Local Intel: Carl Wastie
I love a good hike, and Table Mountain offers several paths of tranquillity and unmatched views of the city. The Pipe Track is a great starting point for any hiker, and it can be lengthened or shortened depending on your available time or how much you want to challenge yourself. Newlands Ravine is much the same – just as beautiful – but it's perfect for taking the dogs on what I like to call 'walkies on steroids.' I'm a dog dad to four Boston Terriers, so this is essential.
City Sightseeing
A trip on the Cape Town City Sightseeing bus is one of the best ways to feel proud of the city I live in. It offers the opportunity to see many places I can check off my bucket list, and the Hop-On Hop-Off feature makes it a full day of fun and connection with loved ones. A little-known fact is that I'm the voice of the City Sightseeing bus, so I literally get the chance to practice what I preach through those earphones.
Spier
This place will always be special to me and my family. It offers picnics with friends, which lead to games of 30 Seconds and snacks on the lawns. Their restaurant, Vadas, serves the best Pastéis de Nata I have ever tasted, along with Smokehouse offerings one can only dream of. Who would've thought a head of broccoli could be so good? I'd highly recommend it.
R310 Baden Powell Dr, Stellenbosch
Epice
One of my favourite places in the world is Franschhoek. It is brimming with amazing restaurants and truly incredible experiences. The chef at the helm here is Charne Sampson (Mouton), who is a genius when it comes to mixing lekker Cape Malay flavours with French techniques. When you're there, snap as many pics as you can, especially of the ice cream cart that swings by for dessert.
Beau Constantia
I love this spot – it's fine dining, but it never feels inaccessible. The menu changes beautifully and often, not just seasonally, thanks to the experimental mind of my friend, Chef Ivor Jones, who just scooped Chef of the Year at the 2025 Eat Out Awards.
1043 Constantia Main Rd, Constantia
Salsify
Clearly, I'm a restaurant guy, but this place is one of those spots where your phone constantly comes out to snap pictures of the décor, graffiti, and preserved history. The menu is always fresh and creative, and the chef, Ryan Cole, is a humble, talented guy who makes you feel like you've been invited over to his place for some chow...even though it's a multi-award-winning, must-see restaurant.
Tulbagh
Recently, I was invited to experience Tulbagh, just a little over an hour outside of Cape Town, and I was highly impressed with the incredible places one can explore there. This included a stay at Rijk's Wine Estate as well as Manley Estate, where I was thoroughly impressed with the culinary team, made up of trained local women from the area. I'm also booked to stay at the Geodome accommodation soon, something I've wanted to do for the past few years.
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The National
27-06-2025
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Neil Oliver quietly dropped from Glasgow tour bus after backlash
Oliver provided English language commentary for tourists on board the City Sightseeing Glasgow buses, which featured a picture of his face on the side of the vehicles. Four years after calls were made to remove Oliver from the City Sightseeing services, it seems that he has finally been dropped. READ MORE: This is why an independent Scotland should stay well away from Nato The firm's website no longer contains any information regarding his English-language narration, and eagle-eyed Glaswegians noticed his portrait is not featured on the buses anymore. Though the same sentence has been removed from the City Sightseeing information page, Visit Scotland's website still says "our English recorded commentary is provided by renowned historian Neil Oliver", suggesting that this removal has been done quietly. City Sightseeing Glasgow was urged to drop Oliver, who has narrated the service since 2012, following his comments on GB News regarding pandemic-era lockdowns and vaccines, and his remarks on a potential second independence referendum. Conspiracy theorist and former TV host Neil Oliver (Image: GB News) Most recently, the GB News presenter has been criticised for indulging in conspiracy theories on his YouTube channel and had a video blocked by the platform over his use of antisemitic language. Otto English, author of Fake History, told The National: "Given Neil Oliver's long journey into conspiracy and irrelevance, I'm simply flabbergasted that it didn't happen years ago. "I hope Glasgow gets the commentator it deserves in his place." He left his previous role as president for the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) amid a row over his expression of admiration for race-row historian David Starkey, though he claimed the decision to step down was due to the end of his three-year tenure. He faced backlash during his time with NTS for his support of the Union and describing a second independence referendum as 'cancerous'. Oliver was blasted by former Glasgow Kelvin MSP Sandra White for his Covid jibes during the pandemic, calling lockdowns the 'biggest mistake in world history' and saying he'd happily risk catching the virus. READ MORE: Keir Starmer suggests he didn't read through 'island of strangers' speech White previously told The National that Oliver should 'absolutely not' be allowed to lead commentary on the tours and called for an end to any potential contract the firm had with him. Given his fierce pro-Union stance, his authority to narrate historic tours of Glasgow was also called into question, considering that Glasgow voted Yes to the 2014 referendum. West Coast Motors, the firm who operate the City Sightseeing Glasgow buses, has been approached for comment.
