The Tintswalo Collection has introduced a new programme of conservation talks and experiences in partnership with South African National Parks (SANParks) and the SANParks Honorary Rangers. Conservation is deeply connected to Tintswalo’s sense of place and therefore the new guest experiences are designed to go beyond sightseeing, to connect guests with the conservationists, rangers and experts working to protect the Peninsula’s extraordinary biodiversity.

Each of Tintswalo’s three Cape Town properties – Tintswalo Atlantic, Tintswalo Boulders, and Tintswalo Summer House is ideally situated near some of the Cape’s most important protected natural areas, from the penguin colony at Boulders Beach and the Cape Point region, to the Atlantic coastline and Table Mountain National Park.

This proximity allows Tintswalo to offer something increasingly rare in luxury travel: the opportunity to experience nature while contributing to its protection and connecting with the people responsible for its future.

‘Tintswalo is proud to work with SANParks and the SANParks Honorary Rangers whose mission it is to protect Table Mountain and the remarkable natural heritage of the Cape Peninsula. Our privileged locations give our guests access to some of the world’s most extraordinary conservation landscapes, but this partnership now allows them to go beyond simply seeing these places. They can meet the people who protect them, hear their stories, understand the challenges they face and, importantly, contribute to safeguarding these precious ecosystems for future generations’, says Lisa Goosen, CEO of Tintswalo Collection.

The Cape Peninsula Conservation Experience begins at Boulders Beach, home to South Africa’s iconic endangered African penguins, before continuing into the Cape of Good Hope with members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers. Guests explore hidden corners of the Peninsula while learning about its wildlife, marine life, birdlife and indigenous fynbos, gaining insight into the interconnected ecosystems and the conservation work protecting them. The experience includes return transport from their Tintswalo hotel, park and entrance fees, a picnic lunch, as well as a mask, snorkel and towels.

The Back Table Mountain Conservation Experience reveals a more secluded side of this iconic landscape. Guests can choose between exploring the Orangekloof Valley and Disa River, following indigenous forest, rock pools and historic waterworks before a mountain picnic, or the Woodhead Reservoir and Echo Valley route, discovering the history of Table Mountain’s waterworks and hidden trails that provide habitat for the endangered Table Mountain Ghost Frog.

Tintswalo is also offering Conservation Science Talks at each of its three Cape Town hotels, led by SANParks Honorary Rangers and guest conservation experts. These interesting, interactive talks provide behind-the-scenes insight into South Africa’s national parks, current conservation initiatives and research, as well as the wildlife, ecology and biodiversity being protected.

‘As SANParks’ official volunteer organisation, members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers support conservation in South Africa’s national parks through fundraising, education, tourism support and hands-on assistance,’ says member Kenneth Carden.

‘Through the collaboration with SANParks Honorary Rangers, we invite guests to see the Cape not simply as a destination, but to experience it as a living ecosystem of extraordinary beauty, biodiversity and conservation importance – and to leave with a deeper understanding of what it takes to protect it’, Lisa Goosen concluded.

The conservation experiences and talks are available to guests staying at Tintswalo Atlantic, Tintswalo Boulders and Tintswalo Summer House in Glencairn, subject to availability and applicable excursion fees and contributions. Every booking includes a conservation contribution that directly supports projects undertaken by SANParks Honorary Rangers, helping to preserve the unique ecosystems of Table Mountain and the wider Cape Peninsula for future generation.

The Liz McGrath Collection has achieved a significant triple recognition in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, with all three of its properties ranked among the Top 15 Hotels in South Africa.

The three rankings reflect the breadth of The Liz McGrath Collection, with each hotel offering a distinct interpretation of South African luxury hospitality in a different setting. The Plettenberg secured #8 with a score of 97.52, The Marine #9 at 97.50, and The Cellars-Hohenort placed at #12 with a score of 96.90.

The achievement is particularly meaningful given the calibre of the 2026 South Africa ranking, which places The Liz McGrath Collection’s three hotels alongside some of the country’s most acclaimed properties.

The Readers’ Choice Awards have an unparalleled legacy as the travel industry’s longest-running and most prestigious reader-driven accolades. Recognition by Condé Nast Traveler readers represents a significant acknowledgement of excellence within the global travel sector. More than 798,867 survey responses from readers across the United States informed this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards, capturing travellers’ experiences across the globe and providing a comprehensive look at the places they most eagerly anticipate revisiting.

From the dramatic coastline of Plettenberg Bay and the whale-rich waters of Hermanus to the historic gardens and vineyards of Constantia, the Liz McGrath hotels are united by a shared philosophy of considered hospitality, a strong connection to place and an emphasis on highly personalised guest experiences

‘The recognition of all three our hotels in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards is an extraordinary achievement for The Liz McGrath Collection. The Plettenberg, The Marine and The Cellars-Hohenort each offer an entirely different experience, shaped by their remarkable settings and individual character. To see all three recognised among the country’s Top 15 hotels is a wonderful acknowledgement of the people behind these properties and the care, passion and attention to detail that define the guest experience across the Collection’, says Jacqui Elliot, CEO of The Liz McGrath Collection.

Brookdale Estate has announced the launch of its Wine Club, inviting wine lovers to become part of the estate’s ongoing evolution to discover new and exclusive wines from its Paarl cellar.

Intentionally limited to only 75 members, the Brookdale Estate Wine Club is designed not as a traditional loyalty programme, but as an invitation to build a closer relationship with the estate; following its journey, exploring its wines and sharing in the discoveries that emerge from each vintage.

Wine Club membership comes with a considered collection of benefits designed to bring members closer to Brookdale, including access to the Wine Club’s annual harvest wine – an exclusive, limited release wine. Launching with the 2025 Brookdale Grenache Blanc, which produced under a thousand bottles, the harvest wine is available exclusively to Brookdale Wine Club members, and served at the Bistro at Brookdale, an Eat Out One Star restaurant, while stocks last.

Wine Club membership is unlocked by a single purchase of 18 bottles of wine, mixing and matching freely across the five Brookdale wines: Bradbourne Estate White Blend, Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Grenache Noir, Twenty Red Field Blend and Sixteen White Field Blend.

Members receive automatic member pricing on Brookdale and Mason Road wines from the moment they join, along with a surprise welcome gift with their first order and free delivery on orders of 12 or more bottles to major centres around the country. Each year, members and three guests are invited to two complimentary tastings at The Tasting Room. Members will also receive invitations to exclusive pre-release tastings and private events with winemakers Xander Sadie and Shanice du Preez, and have early access to new vintage releases, small-batch and library wines when available, as well as larger-format 3L and 5L bottles. A bi-annual Wine Club newsletter rounds out the experience, sharing harvest reports, pre-releases and news from the estate throughout the year.

Brookdale’s story of transformation began in 2016, when the Rudd family acquired the farm and began reshaping its vineyards with a focus on unlocking the distinctive character of the land. One block of certified Old Vine Chenin Blanc, planted around 1985, was retained and went on to become the source of Brookdale’s maiden release in 2017. Much of the existing vineyard was subsequently removed to make way for new plantings, carefully selected to explore the potential of the estate. Today, those young vines are coming into their own, offering new expressions and discoveries with every vintage.

‘Curiosity is at the heart of Brookdale’, says Tim Rudd. ‘We are constantly experimenting, questioning and exploring what our vineyards and cellar can do, and the Wine Club gives us an opportunity to share that process with an intimately engaged community. There are plenty of vines still finding their feet, whilst in the cellar, our winemakers continue to take an inquisitive approach, experimenting with different techniques and allowing each vineyard block to guide the winemaking process’, he says. ‘We’re excited to share that journey with people who know Brookdale, love our wines and are curious about where we might go next.”