South African Travel Bloggers and Influencers

This list of South African travel bloggers and influencers spans the entire country, covering a variety of travel niches including responsible travel, food, wine and other lifestyle categories.

If you would like to be added to the list, please send your details through to IndiKate on the contact page.

Lynette Botha

Lynette Botha Writes

Lynette Botha is an editor and writer. Following seven years at ELLE Magazine South Africa, Lynette and her family packed their bags and headed to the Seychelles for nine months, where she worked as assistant editor on the island’s official tourism magazine, before heading back to Cape Town. Her site is more of an online portfolio of recent published writing, with the predominant subjects being travel and wellness. Lynette has freelanced extensively over the past ten years, for local and international titles, including Tatler Hong Kong, Asia Spa Magazine, Family Traveller UK, Escapes, Getaway, Sawubona (SAA), Juice (Mango Airline) and Sunday Times Lifestyle UK, among many others.

  • Location: Cape Town
  • Website: Link

Dane Forman

Life of Danger

South African explorer. Adventure travel feeds my soul. Photo & video takes me there.

  • Location: Durban
  • Website: Link

Danica Bartho

The Wandering Bushbaby

The African bush was my playground growing up on a farm in Mkuze and now living in Durban my soul longs for little adventures. We live in a beautiful country and my goal is to explore as much of it as I can in my lifetime. I can’t spell, I don’t have a fancy camera, I don’t have lots of money but I always end up in these breathtaking locations that are too beautiful not to share. Join me on my journey and may it awaken the little wandering bush baby in your soul…

  • Location: Durban
  • Website: Link

Melanie van Zyl

Following Fervour

A writer, photographer and avid adventurer. Growing up around camping clutter, 4×4 gear, Hilux bakkies and the Waterberg bush in South Africa, adventure stuck firmly to my boots. Currently I test travel gear for Getaway Magazine and travel writing stories and taking photographs for the esteemed South African magazine.
  • Location: Johannesburg
  • Website: Link

Jacqui Cooks

The Jax Blog

With over 15 years of International and Domestic experience in the Hospitality Industry, this thirty-something year old global gypsy, travel junkie & foodie, has taken a decidedly different step in the digital direction as a Twitvangelist/Social Media Addict & iPhonographer in the making. This proudly South African chick has an eclectic appetite for the unusual, with her insatiable curiosity & sense of adventure. She loves: chocolate, vino, the beach and meeting new people!  She happily shares her stories, photos, videos and reviews of all the places and faces she’s met along the way. #WishYouWereHere

  • Location: Cape Town
  • Website: Link

Andrea Weiss

redwingstarling

A newspaper journalist, blogger for South African Tourism and founding editor of the South African outdoor travel magazine go! in a former life, Andrea Weiss is an independent traveller and freelance writer who blogs about road-tripping, self-catering cottages, camping, birding and nature, mainly in Southern Africa but also abroad. Her trips are self-funded (unless otherwise stated) and her assessments are informative and inspirational, aimed primarily at those who are travelling on their own dime and looking for insider tips about the best places to stay and an honest assessment of what to expect.

  • Location: Cape Town
  • Website: Link

Ang Lloyd

Jozi. Rediscovered

A blog that tells the stories of Jozi’s people, art and streets. Features, interviews, as well as photography.
  • Location: Johannesburg
  • Website: Link

Louise de Waal

Green Girls in Africa

I consider myself a total Africa nut, a big Cape Town lover, travel mad since I was a child, eager photographer, zealous travel writer, and passionate about sustainable tourism and conservation. I feel extremely privileged to live my dream in Cape Town, probably the most beautiful spot in the world. This enables me to do what I love most – to travel around Africa and discover unique, off-the-beaten track and meaningful tourism products. Through my Green Girls in Africa blog I want to share these incredible and often thought provoking experiences.
  • Location: Cape Town
  • Website: Link

Hitekani Mbatsana

Blacks Do Swim

Hitekani is a freelance writer and entrepreneur with a strong interest in travel, storytelling, women in business and new media. Her blog “Blacks Do Swim” is a space to highlight the various travel opportunities in our very diverse country and share cultural and adventurous experiences while having fun at the same time.

  • Location: Johannesburg
  • Website: Link

The Dirsuwei Family

Chasing the Rainbow

Meet the Dirsuwei family – dreamer dad Ralph, bright mom Sarah, fishing-mad Jacob, social-teen Luke and cool-kid Cian. Follow us as we showcase things to do and places to go in Port Elizabeth, the Eastern Cape and South Africa and explore the world together, inspiring family travel.

  • Location: Port Elizabeth
  • Website: Link

Heather & Lisa

Klipdrifters Travel

With a passion for natural beauty, adventure and everything unique, we are on a mission to discover EVERYWHERE!  Our blog focuses on all things travel from around the world, and in particular South Africa.  With stories to tell and pictures to share we created our blog to encourage travel throughout our beautiful country, both by locals and foreign travellers.

  • Location: Durban
  • Website: Link

    Taonga Chilalika

    Of Curls and Colour

    Of Curls and Colour is a blog written by Taonga. Taonga is your regular girl next door, of Malawian descent, living in Pretoria South Africa. If you meet her you’ll see that she has a genuine curiosity about life and is a firm believer in global citizenry. She writes about travel because she loves exploring new places, meeting new people and taking deep breaths in foreign spaces. When she is not musing about possible holiday destinations, or natural hair care, she is trying to make a difference in international development through analytics.
    • Location: Pretoria
    • Website: Link

    Natalie Wadsworth

    Navigating the Atlas

    Natalie is a travel blogger based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Driven by wanderlust and fueled by adventure, Natalia is always looking for new experiences to take on and share with the world. A happy mix of South African, French and Jersey, she is an avid flag enthusiast and postcard collector. Follow me as I explore the world and our beautiful South Africa, all on a budget. Travel more, because it is possible.

    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Website: Link

    Heather Mason

    2Summers

    Heather Mason is a writer, photographer and blogger based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She moved from Washington D.C. to Joburg in August 2010, abandoning her old life as an American suburbanite office-dweller for a new life as a migrant bohemian freelancer. Heather started a blog on a whim, naming it 2Summers because she experienced two summers in a row during the year that she switched hemispheres. Heather blogs mostly about quirky places in Joburg and revels in showing people a vibrant, friendly side of this city that is often overlooked. Heather also blogs about her travels around South Africa and the rest of the world.

    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Website: Link

    Dawn Jorgensen

    The Incidental Tourist

    Dawn Jorgensen is a conscious traveller with a deep love for Africa, its people and the environment. Her travel experiences range from gorilla trekking in Uganda, tree planting in Zambia, turtle rescue in Kenya and crampon hiking in Patagonia. Although she believes she’s just getting started and tries to discover at least one or two new countries a year. On her blog The Incidental Tourist, Dawn shares her stories, photographs and videos, always advocating for the eco-tourism she believes in. When not travelling, home takes the shape of a little farm in Wellington where she loves just hanging out with her beloved dogs.

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Natasha Clark

    The Rabbit Haus

    The Rabbit Haus is a blog about family travel, decor, lifestyle and health. It’s a memoir for my kids to document their childhood adventures as we explore our world together as a family.

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Lerato Bambo

    Life from a Bag

    Lerato Bambo is a South African marketer, beauty connoisseur and travelette. Her blog Life from a Bag is digital destination for those who appreciate travel and seek new experiences; it inspires people to not only wonder what lies beyond their immediate horizon, but to go and find out what it is. Posts cover mainly visa-free travel destinations for South Africans and beauty reviews.

    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Website: Link

    Bridget Williamson

    The Wandering Bridge

    Collector of passport stamps, memories and bracelets from around the world. Bridget is a researcher, writer and aspiring photographer with a passion for all things travel related. Her past adventures include a whirlwind Eurotrip, sleeping with hyenas in Botswana and using 10 different modes of transport to travel around Thailand.

    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Website: Link

    Sam Bradley

    Go And Travel

    Sam Bradley is a travel and adventure enthusiast with a passion for scuba diving, paragliding and skydiving. He has travelled to four continents, lived in the Peruvian jungle for six months and tour guided through most of Southern Africa. He is married to Cristie and is a committed Christian, and they have one daughter named Hayley.

    Lauren Melnick

    Wanderlust Movement

    Hey, I’m Lauren! I’m passionate about inspiring young South Africans to travel for less and sharing my experiences and how to navigate the endless visa paperwork along the way. When I’m not busy preparing for the inevitable zombie apocalypse, I’m having a travel fail somewhere and geeking out in countries all over the world.

    Aneesa Vally

    The Life & Style of Aneesa Vally

    I am a 38 year old mother and wife and in the workforce, I am the Branch Supervisor for Dollar Thrifty Car Rental at King Shaka International Airport. I am a tourism addict and love exploring Mzansi, my very beautiful and interesting country. I have only been to one other country,  Lesotho and firmly believe in discovering my own country before I hit the world.

    I am also a lover of fashion, events and trying new products. I will keep you updated and informed on all of these. I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So sit back relax and enjoy the ride.

    • Location: Durban
    • Website: Link

    Carrie Hampton

    Safari Tart

    Carrie Hampton is the Safari Tart because she’s visited over 200 safari lodges in southern & east Africa and written hundreds of travel articles, blogs and several books. Safari Tart may be a cheeky name but her status as ‘expert’ in the field of African safari is unquestionable and her independent reviews tell safari stories to make you plan your African safari straight away!

    • Location: Cape Town or somewhere on safari
    • Website: Link

    Vaughan and Lauren Manuel McShane

    The Travel Manuel

    We are Vaughan and Lauren Manuel McShane- a travel journalism duo from Cape Town. Our goal is to inspire people to explore other corners of SA and the globe in a more adventurous way. We showcase our adventures through video, travel tales and photography and also share helpful tips for newbie traveller’s and hardcore trekkers alike as well as guidelines for expats in living in Asia. We’re usually found in/near the ocean, behind a lens, seeking out good coffee or frantically searching for wifi.

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Linda Markovina

    Moving Sushi

    I am a freelance photojournalist and travel writer who considers myself to be the better looking half of Moving Sushi and the only one who is ever online. I blog on behalf of Moving Sushi for various online platforms and write travel guides and articles on the various East And West African countries that I find myself adventuring in, the more rough and tumble the better. My passion is travelling with conscience, the natural world around us, our amazing ocean life and how we as people interact with it- as long as it’s not anything to do with snakes. Snakes give me the willies.

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Yolandi North

    aZestyLife

    aZestyLife is a South African lifestyle blog by me, Yolandi North. The blog aims to add zest to everyday life for women! Expect features on travel, beauty, food & decor. Think interesting local towns & cities to visit; recipes; home tours; spa & restaurant reviews. My favourite holiday destinations of all time are Franschhoek, Cape Town, the West Coast, Sydney & Zanzibar! aZestyLife strives to be honest, authentic & fun.

    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Website: Link

    Lydia Afonso

    Greenlydia

    South African travel blog, for the average traveler looking for inspiration or a good story.

    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Website: Link

    Kirsten Hopwood

    Lifestyle of a PR

    Not your average PR poppie;  business owner and entrepreneur by day and an endurance athlete and Ironman by night and weekend, Kirsten comes with over 12 years of experience in the Public Relations industry. Sitting on so much good quality content and so many amazing experiences, from lifestyle, fashion, hospitality and travel to sports and wellness, it only made sense to create a blog about the #lifestyleofapr. Her blog is not about product placement but sharing experiences.

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Di Brown

    The Roaming Giraffe.

    I am a travel writer, map maker, Twitter addict and wannabe photographer. Very proudly South African, most of my travels are here but I will happily go anywhere in Africa. I love to meet the places through the people. I am by no means an eco-warrior, but I do actively promote the slow lifestyle, marine conservation, animal rights in tourism and responsible, sustainable tourism, now known as better tourism. Sunsets, beaches, landscapes and railway lines feature a lot on my posts. Telling the stories, describing the places and capturing the images of my country the way I see it makes me very happy.

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Jessica Franks

    jesska.co.za

    I’m Jessica, the real life person behind “jesska.co.za”(pronounced like a lazy 2 syllable Jessica without an i) and I have been blogging since the middle of 2011. I had another blog back then, but jesska.co.zais now home to all my favourite recipes, restaurant reviews and other food and travel related awesomeness.

    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Website: Link

    Kate Els

    IndiKate

    IndiKate, a blog by Kate Els, is an independent travel blog that covers adventures and everything linked to them from eating out and great wines, to art and things to do. Posts cover a range of destinations, mostly from South Africa but slowly extending to the rest of the world.

    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Website: Link

    Alya & Campbell

    Stingy Nomads

    We are a South African-Russian couple that met while sharing a dormitory in a little surf hostel in The Philippines in 2014.Travel is our passion and we have been exploring, diving, hiking and camping around the world together ever since. Fifty countries later, married and still on the road.  Stingy Nomads is a collection of our travels, tips and photos written for backpacker’s and adventurers. Explore the world with us!

    Sara Essop

    In Africa and Beyond

    I am a freelance travel writer and blogger. My blog, In Africa and Beyond, is about travel, events and experiences in Africa, and the rest of the world – specializing in couples travel and family travel. I feature travel reviews, tips and competitions. I haven’t been everywhere yet but its on my bucket list!

    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Website: Link

    Noxolo Kapela

    Black Case Girl

    Hi…I am Noxolo Kapela also known as BlackCaseGirl, I run www.blackcasegirl.co.za, with the aim to inspire, influence and encourage people to travel more and expand their horizon beyond limitations and ultimately, to create a movement.  I am a huge lover of adventure, glamping and the sea side. I also love road tripping and would love to road trip around the African continent because I believe Africans have a rich culture that we owe to ourselves to learn about and impart it to future generations. Though rooted to my African origins, I strive to being a Global Citizen.

    • Location: Johannesburg

    Tanya & Alexa

    ThingsToDoWithKids

    Things to do With Kids is a family oriented travel blog and entertainment guide run by Alexa and Tanya.  They focus on parent- and child-friendly venues and activities, inspiring family memories within South Africa. Alexa is an avid traveller always on the lookout for a new adventure. She is a high energy, natural influencer. Alexa has based her career on sales and marketing and has a degree in politics, philosophy and economics. Tanya is an extroverted logical thinker, a scientist with a love for life, travel, family, friends and universal principles. She enjoys blogging about educational topics, and simplifying life. She surrounds herself by geniuses who share her values.

    Verushka Ramasami

    SpiceGoddess

    30-something lifestyle blogger from sunny Durban, Verushka Ramasami was born with the blood of a gypsy and a domestic goddess, it is no surprise that these are her passions. A mistress of words who has a mild addiction of all things British and loves a good cup of tea.She has worked with several popular brands in South Africa and has a large following on Social Media once nicknamed the “Twitterati”.Follow her journey through her eyes as she shares her world with you ….

    • Location: Durban
    • Website: Link

    Anje Rautenbach

    Going Somewhere Slowly

    Anje Rautenbach is an ex-expat and now a reborn South African rediscovering the places that turned her into a travel addict at a young age. She’s got a globetrotting gypsy soul and enjoys off the beaten path destinations, unique cafes, immersing in different cultures and going on slow motion journeys; sometimes from the seat of her bicycle. Caffeine, people, four legged creatures, high-fives and a passion for words are her fuel. Her blog, Going Somewhere Slowly, is all about seeking the beauty in the somewhere, the something in the everything and the story in anyone.

    • Location: Port Elizabeth
    • Website: Link

    Kelly Robertson

    Bushbaby Blog

    Kelly Robertson is a blogger and “Happy Camper” at heart. Local, laid back getaways are her style. “I’m in my happy place when immersed in a wild, natural and awe-inspiring environment, usually in Southern Africa. When I’m not out chasing sunsets with my husband and usually our dog too, I’m daydreaming and planning the next time we can. Travel isn’t only defined by the big bucket list trips, although we love those. Backyard travel is so important to me too. There’s wonderment to be found in a weekend away or even a day’s outing somewhere with big open skies and exploration calling.”

    • Location: Durban
    • Website: Link

    Tami Magnin

    TazzDiscovers

    Tami, Anton, Zac and Zoe Magnin (TAZZ) are a family of travel bloggers. We want to showcase our amazing country to local and international audiences as we tour South Africa in 2016. Many locals never stray very far from what they know and we want to encourage them to hit the road and explore our beautiful and diverse country for themselves. Our plan is to focus on small towns and find places that don’t often get featured by the media by spending a month in each region, while home schooling the children (ages 8 and 11) on the road.

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Kathryn Rossiter

    Becoming You

    Kathryn Rossiter is a South African lifestyle blogger and mother of 2 who blogs over at Becoming you. The blog covers a diverse range of topics and offers daily information, inspiration and encouragement for women. Through her blog Kathryn combines her passions for writing, photography, travel and family and loves exposing her kids to the exciting world around them, be it via camping, cross-country road-trips or living it up in 5-star luxury. Kathryn’s stand out travel experiences include exploring the Cinque Terre of Italy solo, meandering through the back streets of Stone Town in Zanzibar, zipping through the most extreme zipline in the world, walking with cheetah in the Karoo and generally living the good life in Cape Town where she can indulge in her love for good food and wine, every weekend!

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Fred Felton

    Umhlanga Life

    Fred Felton runs Umhlanga Life, a content marketing and lifestyle and travel blog which covers South Africa, Africa and Worldwide destinations.

    • Location: Durban
    • Website: Link

    Roxanne Reid

    Roxanne Reid’s African travel blog

    For the past 16 years Roxanne Reid has worked as a freelance book editor, health and travel writer. She loves everything about Africa – its small towns and villages, its people, culture and heritage, wildlife and conservation, responsible travel. She and her photographer husband have driven enough road trip kilometres in Africa to take them around the world 15 times.  ‘Finding stories’ for her African travel blog is just a big fat excuse to explore. She’s happiest in the middle of nowhere, meeting the locals, trying something new, or simply watching the grass grow. She’s published two travel books, including Travels in the Kalahari (Amazon), and writes regularly for other blogs and magazines.

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Anton Crone

    Bright Continent

    Anton Crone is a former advertising creative director who quit the corporate world to follow his passion for travel and storytelling. As a freelance writer and photographer he has been published in a variety of magazines and newspapers including Getaway, Go and Sunday Times. He has gone on to be the editor of Africa Geographic’s online magazine and is now the CEO of Safarious.com, an online portal to the wildest places and people on earth.

    • Location: Cape Town
    • Website: Link

    Katarina Mancama

    My Slow Journey

    I’m Swedish, and have lived in Australia, Switzerland, the UK and Panama before making SA my home almost 10 years ago. I love travelling, good food, wine (especially the bubbly kind) and am always on the look-out for a new challenge. My day-job is sustainable development in tourism, but I also work as a tour guide and I support tourism businesses with online and social media marketing. If there is ever a moment to spare, I travel. I want to show people that by doing a little bit of research before you travel, and by making conscious choices as a tourist, you can contribute to positive development in the destination. But most importantly, I want to show people how slow travel is actually more fun. It’s when you meet and connect with the locals, taste the food and explore away from the main street that you really get to experience the destination!

    • Location: Pretoria
    • Website: Link