Inside South Africa: An Expert Insight

I was born in Cape Town and grew up living between the city and the Winelands, and I now live in the middle of the two. I speak English and Afrikaans and my intimate knowledge of Cape Town led to me to qualify as a South African Tourist Guide in 2019. I’ve invested a great deal of time into learning as much as I can about my home country and I love sharing my knowledge and passion with others. The best way to gain insight into a destination is through local expertise, and I pride myself on being able to share an exceptional amount of authentic, local knowledge of South Africa.

Part of my role heading up Jacada’s Africa concierge team means getting under the skin of neighbouring countries too. I speak with our teams on the ground in East and Southern Africa everyday, discussing the trips we’re working on and brainstorming how we can elevate them. I frequently travel to different destinations across Africa too. These research trips help me to build strong relationships with our teams on the ground, while broadening my knowledge of the continent, continuously expanding my expertise and learning about the finer details of our favourite lodges and experiences.

The role of my concierge team in Africa is to curate the finer details of our guests’ trips. After your itinerary is finalised with Jacada’s travel designers, you’ll be allocated your own personal concierge, who’ll jump on a call with you to start planning the finishing touches of your trip.

I’ll build a relationship with each guest, getting to know them through a phone or video call. Each call will always be different and these chats help me to start curating bespoke support, experiences and care for this particular trip. I’ll learn about likes and dislikes and use my expertise to make personal recommendations for anything from restaurant reservations and spa treatments, to memorable moments inspired by personal interests and hobbies.

My network of contacts is also essential to building unforgettable moments. For guests who have been inspired by the culinary prowess of Cape Town and the Winelands, a sought-after reservation at one of South Africa’s best restaurants might take their trip to the next level, and I’ll likely know the right people to help me arrange this.

I always endeavour to go the extra mile. In some cases this can even mean meeting guests for a drink or dinner to put their minds at ease when it comes to off-the-beaten-path African adventures. I help bring cities to life, transforming a stop en-route to a safari into the highlight of a trip. I focus on creating a truly unforgettable journey that begins as soon as we first start chatting and continues well after arriving home.

There are so many examples of truly exciting moments to share! I particularly love arranging surprises. These could be reunions, special celebrations or experiences. I also love it when I can arrange something that seems impossible.

One of my favourite stories took place a few years ago when I was helping a lovely couple enjoy a big adventure through Southern Africa. They were visiting Victoria Falls in Zambia, going on a safari in Sabi Sands Private Reserve and finally stopping in Cape Town for great food, exclusive tours and guided wine tastings.

Their visit to Cape Town coincided with one of the world’s biggest rugby rivalries – a match between South Africa’s Springboks and New Zealand’s All Blacks, and being big rugby fans this couple purchased their tickets well in advance. Unfortunately after arriving into Cape Town they realised they had unfortunately been sold counterfeit tickets and the chances of attending the match seemed slim. South Africans are passionate about rugby, meaning that tickets sell out fast and big international games are almost impossible to get tickets for. They were incredibly disappointed, so I reached out to my contacts, determined to help them.

Through a close friend who is influential in the world of South African rugby, I was able to not only secure them tickets, but also VIP access to the game. Of course, I also bought them obligatory Springbok jerseys to wear at the match. This whole experience was tremendously exciting – they had Jacada’s extensive network and connections working right up to the last minute to get them to the match.

No two days are the same. I’m involved with an exciting and varied range of activities and work with inspiring people who allow me to constantly develop my knowledge of the best things to do in Cape Town, the rest of South Africa and beyond.

I might go for dinner with some of our expert city guides or one of the travel designers visiting from London, to talk about experiences and share our learnings. This kind of teamwork and collaboration helps us to provide the best possible experiences and keeps me in the know when it comes to new tours and activities. 

For example, as part of Jacada’s Positive Impact Collection we can offer a tour led by the communities of Cape Peninsula. Experts such as marine biologists and locals who run social impact initiatives to empower communities offer a new and valuable perspective on the city.

I’m also always on the lookout to expand my own personal network, and frequently meet with people who can offer truly one-of-a-kind excursions. For instance, I’ve met with the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s granddaughter and the sculptor Athang, both of whom can provide opportunities for guests to gain an exclusive insight into South Africa’s historic and cultural background. 

I love testing local restaurants too, both to validate that the new ‘local hotspot’ is indeed an authentic space that’s worthy of a visit, and to build relationships with the restaurant owners and maitre d’s for future, hard-to-get reservations. I’ll also test out new tours within the city so that I know exactly what they entail and who they’ll be best suited to.

Beyond my expert knowledge, I’m also on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly for the trips that are taking place each day. Delayed or cancelled flights and other disruptions are sometimes unavoidable, but I’ll be there to reschedule transfers and work behind the scenes to ensure a seamless journey.

Cape Town is renowned for its fantastic foodie scene, so naturally I’m always looking for somewhere new to try. I always recommend traditional South African dishes such as a Cape Malay curry or a gatsby, Cape Town’s signature sandwich, best enjoyed during a guided walking tour. 

For trips to the Cape region in January I’ll recommend a visit to one of our stunning beaches and in August I’ll suggest a boat ride along the Whale Coast. This is an absolute must do – the majestic sight of southern right whales migrating from Antarctica is truly breathtaking. The best time to visit South Africa really does depend on where you wish to explore and what you want to do.

Of course, one of the most incredible things to do in South Africa is a safari. In Sabi Sands expert guides and trackers will teach you about the sleek leopards who stalk the grassy landscapes, while over in the golden savannahs of the Kalahari, you may catch a glimpse of the most endangered member of the Big Five – the black rhino.

I’m passionate about ensuring members of the LGBTQ+ community are able to travel with confidence. All of the team at Jacada hold the Queer Destinations Committed Distinction, meaning we’re trained in crafting uplifting journeys that prioritise your safety and comfort. If LGBTQ+ travellers have any questions about exploring a new destination or want tailored recommendations myself and the team are ready to help. I can even meet up with them in person when they arrive in Cape Town to give them a warm welcome and put them at ease.

I also enjoy championing local artisans and small businesses. I spend my free time meeting with local craftspeople, many of whom produce their work from small studios and sometimes from their homes. Gaining an authentic insight into a craft, whether creating artworks or brewing and distilling gin and craft beer, feels exciting to share. It’s such an immersive experience to be welcomed into someone’s creative space to learn about their personal artistic journey and be shown different processes.

I’m passionate about food and wine – with such a fantastic selection available in my home city, how could I not be? Three of my personal favourite restaurants in Cape Town are Kloof Street House, a laidback space with beautifully curated interiors and vibes; Fyn, which serves up exciting African and Japanese fusion fine dining; and Spyced, which is the most authentic South African food I’ve tasted outside of my own home cooking.