A year in the life of a traveller

Six pieces of heaven you just have to visit

- Jim Freeman

It is that time of year when most people look forward to a well-earned end of year break and I reflect on 11 months of gallivanting around South Africa, savouring some of the best experiences this country has on offer.

For practical purposes, I'm limiting highlights to the Western and Eastern Cape.

The Robertson Small Hotel

I'm not a fan of large "family" hotels, much preferring the more intimate boutique variety, and an impromptu detour from Route 62 in the Cape Winelands led me to this country gem.

Built as a private home in 1909 during the region's short-lived ostrich-farming boom and subsequently declared a national monument, The Robertson Small Hotel opened in 2011.

It underwent extensive refurbishment before being acquired two years ago by The Living Journey Collection, a portfolio of eight small luxury hotels within a two-hour drive from Cape Town.