If you are a new follower to my account, I'd like to introduce myself, explain what I post about and WHY! Please take a few seconds to read (and like the post) if you've been enjoying my content so far. I really appreciate your support so far and I'm here to create a net positive impact on Twitter / X ❤️ ✅ My goal is to create travel content that inspires people to travel more. Specifically, I'm trying to get people to act like tourists in this beautiful country of ours. Despite our problems, I love South Africa and I want to be a force for good. ✅ I've been documenting my travels informally for a few years but I recently started @likeatouristza to showcase amazing places to visit and cool things to do. Just look through my recent timeline and you will get an idea of what I'm talking about. ✅ We have a YouTube channel where we upload high quality content. I would love for you to search for us and see the quality for yourself. I also use all my social media platforms to share pictures that I take myself. If it doesn't have our logo on then I didn't take it. ✅ Almost always, my posts aren't sponsored and the places I visit don't know I'm coming. I pay my own way which gives me the ability to give an honest plug. If money exchanges hands, I will always tell you. ✅ I also don't review places. If I don't have a great experience, I don't post about them. This is why my content sometimes comes across as "positive" when actually I just don't mention the negative experiences to begin with. ✅ Some travel experiences I post about are for everyone and some are high end. I rarely post prices and I ask you to do your own research. ✅ Every now and then, I post about other topics that interest me that aren't travel related. I am a professional speaker so I have a broad range of interests. Sometimes I speak about politics too, but I try limit this topic because it can be divisive. ✅ Lastly, I am a fun loving guy and I love engaging with my community but I also clap back if someone gives me a hard time. I'm ok with debating things elegantly and I am comfortable to agree to disagree. PS. Reply to this post if you have any questions or comments, and I will always try to reply ASAP. Love hearing from you and chatting with you!

Cape Town has a NEW sandwich shop that sets the benchmark in South Africa 🥪 The Focaccia Bar on Loop Street is hyper-focused on doing this one thing perfectly and I'd like to share the experience with all of you 📸 If New York, Cape Town, and Florence had a sandwich baby, this would be it 🤣 The magic comes from the three owners who traded cooking on super yachts and high pressure fine dining kitchens for a sidewalk shop. Instead of a massive menu, they obsess over 24-hour fermented dough and quality ingredients that culminate in singular perfection. Which is why this isn't a "cheap" lunch, nor should it be in my opinion. Not only do they bake their own bread daily, they also import their cold meats from Italy, use local high-end cheese suppliers, and make every single spread in-house. I tried four different sandwiches and the craft was undeniable. Not only were the meat portions are incredibly generous but these are up there with the best sandwiches I've ever had. Even my darling daughter got in on the action 🤣 The only first world issue I had was with the pastrami sandwich because there was possibly actually too much meat and the pastrami overpowered the sandwich. The rest of them were heaven in beautiful packaging. If you want to see me document the full experience at The Focaccia Bar, the latest episode of Hungry & Shameless is live on YouTube. It's also the first ever episode filmed in the Mother City. If you want to watch, search for “Hungry & Shameless in SA” 🤣 ‼️ Again, please don't watch the video unless you're keen to watch the whole thing. I'm not looking for views at all costs. We want the videos to find the right audience 😎 PS. I ordered the four most expensive sandwiches on their menu but there are also a few sandwiches below R100 so don't come at me about price 🤣

The @WOOLWORTHS_SA and Beyers Chocolates breakdown is another reminder that corporate companies will "protect their business and their growth" at all costs. Any smaller business that forgets is doomed. You can have a 34-year supplier history with a corporate but the moment you stop playing by their rules, they will cut you down to size, even if that means you liquidating your business! From what has been reported, Beyers had been supplying Woolworths since around 1990 and at one point Woolworths made up roughly half their business. That kind of relationship could fool you into feeling secure when you’re in it. It "feels" like there’s history and trust which is already the first warning sign in this story. Apparently Beyers acquired a second factory which was already supplying Checkers and Pick 'n Pay. According to Beyers, this was a way to increase volumes, support mechanisation, diversify the business, and reduce their dependence on Woolworths, especially because Woolworths had already started bringing in other chocolate brands years earlier. Woolworths apparently found out about the second factory and took issue with it. The dispute centred on exclusivity. According to Kees Beyers, Woolworths wanted the second factory closed but Beyers refused. From a business owner’s point of view, I understand why. Beyers had reportedly invested around R200 million and had roughly 75 employees at that second site. You don’t just switch that off because a major client is uncomfortable with you diversifying. Then came the hammer as Woolworths reduced its orders. First by around R100 million and then by another R100 million a few months later. When one customer carries that much weight in your business, they don’t have to “kill” you in some dramatic movie villain way. They just have to reduce orders and suddenly cash flow gets squeezed, your bank gets nervous, your options disappear, and the thing you spent decades building can start falling apart in real time. The exclusivity issue itself is still disputed. Beyers says the exclusivity agreement expired in 2019. Woolworths apparently says it rolled over automatically. Woolworths has also said it cannot comment on the details of the relationship because of confidentiality 🤣 I want to personally remind you. Corporate companies are not people. They don’t operate on loyalty, memory, history, or sentiment in the way small business owners often do. They operate through systems, contracts, leverage, risk management and self preservation. If you build your business around one massive corporate client, and that client decides you’ve stepped outside the lines, they will likely not sit down and ask how this affects your people, your factory, your investment, or your future. If you take ANYTHING from this post, it's an understanding of WHAT (not who) you’re dealing with. Never forget this and play the game accordingly 🤓

This might be the BEST PIZZA I've ever had in Johannesburg 🥳 I know that's a big statement but after visiting NAPZ in Rosebank recently, I think their Neapolitan Margherita jumps to the top of a quality competitor list🍕 I had no clue this place existed until a good friend told me about the owner, Enrico, who spent two months training in Naples under the organisation that protects traditional Neapolitan pizza. Think of it like champagne only being allowed to call itself champagne if it comes from that region. Same idea. When someone cares enough about their craft to fly to Naples and learn it properly, I have to go visit. And obviously order three pizzas to put it to the test. What I really liked about NAPZ is that they're not trying to be fancy. It’s a proper mom and pop shop run by Enrico and his wife Viviana. This isn’t some pizza designed in a corporate boardroom. It’s a small family run business where the owners care deeply about their craft and heritage. And those are exactly the kinds of places we should be supporting. Everything revolves around getting the fundamentals right. Dough fermentation, ingredients, temperature, process. All the little things that make a pizza good. If you want to know a bit more about NAPZ, I would absolutely LOVE for you to watch the video we published recently but I’m not going to share the link. Just search for “Hungry & Shameless in SA” on YouTube and you’ll find it. ‼️ Please don’t watch the video unless you intend to watch the whole thing. We’re not chasing views at all costs. We want the videos to find the right audience ‼️ Most importantly, have any of you eaten at NAPZ before? And if you know of any soulful, owner run restaurants we should review next, drop them in the comments section below.

Aaahhhh, Parkhurst! A suburb where the dogs wear cashmere sweaters and the activewear on 4th Avenue costs more than my first car 🤣 In the middle of all the polish and botox is a tiny sidewalk restaurant that's serving up world-class Sandos ❤️ What is a Sando? Well in Slaps' world, it’s a fluffy, moist, Japanese-style bread roll stuffed with some of the best meat fillings on the planet. Probably why people kept telling me to visit over and over. Almost everything you eat there is made in-house. When you have a partnership between an industry veteran and a young fine-dining chef, you will see a certain level of technique applied to every item on the menu. I personally put the menu through the ringer. Between the Fillet Banh Mi, the chicken schnitzel, the deboned lamb, and the double patty cheeseburger, I consumed enough calories to power a small country. I even smashed their skinny fries (ironic), vegan truffle mayo (typical Parkhurst), and their fabulous cheesecake. If you want to see the full experience and find out how I rated each dish, I would LOVE for you to watch the new video we published recently but I’m not going to share the link. If you care about finding soulful, owner-run spots that actually respect your money, just search for “Hungry & Shameless in SA” on YouTube. Please don’t watch the video unless you intend to watch the whole thing. We aren’t interested in views at all costs. We want the videos to find the right audience who actually values these kinds of one-of-one establishments. Have you been to SLAPS before? I’d love to hear what those of you who have visited think of the food?

People keep telling me that Filotimo is the best Greek restaurant in Johannesburg 🇬🇷 They also have a 4.9 rating on Google with 1,000 reviews so the question I was trying to answer when visiting for the first time was, is this place actually legit? Located in the armpit of Bryanston, Filotimo Greek Taverna doesn't look like much from the outside. They’re squashed between a fruit and veg store owned by the porras and a corner cafe owned by the Indians 😂 The second you step inside, the Joburg chaos just evaporates. It feels less like a suburb in the North and more like a taverna in Athens We put the menu to the test starting with the meze dip platter. Being a half-Leb from the south, I have a very high bar for hummus and theirs is world-class. Then came the meat and seafood platters. Think skinny lamb chops with a proper smoky char and calamari that actually tastes like the ocean instead of a rubber band. Every component was nailed. But what makes Filotimo a proper "one-of-one" isn’t just the food. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. The decor is magic with door frames hanging from the ceiling, books stuck to the walls, and picture frames everywhere. From the hand-painted quotes and the "plate cemetery" to the mismatched wooden furniture, it is obvious that every detail is intentional but unpolished. The courtyard is the absolute soul of the restaurant. On a clear day, with the blue walls and the checkered tablecloths, there is nowhere else in the city you would rather be sitting. Most restaurants are terrified of upsetting a single customer but Filotimo is winning by knowing exactly who they are and refusing to compromise for the sake of convenience. They have rules like no kids under 13, no Wi-Fi, no half portions, and absolutely no rearranging the menu. If you want to know how I rated them overall, I would absolutely LOVE for you to watch the new video we published recently BUT I am not going to share the link. If you care about finding soulful, original spots, just search for “Hungry & Shameless in SA” on YouTube. PLEASE don’t watch the video unless you intend to watch the whole thing. We aren’t interested in hollow views; we want the videos to find the right audience who actually values these kinds of one-of-one establishments. If you don’t like original restaurants with a bit of character, there is always a franchise around the corner waiting to break your heart. Who of you have actually been? Drop your scores below, I would love to hear what the rest of you think.

Last week we discovered an outrageously beautiful glass cabin in Swellendam hiding in the trees with the Langeberg mountains as the most insane backdrop. These pictures will show you what I mean ❤ Whenever you feel the need to slow down, it's best to spend time in places that wrap you in nature. The Greenhouse at Fazenda is a unique 2-sleeper glass cabin tucked into the forest but its real magic is the way it makes you feel hidden and exposed at the same time. There are some curtains and blinds by the bed, but when the sun comes up, the whole cabin lights up with it in the most beautiful way. At night you hear the wind breathe through the trees as you lie in bed. Your wake up alarm is all the birds chirping in unison the next morning ❤ That’s what makes this tiny hideaway so special. You get the privacy of the forest but also the feeling that nature has pulled up a chair right next to you. It gives you the opportunity to disappear and reconnect at the same time. For the two nights we spent there, it was exactly the kind of pause we had both been hoping for. The Greenhouse, Fazenda, and Swellendam feel like they were made for each other. Together they remind me exactly why I’ve always believed the soul of South Africa lives in its small towns. Ever since the pandemic pushed more South Africans to explore locally, Swellendam has really come into its own and you can feel creativity and energy flowing into this small town, alongside that classic South African friendliness that makes you feel right at home. As always, the goal of @likeatouristza is to inspire more South Africans to act like tourists in their own country. Swellendam is a must visit and I’ll share another post soon about what we got up to in the town. Until then, I'd love to hear if you’ve ever stayed at Fazenda and what your experience was like. Don't be shy 🤣 PS. For the one person who’ll screenshot this post to a friend saying “they probably got paid for this.” No Susan. These two nights came straight out of our kid's college fund 🧐

It’s really important for all entities to feel the consequences of their actions.

She gets my vote despite her representing the DA. Joburg needs an actual leader and you can say what you want about Helen, but she is most likely to fix our beautiful city.

Hey @dineshgovender! Refurb isn’t too shabby in Cape Town. Well done to you and the team. Lounge looks amazing. The space has been rearranged so that everyone gets that beautiful view. It’s just the internet speed is a “thing” but I assume, that’s not only in your control?

We are in such an abusive relationship with our government that most South Africans can't imagine what life feels like when things just work. It's actually crazy what we have learned to accept as "normal". There is no other way to say it. This is abuse.

How is sports betting not regulated like alcohol or cigarettes? The impact in South Africa is just as destructive. It’s sold as harmless entertainment but it preys on vulnerable people, especially those already under financial pressure 🤯 At least alcohol and cigarettes come with warnings, age restrictions, and public health messaging.

South Africa is leaderless. Not just in government, but also in corporate South Africa and across the various religions. All of these people are complicit alongside the ANC as they’ve destroyed this country. They’re all sucking at the hind tit of the ANC and don’t want to raffle any feathers so that they can continue to live a good life.

No one hates black people more than the ANC!

We get the government we deserve. We experience the consequences because we’re not willing to say enough is enough.

Here's the one mega lesson to learn from @nasiphim: She uses her social media channels to speak about the work her and the team are doing. Unless I've missed it, you almost never see her speaking about other parties. Take note @ME_Beaumont 🙃

Today is “Youth Day” in South Africa but I genuinely don’t know what there is to celebrate. Most of our youth don’t have the skills to take part in the economy because the education system is broken. Most don’t have jobs because the economy is broken. And worst of all, most don’t have hope because the entire system has failed them. Youth unemployment is one of the highest in the world. Crime is through the roof. Infrastructure is falling apart. And the people in charge are too busy looting to care. I say this as someone who deeply loves South Africa. I am proudly South African and I truly believe the people here are some of the best in the world. But I’m also embarrassed by what we’ve allowed to happen to our youth. As someone who recently became a dad, I look at my daughter and I think about how many kids in this country are born into impossible situations. No roadmap or support, just survival to aim at. It's heartbreaking and shameful. What’s the point of paying lip service to a public holiday when millions of young South Africans are stuck in survival mode with no path out?

Hey @jsteenhuisen! Isn't it amazing how the GNU manages to find R700mil to have a "chat" about how to move SA forward, but there's no money for teachers, no money to fix schools, no money for nurses, no money for proper infrastructure, etc.? Somehow there’s always money for blue lights, luxury hotels, and fake summits. We don't seem to hear any outrage from @Our_DA anymore so please help me understand how you guys are any different to the ANC?

No one hates black people more than the ANC. Instead of listening to what they say, just look at what they’ve done over the years. The ANC gives black South Africans just enough not to riot but never enough to actually get ahead: ✅ The ANC has gone out of its way to keep the majority of black South Africans out of the economy. Unemployment among ages 15-24 is at 62%. They could create policies that encourage economic growth but then the comrades can't feed as much. ✅ They’ve systematically broken down the public education system to the point where poor black South Africans don’t stand a chance of gaining the skills they need to participate in the economy in a meaningful way. Parents with money send kids to private school and this increases the level of inequality. ✅ Crime is completely out of control. It mostly affects black South Africans and the ANC has done almost nothing to stop it. We have the resources to lower crime but absolutely no intention to do so. ✅ The ANC have stolen from black people over and over again via corruption and looting, but thank God for that R350 social grant each month. ✅ The ANC has made it ridiculously easy for foreigners to enter the country illegally, making life even harder for poor black communities. Again, they have the ability to do something about this but it doesn't suit them. I could keep listing many more points but you get the idea. When you stop and look at the pattern, it’s impossible to argue that the ANC has perfected the art of blaming the past while destroying the present. The people paying the highest price are the same people they claim to care about. And now I wait for the black grifters to justify the actions of the ANC, blame white people, or point to apartheid 🤡

Our economy affects every single person in South Africa. The reason more people should be furious with our government is because they've broken every institution in this country. You think your frustration is with your neighbour or a fellow citizen, but we are all just trying to survive while the politicians at the top keep getting richer. Almost every one of them leaves office with more money than they came in with. The ANC has destroyed the education system, allowed undocumented and illegal immigrants to have free reign, crime is rampant, you can’t conduct business freely and you have a million hoops to jump through just to stay compliant. Every year, the cost of living goes up, the power goes out, the roads get worse, and more South Africans go to bed unemployed. All of this while the people in charge keep getting paid, keep stealing, and keep blaming the past so that we're all distracted as we fight over scraps. Ultimately, our government have made sure nothing works and every South African is poorer today than they were 20 years ago.

The last thing we need is more dialogue. We just need a government that will put citizens first and stop stealing every cent they can get their hands on. The ANC are the masters of distraction. They use this same trick every time and the majority of South Africans fall for it. Sadly, the DA no longer oppose these tactics. You had parties like ActionSA who vowed to oppose the ANC and now actively work with them. Politicians are the worst people on this planet and we are completely on our own.