Blog

This week has been all about getting to know Cape Town like a local, finding little gems, watching sunsets that make you forget about your phone, and saying yes to every new adventure that comes my way. I’m staying right in the middle of the city in one of Gonana South African Travel’s rental listings, which honestly makes everything so easy. Everything I want to see or do is just a short walk away, so I can easily visit local markets, explore little shops, grab a bite to eat, or just sit down at a café and people-watch. The city feels alive all the time, and being in the middle of it lets me enjoy all the excitement whenever I want, then come back to my own little home.

This week in Cape Town was packed with sightseeing, culture, and just the right amount of adventure to make me fall even more in love with this city. Every day felt like a new story waiting to be discovered, with streets full of life, energy, and events happening all around me.

Hi, I’m Tilda, and this is the start of a whole new adventure here in Cape Town as part of my university internship. Who am I? I am a person who lives for adventure, whether it’s paragliding in the Alps, swimming with turtles in the Caribbean, or hiking active volcanoes in Iceland. I am curious about new places, cultures, and ways of living, and that same curiosity is what has brought me here, to South Africa and to Gonana South African Travel. Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing my experiences, thoughts, and little adventures as I explore life here in Cape Town.

When you grow up on wine farms, you get spoiled. Not just by the smell of fermenting grapes in the air or the long harvest evenings when the whole valley buzzes, but by knowing which estates are truly worth their salt (and their Sauvignon Blanc). So, when Vergelegen Wine Estate was just crowned Best Wine Farm Experience in the Best of the Cape Awards—beating more than 500 other contenders—I wasn’t surprised. I was thrilled. And maybe a little smug. Because here’s my confession: Vergelegen is practically my backyard.

As the head guide at Gonana South African Travel, I find new stories daily in South Africa, and the story of the proudly South African pinotage grape has fascinated me since I arrived here 20 years ago. I'm not the biggest wine drinker as I'm an avid health and fitness advocate, but I can certainly appreciate a glass of wine! So here's the story of the pinotage grape...