Tayla Blaire

Johannesburg

Freelance writer - all things lifestyle, wellness and travel. Words in Refinery 29, Glamour, HuffPost, Insider, Stylist, The Independent, etc.

Articles

Michelin Stars Align at FYN for One Unmissable Evening

4 days ago | yourluxury.africa | Tayla Blaire

On 14 June 2025, Chef Jef Schuur of Bij Jef in the Netherlands (one-Michelin-starred) and Chef Shinichiro Takagi of Zeniya in Japan (two-Michelin-starred) will join Chef Peter Tempelhoff at FYN for an exclusive experience celebrating World Oceans Day, together with Chef Ashley Moss. With preparations for the big night underway, we caught up with Chef Peter. YLA: Walk us through the process of crafting a nine-course menu with chefs from three different continents.
Spier Hotel’s luxe glow-up is worth extending your stay for

4 days ago | timeout.com | Tayla Blaire

NewsSpier has undergone quite the revamp - and it's well worth a visit. Written by Tayla BlaireCity Expert, Time Out JohannesburgThursday 5 June 2025FacebookTwitterPinterestEmailWhatsAppSpierAdvertisingFounded in 1692, all South Africans know Spier, usually thanks to the bottle of wine you take to your friends. For those who’ve visited in the last decade or so, the association is likely the conferencing element, the cheetah encounter experience or the birds of prey.
8 Must-Read Books by SUCCESS’ Leadership Lab Speakers

2 weeks ago | success.com | Tayla Blaire

Truly transformative leaders are shaped, not born. Because of this, the SUCCESS Leadership Lab was created to help leaders take an active role in developing their skills. Check out these eight Leadership Lab speakers and the books they’ve written to learn how you can shape yourself into a better leader, too. 1. Rich DivineyAs a retired Navy SEAL commander, Rich Diviney knows a thing or two about handling stress.
Months after a near-death experience, I went on an adventure that reminded me of what I want to do in life

2 months ago | ourwindsor.ca | Tayla Blaire

I was on horseback in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa when I was thrown off at speed. My bones snapped, and my body crumpled inward. My momentum abruptly stopped as I ripped through thorns, clothes snagged and flesh cleaved. I remember the red dirt, redder still with my blood. My shattered collarbone, three broken ribs, lacerated back and concussion turned out to be the lesser evils. A hematoma had collected in my hip and thigh, the blood pooling close to the bone.
Months after a near-death experience, I went on an adventure that reminded me of what I want to do in life

2 months ago | stcatharinesstandard.ca | Tayla Blaire

Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services developmentStore and/or access information on a deviceYou can choose how your personal data is used.
Months after a near-death experience, I went on an adventure that reminded me of what I want to do in life

2 months ago | thespec.com | Tayla Blaire

I was on horseback in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa when I was thrown off at speed. My bones snapped, and my body crumpled inward. My momentum abruptly stopped as I ripped through thorns, clothes snagged and flesh cleaved. I remember the red dirt, redder still with my blood. My shattered collarbone, three broken ribs, lacerated back and concussion turned out to be the lesser evils. A hematoma had collected in my hip and thigh, the blood pooling close to the bone.
Months after a near-death experience, I went on an adventure that reminded me of what I want to do in life

2 months ago | wellandtribune.ca | Tayla Blaire

Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services developmentStore and/or access information on a deviceYou can choose how your personal data is used.
I'm a millennial who loves coach trips - here's why you should try one too

2 months ago | inews.co.uk | Tayla Blaire

I visited the Cotswolds for the first time last summer. Clasping a clotted cream and strawberry ice cream, I wandered the pretty streets of Burford, Upper Slaughter and Bibury, before picnicking on the banks of the River Windrush. I’d like to say that fulfilling my The Holiday-inspired dreams was the enduring memory of my visit, but it isn’t. It’s the parking. Or rather the lack of it.
South Africa’s New Cheetah Trail Is Chance to See the ‘Big 5’ on Foot

Mar 3, 2025 | matadornetwork.com | Tayla Blaire

I left Johannesburg on a red-eye flight, headed for Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). I met my group, and we transferred by car to Samara, about a 2.5-hour drive away. We then bundled into a classic safari Jeep to be taken to Samara’s private “Plains Camp” – and that was the last we saw of vehicles for the day. We had lunch, donned our hiking boots, and set out. Walking through Samara Karoo Reserve on foot that afternoon felt borderline transformational: “I am one with nature.
Financial Compatibility: The Most Important Relationship Test

Feb 17, 2025 | success.com | Tayla Blaire

Financial compatibility isn’t often a top priority when it comes to committing to someone—but it should be. Along with ensuring that you’re aligned on key life decisions, like whether marriage and kids are on the table or not, it’s crucial to know that you and your partner are on the same page financially. Otherwise, you’ll risk trouble down the line. However, this discussion isn’t always so simple.