By Roxanne Reid
The tranquil farming valley of Tulbagh in the Cape Winelands is just 90 minutes away from Cape Town. There are so many things to do here that it makes sense to spend a night or two in Tulbagh accommodation to enjoy them. We loved our farmstay near Tulbagh at Eikelaan Farm Cottages.
The tranquil farming valley of Tulbagh in the Cape Winelands is just 90 minutes away from Cape Town. There are so many things to do here that it makes sense to spend a night or two in Tulbagh accommodation to enjoy them. We loved our farmstay near Tulbagh at Eikelaan Farm Cottages.
When you think of Tulbagh, you conjure images of heritage buildings, wine tasting on beautiful estates, farming, olives, hiking, horse-riding and more. What better way to enjoy yourself in the area than to surround yourself with fresh air and open spaces on a farmstay experience.
Relax at your cottage while the working farm goes about its business
From your Eikelaan farmstay cottage, you can see the dam against the backdrop of mountains
Eikelaan Farm Cottages are just 10 minutes away from the centre of Tulbagh and we loved our stay there. A farmstay is one of my favourite experiences, the wide open spaces providing relaxation and breathing space in great big satisfying globs.
Eikelaan farmstay's one-bedroom cottages
One-bedroom cottages front right, next to the pool, with the farmhouse behind them. The two-bedroom cottage is out of picture to the right.
This Tulbagh accommodation has three cottages – a two-bedroom cottage, and two one-bedroomed cottages, all with a sleeper couch in the living area. At just R800 for up to four people, the one-bedroom cottages make a perfect budget getaway for small families. The two-bedroom cottage has two bathrooms and costs R1450 for a maximum of six people (November 2017 prices).
The living area of our one-bedroom cottage
Our one-bedroom cottage had a full kitchen, with fridge, stove and microwave as well as all the kitchen equipment we needed to make our life easy. The bedroom, with a king size bed, and the living room were large, and there was both a shower and a bath in the bathroom.
Oodles of space in our bedroom
The fireplace and sleeper couch in our one-bedroom cottage
Although the weather was neither overly warm nor cold in October when we visited, it was good to see fans in the bedroom and living room, an air conditioner in the bedroom, and a fireplace in the living room – in case we planned to return in mid-winter or high summer.
The living area of the two-bedroom cottage
The view from the two-bedroom cottage
Organic veggies, free-range eggs
Farmer’s wife Lynette Fourie busies herself with growing organic veggies and keeping free-range chickens. There’s a price list in each cottage in case you want to buy some produce to take home with you (I can recommend the farm eggs).
Farmer’s wife Lynette Fourie busies herself with growing organic veggies and keeping free-range chickens. There’s a price list in each cottage in case you want to buy some produce to take home with you (I can recommend the farm eggs).
The organic vegetable garden
Here’s a quick tip. The farm supplies veggies to good-food clubs and the Oranjezicht City Farm & Market in Cape Town every week, so if you want to be sure you can buy what you’re looking for, it’s best to plan ahead when you book your farmstay cottage. Ask Lynette for her produce list (including olives and honey as well as veggies and eggs) and order beforehand to avoid disappointment.
The guard geese and snail patrol
10 things to do at Eikelaan
Eikelaan is a working farm, with sheep, wheat, olives, vines and honey bees, but there’s plenty for visitors to do on the farm too.
Eikelaan is a working farm, with sheep, wheat, olives, vines and honey bees, but there’s plenty for visitors to do on the farm too.
The kids will entertain themselves while you lounge around the pool
1. Sit under the vines on your cottage’s porch to enjoy a meal, or make a braai (firewood supplied). Drink in the views of the garden, the farm dam and the mountains beyond. See geese at the dam or patrolling the farm, watch sheep coming back from the fields in the late afternoon.
2. Between the cottages and the pool area, there’s a small playground with swings, a slide and jungle gym for the kids.
2. Between the cottages and the pool area, there’s a small playground with swings, a slide and jungle gym for the kids.
Perfect for hot summer days
3. Take a dip in the swimming pool in summer. There’s a lapa next to it for lazing or communal braais – great if you’re two or three families travelling together, or for making new friends.
4. Go walking along farm roads or through the fynbos, vineyards and olive trees to enjoy the mountain views and the birdlife. About 4km away there’s a nice walk to a waterfall, where you can swim in a pool.
5. Bring your bike and go cycling along the farm roads and tracks – the Cape Epic route goes through the farm when it’s in the area.
6. Spend some time stargazing after dark, here where Big City lights are far away and the air is pure.
4. Go walking along farm roads or through the fynbos, vineyards and olive trees to enjoy the mountain views and the birdlife. About 4km away there’s a nice walk to a waterfall, where you can swim in a pool.
5. Bring your bike and go cycling along the farm roads and tracks – the Cape Epic route goes through the farm when it’s in the area.
6. Spend some time stargazing after dark, here where Big City lights are far away and the air is pure.
Eikelaan farmstay's free range hens
7. Kids can take a basket and help collect free range eggs. They will also be entertained by the sheep and geese, especially the chance to see lambs in lambing season (from April).
8. Bring your rod and go fishing for carp in the farm dam, on a catch-and-release basis.
9. Go horse riding on the neighbouring farm. You will need to book this in advance so get the contact details from Lynette.
10. “Watch the sunset, which is almost impossibly crimson in winter,” Lynette recommends.
8. Bring your rod and go fishing for carp in the farm dam, on a catch-and-release basis.
9. Go horse riding on the neighbouring farm. You will need to book this in advance so get the contact details from Lynette.
10. “Watch the sunset, which is almost impossibly crimson in winter,” Lynette recommends.
Wine tasting is just one of many things to do while you're in Tulbagh
While you enjoy your farmstay at Eikelaan, there’s a host of other things to keep you entertained in the greater Tulbagh area too – see 17 things to do in Tulbagh, Cape Winelands.
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