ELGIN VALLEY

Truth be told I had never heard of this stunning fruit filled area, before an opportunity came my way for some midweek adventures with my travel partner in April 2019. Elgin Valley forms part of the Western Cape province and is just an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Trust that @Refiloe_thee_tourist and I explored almost every inch of the place and here are some reasons why we fell in love with it: 

OLD MAC DADDY
Did not know what to expect when we headed to what would be our home for a few days, but boy was Old Mac Daddy Luxury Trailer Park a pleasant surprise. Set against a backdrop of pine slopes and mountains, it offers the most amazing views. Another thing that made it interesting were the 12 uniquely themed Airsteam Trailers, that were designed by some of Cape Town’s top artists and designers. 

The trailers had quirky names to match their whimsical interiors, mine had honeycomb features and was named ‘Give Bees a Chance’ and Refiloe’s was ‘Life Before Colour’ with black and white vintage details. Other accommodation options were self-catering villas and tented camps. Appreciated the fact that there were lots of things to do on premise, we enjoyed wholesome meals at the restaurant, hiked up the mountains, chilled by the pool and enjoyed some activities by the private beach by learning how to do zorbing (a tricky yet fun exercise), also did some paddleboarding, kayaking  and sipped on delicious cocktails from Daddy’s Beach and Bar whilst there. For bookings contact Old Mac Daddy

SOUTH HILL
Wine anyone?! South Hill, was a place where we found ourselves on more than one occasion, it was not only picturesque, but  also offered great tasting cool climate wines. Enjoyed sipping on Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Rose, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. My top pick being the Sauvignon Blanc, because of its guava aroma and crisp taste. For a full list of  wine tasting options check out their website

CAPE CANOPY TOUR 
Thrill of the chase. Would never miss a chance to zipline and take in nature’s beauty. Elgin was no different, took up  a 4-hour eco-adventure in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom. This tour had a suspension bridge,  multiple waterfalls and  saw us jumping off 11 slides all varying in speed, distance(320m longest) and height(110m highest.) My ultimate favourite being slide #7 which was named ‘Hang Around’ and saw us having an opportunity to glance at natural pools from elevated platforms. Do check out Canopy Tour SA and look out for their 50% discount promotion this Winter, valid nationwide for June midweek bookings, promo code JUNEMIDWEEKZIP

THE HICKORY SHACK
Had a special lunch date at this traditional BBQ Smokehouse. Met the owner ‘Jay’ who without hesitation, dedicated time to walk us through the Pit Master’s space to show us the process of  selecting wood for flavouring purposes, smoking carefully selected meats and making great tasting sauces. We tasted delicious slow cooked meals, namely the brisket, pulled pork, ribs and sausages that were paired with craft beers and ciders. Somehow also found space to fit in a fresh cheesecake and chocolate brownie with ice cream. Twas lovely, even took a little bit of The Hickory Shack away with us, in the form of  yummy  homemade BBQ and Chilli sauces. Check it out here 

CAPE SEGWAYS
Went rolling at the Railway Market and this was nothing short of fun. An hour long tour of Oak Valley Farm, was the highlight of this experience, we explored the orchards, farmlands and vineyards on off-road Segways. Also made a few stops to chat, take pics and learn about the history of the farm and its surrounds. Everyone should try this, book your adventure  

 Elgin Valley was just amazing: apples, wine, food, nature and adventure. What more could a girl ask for?