Hello, I'm Diane

A narrative journalist and destination storyteller, using immersive, sensory writing to profile unique island hideaways, chic designer hotels, and hidden boutique gems where historic infrastructure is being ingeniously transformed.

Recent Articles

Diane McLeish Archives - Luxury Safari Magazine

Can I tempt you to come and meet me where the sky touches the sea?

With the engine humming and the windows down, my road trip adventure began along one of the most beautiful road trips in South Africa. So scenic is the stretch of road along the Tsitsikamma National Park that it was named the Garden Route.

Somewhere in the middle of this route is the holiday town of Plettenberg Bay, an ultimate South African seaside escape with six beautiful beaches with long stretches of golden beaches lapped...

Inside the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club: The legendary Hollywood escape at the equator 

Words by Diane McLeish 


Long before it became East Africa’s most exclusive five-star sanctuary, this storied mountain estate was Hollywood’s best-kept secret. 


For me, the magic began the moment we left the bustling energy of Nairobi behind, heading out into the open, rolling vistas of the central highlands. It is a beautiful drive that feels like a film unfolding before your eyes. We watched the landscape shift gently into endless blankets of green tea plantations and lush coffee estates...

Inside a 330-Year-Old Barn: A Fine Dining Experience in South Africa's Cape Winelands

I felt a deep sense of respect for the generations who had walked the floors before me. Imagine entering a 330-year-old barn, now a beautifully appointed modern fine-dining restaurant on a working wine farm.


Located on the Vergenoegd Löw wine estate just outside Stellenbosch, it is one of South Africa’s oldest working farms. The farm dates back to 1696, and is just 30 minutes from Cape Town.


Clara’s Barn is not just a restaurant; it’s an experience that encapsulates the essence of South A...

How to Plan Your Dream African Safari

I am a freelance writer and live in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya on the shores of Lake Naivasha. I grew up in South Africa and have had the privilege of travelling extensively in sub–Saharan Africa.


As I experienced so many exciting adventures, I would like to share some special activities that could be included in your planning for an exhilarating adventure holiday. An African safari might just be the best holiday you can give yourself, as the experiences that the continent offers are unfo...

Bura Catholic Mission: Celebrating 125 Years in Kenya

Earlier in 2021, Diane McLeish, a freelance travel writer; joined a Guerrillas of Tsavo Patrol to learn more about the East African Campaign of WW1 in the Taita Taveta area. One of the locations we explored was the Bura Mission high up in the stunning Bura Valley in the Taita Hills. Diane has very kindly shared this article with us looking at the turbulent history of the early missionaries and their struggle to bring Christianity to the valley.Towards the late 19th century the Holy Ghost Fathers...