal mix of indulgence and recovery. Book now.

COSY UP AT THE PEECH HOTEL

The Peech Hotel's Winter Escape package is a one-way ticket to bliss. From soaks in a freestanding bath to nibbles on a fruit and cheese platter, it’s the perfect mid-month escape in leafy Melrose. For supper, you’ll be in excellent hands with a Prix Fixe dinner spread for two, including the sommelier's recommended wine pairing (five local wines) at The Pot Luck Club restaurant. End the night surrounded by rose petals and petit fours. Add in a full buffet and an a la carte breakfast the next morning, and you're all set. For reservations and more details, call +27 (011) 537 9797 or visit thepeech.co.za

6. Art calls: Head to the National Arts Festival 2025

Need a reason to visit the Eastern Cape? The National Arts Festival (NAF) makes a bold return to its rebellious origins in 2025, just a year after celebrating its 50th anniversary. This year’s edition, running from Thu, Jun 26 – Sun, Jul 6, 2025 in Makhanda (Grahamstown), reclaims the festival’s radical edge with an eclectic programme of local and international works that explore protest, memory, innovation, and the limitless power of artistic expression. NAF artistic director Rucera Seethal says, “The Festival is a fluid container for these conversations. Artists first see and then weave – through words, art, body, or expression – that which we are too busy to truly notice.” Plan your visit with tips from the NAF and buy your tickets for the 2025 festival.

Note: The water crisis is still a reality. While water supply in Makhanda has been stablised, sparing use is encouraged. Make sure to chat to your accomodation provider on their measures to manage water on their premises. 

7. Adventures in the historic Cradle and surrounds

A NEW ERA FOR THE WITS STERKFONTEIN CAVES

When we heard the Sterkfontein Caves were reopening, we knew we had to visit. It was nothing short of awe-inspiring. This UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Cradle of Humankind closed in 2022 following severe flooding. Finally, this national treasure has been restored to the public (Apr 2025) – now under the full management of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), with plans to buff up the tourism offering alongside more immersive research and educational experiences.

While there are exciting things on the horizon for this spectacular site, our guide Trevor Buthelezi quipped before we made our descent, "The caves are the caves. Not much has changed. It'll take another two million years for that."⁠ A guided tour of the Sterkfontein Caves is wondrous, and something we recommend every Joburg resident and visitor experience at least once. Read the full story here.

FINDING PEACE AT NIROX SCULPTURE PARK AND FARMHOUSE 58

The Nirox Sculpture Park, set across 30 hectares of cultivated lawns, waterways, and wetlands along the Blaauwbankspruit River, is a breathtaking blend of nature and art. Home to more than 50 installations by global artists, it’s also the site of artist residencies, the Villa-Legodi Centre, Natura Co-Lab, Columba Leadership Academy, and the standout restaurant And Then There Was Fire. We recently toured the grounds with founder Benji Liebmann and were struck by the park’s deep commitment to sustainability and community, as well as its ability to remain simple yet inimitable. It’s a thread that runs through Farmhouse58, a nearby retreat grounded in slow living, regenerative farming, and immersive nature experiences, beginning with a buggy ride from Nirox to your stay. While nothing beats being there, here’s a glimpse of our visit. More to follow soon.

A REFUGE IN NATURE: FARMOUHOUSE58'S NEW FARMCABINS 
Cosy up this autumn in the new FARMcabins at Farmhouse58. Enjoy discreet luxury in six different farm cabins, each produced with local artisans and materials in context with the site. Each cabin comes with its own indoor and outdoor lounge and open-air bathrooms under Acacia trees. The perfect city scape, and as Farmhouse58 describes it "Answering the call for a private sanctuary in communion with the land". Make your booking at www.farmhouse58.co. 

8. Industry buzz: What's shaping African tourism

MOVING BEYOND AFRICAN STEREOTYPES
A State of the Industry report released at the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2025 event calls for a change in the way we think about tourism on the continent. The report challenges African travel leaders to stop recycling outdated trends and embrace a more inclusive, tech-savvy, and locally rooted future. Key insights highlight the need to reframe Africa beyond safaris and invest in digital tools that enhance human experiences. Get the report here.

LEVERAGING THE G20 SUMMIT FOR SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM
A recent Getaway article unpacks the significance of the upcoming G20 Summit in 2025 – the first to be hosted on African soil, set to take place in Joburg from Sat, Nov 22 – Sun, Nov 23. The Summit brings world leaders together to address key issues such as inclusive growth, food security, ethical AI, and sustainable finance. SA Tourism expects it to generate over R1.2 billion in direct tourism revenue, with key attractions in the city, including the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, and Vilakazi Street set to feature in official itineraries. Read the article here. 

THE RISE OF FOOD TOURISM
Are culinary experiences a big motivating factor in where you travel, and how? You're not alone. Gastronomy tourism – also called food tourism – is a type of travel that focuses on experiencing a place through its local food and culinary culture. The Gastronomy Tourism Forum in Tanzania brought together over 400 participants from 30 countries to celebrate Africa’s diverse culinary heritage and strengthen collaboration among food and tourism stakeholders. The event highlighted food tourism’s role in economic growth, cultural preservation, and community development. Read more.

9. Enter WWF's nationwide photo competition

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