In the land of apples & wine
Elgin, with the town of Grabouw at its centre, sits in a bowl of mountains formed by the Hottentots Holland, the Kogelberg and the Groenlandberg ranges. It’s an easy hour’s drive from Cape Town – here are some options for a weekend away.
Berseba Cottage
If it’s tranquillity you seek, then this two-bedroom cottage in the hills is just what the doctor ordered. The view is hard to beat: You’re surrounded by rosemary, tea tree, lavandin and geranium, and there are no neighbours as far as the eye can see. Berseba is an organic essential oil farm just past Bot River. (Not technically in the Elgin Valley but close enough!) Owner Ian de Kock is happy to take guests on a tour. The farm has been running for three years, after Ian played around with the idea in his head for a quarter of a century. He grows more than 25 hectares of plants on what he calls “the poorest land in the Overberg”. For generations, farmers said the land was useless, but his plants have proved them wrong. According to Ian, they thrive because they’ve adapted to an arid climate and there are no animals or insects to eat them. “Just give them some water and they grow,” he says. He gives me some peppermint geranium leaves for my tea and some cuttings to plant at home. He also tells me about the painstaking oil extraction process: 400 kg of plant leaves yield about 4 ℓ of essential oil. But back to the cottage. It’s at the top of a hill, with a big patio, a built-in braai and a splash pool/jacuzzi heated by a wood fire. There’s even a patch of soft, green grass especially for sunbathing! There’s a big table for al fresco meals and the kitchen has all the basics, including a large fridge and a bar fridge stocked with cider and cooldrinks that works on an honesty system. Facilities: Two bedrooms, each with a double bed, plus two mattresses for kids (max six people). Pets allowed. Niggles? It’s a working farm and the harvesting machine will be in action during the week. You might see a few workers in the fields on a Saturday. Rates: Weekdays R1 100 per night for two adults, plus R100 per extra child, or R1 500 for four adults (plus two children free). Weekends R1 300 per night for two adults, plus R100 per extra child or R1 800 for four adults (plus two children free). How to get there? Coming from Cape Town, turn off the N2 after Bot River onto Swartrivier Road; then turn left towards Avani Nature Retreat and Spa. Berseba will be on your right.
More info: 082 461 5522; gideon@bredfin.co.za