Boutique is an independent publication covering the small hotels, lodges and retreats that make South Africa one of the more interesting places in the world to travel. The kind of stays worth crossing the world for, written about by people who actually know the country.
Most travel writing about South Africa is produced by people who have spent a week here, often on a press trip, and who have neither the time nor the inclination to give you a straight answer about what is actually worth your money. Boutique aims to do the opposite. The articles are written from real experience of the country, the regions, the lodges and the cities. The recommendations come from years rather than days. The opinions are real opinions.
What we cover
Safari in the Greater Kruger and elsewhere. The Cape Winelands. Cape Town and the wider peninsula. Johannesburg, which deserves more attention than it gets. Itineraries that combine these into trips that actually work. Practical guides for visitors who want to plan a trip properly. And the occasional essay on what hospitality in this country is and where it is going.
Who writes it
Boutique is edited by Justin Bale, who has spent two decades travelling in South Africa and the rest of the region. The publication is independent and self-funded. We do not accept paid placements, sponsored reviews, or editorial influence from properties we write about. When we recommend a place, it is because we believe it is worth recommending.
How we make money
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. When you book through one of them, the property or platform pays us a small commission. This costs you nothing extra. The commission does not influence what we write, which properties we recommend, or how we rank them. You can read more about how this works on our method page.
Get in touch
For press, partnerships, properties wanting to be considered, or readers with a question or a tip, the best route is the contact page. Replies come from a real person and usually within a day or two.