There’s no need to leave town to unwind in five-star style. Our collection of neighbourhood luxury retreats are all within easy driving distance of four major centres PORT ELIZABETH: SHAMWARI TOWNHOUSE Generally overlooked in any round-up of must-see South African cities, Port Elizabeth is now home to one of the country’s most luxurious boutique hotels. The Shamwari Townhouse, which opened late last year, is a Mantis Group project. The group operates a string of properties both here and overseas, including London’s fashionable Draycott Hotel, the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in Scotland, and the Shamwari Game Reserve and Oceana Beach & Wildlife…

One of Italy’s best-kept secrets is Bologna, situated in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. Bologna boasts Europes second largest historic centre (after Venice) and the city has long been known as La Grassa (The Fat One) for its reputation as one of Italy’s food capitals PAUL MACIELBologna is often overlooked by tourists because it doesn’t hold the same level of appeal as its neighbours Florence and Venice, or other major Italian destinations. While the city may not boast the extensive collections of Renaissance art of Florence, or Venice’s waterways, it offers a great deal for lovers of food, art and shopping.…

When you’re in need of some serious chilling out, escape to the lush Lowveld surrounding the towns of Hazyview and White RiverNAOMI LARKIN Mpumalanga may be best known as the bread basket of South Africa, but it’s also the home of some of the country’s most favoured tourist spots. Millions of local and international travellers visit the province every year, drawn by its diverse attractions and favourable weather. This is where you find God’s Window, the grand Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes; where you can view ancient cave paintings, snap the Big Five at play in the Kruger…

After a week in Spain’s gastronomic capital, Andalusia, F&HE food editor ANNA MONTALI has well and truly embraced the tapas culture ANNA MONTALISpanish culture is synonymous with passion and tradition, and it’s particularly evident in its cuisine, and in its gastronomic heartland, Andalusia. Located in the south of Spain, Andalusia is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Cadiz, Cordoba, Malaga, Jaén, Granada, Almeria and the capital Seville. Famous sons include Pablo Picasso, who etched his first drawing in his hometown of Malaga, and A-list actor Antonio Banderas. Ernest Hemingway wrote passionately about the area and spent his last birthday there. Andalusian…

Johannesburg is not just all work and no play. If you know where to look you’ll find sumptuous destinations for a break from the frenetic activity. Try these boutique hotels that are perfect for the gourmet traveller in the city of gold KIM HOEPFLThe prevailing wisdom is that there is nothing interesting for foreign guests to see and do in Johannesburg. Well, think again. We’ve rounded up three boutique hotels in Johannesburg’s immediate periphery, each offering something utterly unique in an environment of extreme comfort. Only an hour’s drive (or less) from the city centre, there is game to be…

We are fortunate in South Africa to have both bush and beach in our backyard. So it seems surprising that one of the first lodges to combine the two has only been open for just over a year. LISA VAN DER KNAAP spent some time at Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve, poised to become one of the Eastern Cape’s top luxury destinationsLISA VAN DER KNAAPIt took American property developer Rip Miller just under half an hour to buy a 1 000 hectare piece of land on the Eastern Cape coastline and nearly half a year to tell his wife about…