Planning the perfect last-minute holiday getaway for the Easter weekend? If you are and you have a limited budget, why not visit a farm nearby?
Ska wara ntwana (don’t worry), we’ve put together a list of must-visit rural and farm holiday destinations right here in Mzansi. Yes, farm holidays! You’d be surprised at the unique and authentic experiences hidden in South Africa’s farmlands.
According to Jacqui Taylor, founder and managing director of Agritourism Africa, rural holiday escapes offer authentic experiences with hospitality that come from the heart.
“Not textbook kind of stuff, but real and so good for the soul. If I feel down, I go outside to the farm cottage I rent and put my feet in the soil. I feel alive and peaceful after this simple action. Any negativity disappears,” Taylor says.
Rural farm experiences for the whole family
Grabouw, the Elgin Valley
Described as one of the finest dining places in the Western Cape, Grabouw and the Elgin Valley is a special corner where you can wine, dine, stay, explore, relax and play – a mere 70km east of Cape Town.
Discover the Elgin wine route, famous for cool-climate wines and warm hospitality, or enjoy delicious food at their range of eateries and restaurants.
From glamping to farm stays or four-star luxury, they have accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets allowing you to linger longer.
It is well known for its scenery, juicy apples and flowers. However, visitors can expect much more – there are meandering routes to wine farms, farm experiences and places to stay, restaurants that offer hearty fare as well as fine dining, and a myriad of outdoor activities for the whole family.
Those willing to get off the beaten track will be rewarded with an experience that is well worth the detour.
Click here to find out more.
Cheverells Farm
Escape the fast pace of modern living and join in on a wholesome apple farm experience with fine food and wine at Cheverells Farm in the Elgin Valley, a 60-minute drive from Cape Town.
The farm is a third-generation family-owned farm producing an assortment of quality apple and pear cultivars that are both available to local supermarkets and exported all over the world.
As part of their agritourism offering, Cheverells Farm opens their orchards to visitors to go and enjoy supervised apple-picking experiences during the harvesting season from March until May.
The farm is also home to a newly refurbished farm shed with a country café and gift shop, wellness studio as well as a glass greenhouse nursery.
Click here to find out more.
Melton Wold
Melton Wold is a sheep and game farm that is ideal for kids. Fun fact, it is also the oldest guest farm in South Africa, since 1935. Melton Wold is a little piece of heaven between Victoria West and Loxton, where travellers can go to enjoy Karoo hospitality at its best on a historic farm where time seemed to stand still.
Melton Wold produces most of its own vegetables, bakes its own brown bread and makes its own preserves, as well as all the meat and venison coming from the farm itself, all of which form the foundation of our renowned cuisine.
Whilst the children enjoy the activities on the farm, the parents can relax in their fully licensed ladies’ bar, The Deer and Pheasant!
Click here to find out more.
!Khwa ttu
Situated on the West Coast near Yzerfontein and Darling, !Khwa ttu strives to restore dignity and cultural pride, navigating a practical path between the old ways and the new world.
The San culture education centre is based on an 850-hectare nature reserve, a mere 70km north of Cape Town, South Africa.
Their San guides lead unique tours for visitors, fulfilling! Khwa ttu’s mission is to enable San to reclaim and share their heritage, in their own way. Whether your tour takes you along their medicinal and food trails, further afield into the nature reserve or indoors through the intimate spaces of the museum, you will be guided into a new understanding of the indomitable San spirit.
Each of the tours is designed to engage the body and senses, as much as the mind. They demonstrate the skills and knowledge of the San, whose simple sophistication may surprise you.
Click here to find out more.
Trails End Bike Hotel
Surrounded by countryside and offering mountain views, this laid-back hotel catering to outdoor adventure enthusiasts is set off the R321 highway. It’s 12km from Sir Lowry’s Pass near Cape Town and within 9km of several wine estates.
Straightforward dorms sleep up to six guests with bunk beds and offer shared bathrooms. Airy private rooms sleep up to four, some with bunk beds and en suite bathrooms.
There’s a down-to-earth restaurant and a casual lounge with a fireplace. Other amenities include a heated outdoor pool, a gym and a wellness centre, plus a climbing wall and meeting space. Massages are available for a fee. Bike storage is also available.
Click here to find out more.
To book your perfect farm stay anywhere in the country, contact Kanyi Gabiro at kanyi@ruraltourismafrica.com or Cheryl Cawcutt at cheryl@ruraltourismafrica.com
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