Food & cooking experiences

It can be tricky to find activities that suit both little and old(er) minds, but dig a little deeper under the surface of the Cape Winelands and you’ll find a variety of activities behind the grape vines. At Spier Wine Estate, the kids will meet rare birds and enjoy a custom-juice tasting (wine tasting for the adults), before heading to the famous Fairview estate to nibble on cheese and meet the resident goats. In the afternoon, there are visits to an artisan chocolatier, glass blowing studio, brewery and distillery to keep everyone entertained – really, there isn’t a moment to get bored!

Part sleepy fishing village, part culinary heaven, you can’t visit Paternoster without doing a little restaurant hopping. So for a 24 hour, tastebud-ticklingly delicious foodie journey, here’s the plan. Cast off your flip-flops and head straight along the beach to Voorstrandt. The 115-year-old green and red tin hut is a Paternoster institution where the beer is cold and the fish comes straight from boat to plate. For dinner it’s Gaaitjie and chef Suzi Waterhouse’s Afrikaans classics with a seaside twist and the best sunset in town. After an early morning dip (essential to replenish the appetite!), roll in to the Strandloper Hotel for freshly baked pastries and heavenly coffee. Next up is Oep ve Koep, a rustic farm-stall-come-restaurant owned by the legendary Kobus van der Merwe. Foraging is the name of his game, so expect wild oysters in the restaurant and fynbos jam in the pretty shop. And if you’ve got an extra few hours, squeeze in a Malay fish curry under the twinkling garden lights at the Noisy Oyster. Talk about saving the best till last….

If the Cape Winelands aren't in your sights on this trip to South Africa, get a taster with a visit to a wine estate in idyllic Constantia Valley. In the suburbs outside of Cape Town, Constantia is home to a number of top-shelf vineyards with long histories from family establishments to renowned wine makers. Our favourites are Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia. Enjoy a tour of the winery, sample unique harvests and meet the wine makers. A few hours in Constantia makes a fantastic addition to your Cape Town itinerary and, if you visit in the afternoon, grab lunch before spending golden hour amongst the rows of grapes - it makes for some lovely photo ops.

The Hemel-en-Aarde road takes you into the hilly wine country beyond Hermanus. The cool ocean air enriches these vineyards and the small-scale production keeps things personal. Enjoy a different view into the valley at each farm, sipping a crisp sauvignon blanc or tucking into a delicious food and wine pairing.

Arabica and Robusta coffee are Tanzania’s largest export, so of course they have refined the art of coffee making to near on perfection. Grown in Tanzania’s rich volcanic soil, coffee is the primary source of income for many Tanzanians and a tour around one of the many outstanding plantations is well worth the trip. Learn more about the process, taste different brews and see for yourself what all the hype is about.

Pairing cheese with wine has long been a great way of highlighting the flavours and aromas of the grapes and in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, you’re in for a real treat in both taste departments! You’ll visit a variety of wine estates that either make their own cheese or have specially chosen locally-made fromage. Enjoy a memorable day learning the art of a good cheese and wine duo, combining the best of South Africa's wines with everything from home-cured mountain cheese to Brie. And you couldn't ask for a better view! At the end of the day, stroll around the award-winning gardens of Babylonstoren and visit their artisanal deli to take home a taste of South Africa.

Dig your toes into the sand, take in the glow of the sun (or sunset) and let your senses be heightened by the surroundings, all while enjoying a tasty meal. Whether you'd like to start your day with laidback and breezy breakfast or end it with a private dinner under the moonlight, what better place than a beach on the coast of Mauritius?

Visit a local home where the host (and cooking master) shares the secrets of Sri Lankan cuisine, drawing inspiration from her own Malay heritage and the culinary traditions of her Sinhalese and Tamil neighbours. Out on the terrace with views of Colombo life below, try your hand at a menu of curries, sambols and salads, which you'll share together. This professional cooking class makes the art of curry making simple and easy to replicate - you'll want to whip the recipe out the moment you reach home.