Friedrich and Lorraine Schaefer met in New York in the late 1980s and, four decades on, the couple are running a compact but carefully curated group of boutique hotels across the Western Cape. The Living Journey Collection brings together eight properties — all within about a two-hour drive of Cape Town — each pitched as a distinctive base for exploring the province’s landscapes and local producers.
From a 14-room manor on Lion’s Head to farm stays in the winelands
The collection’s founding property, the Zest Boutique Hotel, is a 14-room manor with rooftop views that include Lion’s Head and the Atlantic Ocean. It served as the meeting point for a recent two-day road trip that threaded through several Living Journey properties, beginning in the city before heading east into the winelands.
On the first leg the group visited Kleinhoekkloof Farm, tucked into the Langeberg foothills near Worcester. The farm combines vineyards, hospitality and a relaxed tasting experience; guests are offered wine flights alongside charcuterie and artisan cheeses, with the heat of midday and a backdrop of green vines underlining the region’s agricultural character. The farm’s owner, Theunis De Jongh, guided the tasting and spoke about his selections.
Later that afternoon the road trip reached the Robertson area and the Robertson Small Hotel, another property identified as part of the Living Journey portfolio. While each building in the collection differs in style and setting, the organisers stress a common ethos: spotlight local makers, celebrate regional charm and let the landscape inform the guest experience.
What the collection offers Cape Town visitors
The Living Journey Collection positions itself for short breaks and slow itineraries originating in Cape Town. Its strengths for local and international visitors include:
- Proximity: all properties lie within roughly two hours’ drive of Cape Town, making them suitable for long weekends or short road trips.
- Varied settings: options range from a compact city manor with ocean vistas to farm stays amid vineyards and mountain folds.
- Local focus: food and drink offerings emphasise regional producers and small-scale makers.
Tourism value and local impact
Small boutique collections such as Living Journey play a particular role in the Western Cape tourism ecosystem. They often act as gateways to less-travelled parts of a region, channel spend into local wineries, eateries and craft producers, and provide employment in both town and rural settings. By concentrating properties within a tight radius of Cape Town, the collection hopes to capture visitors who want to combine city culture with rural experiences without long drives.
That approach matches broader trends in the province: demand for short, high-quality escapes has remained steady as travellers seek more personalised stays and curated food-and-wine experiences. For tourism planners, the opportunity is clear — encouraging visitors to disperse beyond the Cape Town centre can support small businesses across multiple districts while relieving pressure on popular urban precincts.
Practical information for readers
Readers considering a short Western Cape road trip can expect the Living Journey properties to provide:
- Intimate accommodation options (the founding manor has 14 rooms).
- Access to regional wine tastings and local produce.
- Short driving times from Cape Town, enabling two-day or long-weekend itineraries.
Prospective guests should book in advance during peak seasons and check property websites for exact locations, check-in details and any seasonal experiences that might be available in the winelands or mountain areas.
| Property | Setting | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zest Boutique Hotel | Cape Town (city manor) | Founding property; 14-room manor with rooftop views of Lion’s Head |
| Kleinhoekkloof Farm | Langeberg foothills (near Worcester) | Vineyards, cellar-tasting and farm-style food offerings |
| Robertson Small Hotel | Robertson area | Part of the Living Journey portfolio; countryside base |
For Western Cape travellers and industry watchers, the Living Journey Collection is an example of how smaller hospitality operators can stitch together complementary properties to offer a coherent regional product. The collection’s emphasis on local suppliers and distinct properties allows visitors to move from city to country without sacrificing quality or authenticity.
As Cape Town’s tourism sector continues to recover and adapt, small portfolios such as this one will remain important contributors to the province’s visitor economy, helping spread economic benefits across towns and rural districts while offering residents and tourists alternative ways to experience the Cape’s varied landscapes.
