From 2020, Jan Stewart, took her passion for farming, food, travel and adventure to establish Forage Safaris, a wine tour that guides guest on a scenic back road tour that showcases Margaret River's finest wines and local produce. This custom all inclusive tour blends sustainability with luxury while supporting local business and farmers.

We chat to Jan about what you can expect on your safari and what she loves most about Margaret River produce, even getting a glimpse on her recent addition for Forage Safaris in Africa.

Spring is a spectacular time in the South West. What are some of the unique, seasonal ingredients or produce that guests might get to forage or taste on your tours during this time of year?

We visit a variety of small market gardens in the region, who produce many of the fresh greens and root vegetables that are in abundance in spring. Even though the olive harvest was done in late autumn, freshly brined olives and last year's crop are always available for tasting at olive groves or local providores. New spring jams, being made from local citrus and fruits are on the tasting table, and bottled ready to take home. As part of our wine tour in summer, seasonal fruits are included in the end of tour refreshing fruit salad for guests to enjoy whilst cleansing their palates.

Are there any specific spring pairings—either local wines paired with seasonal produce or fresh vineyard picnic items—that you are particularly excited about right now?

A unique experience to Forage Safaris is a food tasting of fresh hot scones with a selection of freshly made jams provided by Providore Margaret River, which can be paired with their famous rose or other wines. At least one wine tasting on tour will include food pairing whether it is a small seasonal platter created by Forage Safaris or the vineyard.

Your tours are famous for going 'beyond the cellar door.' Could you share a quick story about one of the passionate local artisans or farmers our resort guests might meet on a Forage Safari this spring?

We are lucky to work with many passionate local artisans, but a highlight stop is a cheese and wine or chocolate and wine pairing with Passell Estate. Overlooking their beautiful farm dam, teaming with bird life, this quietly elegant tasting is a tour highlight.

For a Timothee Resorts guest looking for a truly exclusive, intimate wine tasting experience, what makes a private boutique vineyard tour with Forage Safaris so different from a standard wine tour?

As our tours are all private, we can curate the tour around your clients' interests and cater for special occasions. We love to showcase boutique wineries doing incredible things and take the backroads away from the usual tourist trail. No tour is the same, and every tour leaves a lasting memory. We meet the owners, and the dedicated family behind the wines.

Alongside your incredible Margaret River experiences, you also design custom African Safaris. For our guests who love adventure, what inspired the connection between the rugged beauty of the South West and the wild wonders of places like Kenya or Botswana?

I am originally from Zimbabwe and having worked in the safari industry for many years, we relocated to Australia 20 years ago. Opening Forage Safaris combined my love of the south west, with a bit of a safari style twist being all inclusive and offering unique experiences. It only seemed natural to extend this with the new Forage Safaris Africa private African tours. The food, wine and farming scene in Africa is as vibrant as the people and the incredible game. What better way than to combine them all together.

If a guest wanted to plan the ultimate day with you, what does your ideal 'Wine & Dine' half-day itinerary look like for a sunny spring afternoon?

Forage Safaris Margaret River Wine and Dine tour has been specifically created around an ideal half day itinerary. We start with a wine tasting and vineyard tour, stopped for a refreshing mid tour snack and coffee before moving onto the two/three course lunch at a select winery. During the spring months and autumn this lunch could include a picnic. We round up the day with a final tasting, carefully selecting the winery to suit. This is a wonderful way to spend 5 hours and return back to Timothee in time for a refreshment swim in the beautiful pool.

Forage Safaris: The wine tour highlight

Trash to treasure: how recycled plastic lids became your room's chicest accessory