Farmer Redbeard’s Adventures

FARMER REDBEARD’S COUNTRY ESCAPE

 (WINE, HONEY/ OLIVES & LAVENDER)

Duration: 2 DAYS/ 2 NIGHTS

DAY OF ARRIVAL

Take the back roads of Ashton, the small village with a big heart, and a ‘swing-bridge’ to Wilde Paarde Kloof guest farm, home of Farmer Redbeard and his family. Farmer Redbeard, also known as Albertus van Zyl, a Master Viticulturist welcomes you!

He hosts and prepares a Viticulturist candle lit steak dinner, at the original 18^th Century farm Mill-house (vegetarians and vegans are catered for on prior arrangement).

DAY1

You will be awakened by the silence around you, or maybe by a working tractor passing by. A Breakfast basket allows for breakfast at your leisure in your cottage. There is enough to energise one for a guided farm hike (distance of 6km of long flats and up and down hills with contouring paths).

Wilde Paarde Kloof has been conserved with care. The unspoilt flora and fauna is diverse. This rugged reserve has charm and is one of the best places in South Africa to see colourful bird-life, Daisies, Proteas, and other blooms in spring; and a variety of succulents the rest of the year. We walk the footpaths created by the bushbuck, klipspringers, bus-pigs and porcupines. Being in the open air in the Langeberg Mountain, with enough time for conversation about the bird-life, bees and sweet smelling Fynbos and animal tracking (maybe leopards if lucky), is a way to gain an appetite for lunch that awaits you at the half way line.

A light lunch and wine tasting is served at Klein Hoek Kloof Wine Estate. Situated in the eye of the mountain, it is one of the highest and beautiful wine estates in the Cape central Valley. This farm offers breath taking views, distinguished wines and delicious home-made charcuterie.

Enjoy an afternoon of relaxing at your leisure, or enjoy the perks of visiting a fruit farm (dam swimming or fruit picking).

Before sunset, Albertus will escort you by tractor through the vineyards, Fynbos and orchards to the Red Bus barbecue area, hidden in a forest at the heart of this beautiful farm, where a welcoming bush braai warms the atmosphere. Albertus prepares traditional South African cuisine, a hearty meal of farm style foods, with ingredients fresh from the farm and sourced locally. Fire, food, good wine, family and friends are the perfect recipe for a “lekker kuier” (“a wonderful meeting”). A night ride home with only the moonlight to guide the way and to spot the occasional buck is an unforgettable sensory experience.

DAY 2

After a peaceful night sleep, it is time for an exciting hands on beekeeping adventure. First, coffee and a safety briefing around the fire pit, then it’s time to get suited up in your bee-suite and ready to ‘bee-exhilirated'! Retrieving the honeycomb, uncapping it and spinning it out, is all in a days work for a busy beekeeper. This activity lasts about 4 hours. Each family gets to take a FREE bottle of raw honey home with them as a reminder of this unforgettable day.

BEEKEEPING SAFETY: NO PERSONS WHO ARE KNOWN TO BE ALLERGIC TO BEES WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE BEEKEEPING EXPERIENCE.

For those who choose not to attend the beekeeping experience, they will receive vouchers for Marbrin boutique Olive farm and Owl’s rest Lavender farm. These nearby destinations have been chosen for their unique and personalized offerings: an entertaining olive tasting at Marbrin, and a farm tour and aromatherapy oil distillation demonstration at Owl’s rest (all presented by the owners of the farm). Of course, they are a treat for shoppers wanting to stock up on award winning olive oils, olives, tapenades, vinaigrettes, and aromatherapy oils and herbal products at great prices.

All these activities make for hungry beekeepers and shoppers back at Wilde Paarde Kloof, so a light lunch and honey tasting on fresh farmhouse bread marks the end of this extra ordinary Country Getaway!

It is home time, unless, that is, you would like to stay a third night for the discounted price of R250pp (R100 per child) at this peaceful destination called Wilde Paarde kloof guest farm.

COST (2022):

ADULTS R4000pp sharing

R4800pp non-sharing

R1800 per CHILD (6-15years), and CHILDREN (< 5 years) free

These prices are inclusive of 2 night’s accommodation and all activities, Breakfast basket (enough for 2 persons for 2 mornings), 2 Light lunches, Snacks, 2 Dinners and wine, Wine tasting, Beekeeping or excursions to the Lavender and Olive farm, the Hire of beekeeping safety clothes & a Tour Guide.Tours are offered in the months of April to December: Arrival on Tuesday & departure on Thursday OR arrival on Friday & departure on Sunday. All wine tastings & activities are subject to availability.

A minimum of 4 guests per tour are required in order to start a new tour date. We reserve the right to add to this number to make up a group of up to 8 people. We encourage you to form your own party and to book as a group. The optimum party size is 8 people (with 2-4 people sharing a unit).