Most Capetonians share a love for hikes and wine. But on those beautiful sunny days, do you celebrate the fresh outdoors with a hike, or do you rather share a bottle of wine with friends and family at a scenic wine farm? Fortunately, Almenkerk has solved this dilemma by offering the best of both worlds.
Almenkerk Wine Estate is tucked away in the mighty Elgin Valley, a little more than an hour’s drive from Cape Town along the N2. But it’s definitely worth the drive.
Almenkerk offers more than just a wine tasting with a pretty view, they also invite visitors to experience their farm first-hand with a fun hiking trail right on their farm.
Permits for the walk can be bought at the tasting room for R40 per person. This permit also includes a free glass of wine that visitors can enjoy after their hike.
There are two hikes to choose from: the main 5km walk and an extended 7km walk.
The main 5km path snakes through apple and pear orchards, past vineyards and up and down slopes. If you visit at the right time of the year, you’ll walk past beautifully red apples still hanging on the trees. I went at the beginning of May, and the neat lines of apple trees made for gorgeous photo opportunities. The extended 7km walk includes an extra 2km detour path with a steep uphill and downhill, for those who enjoy a more challenging walk. Along both walks you can expect to see a lot of greenery and maybe even some wildlife if you’re lucky. The accompanying map includes a nice checklist of possible animal sightings, so keep a sharp eye out.
Kids will also love this excursion. There are seven activity stations installed along the main path, each with its own information board to explain the activity’s exercise. With activities such as tire flips, balancing beams, and a water canon by the pond, kids will surely stay entertained on the walk. We certainly enjoyed the water canon, which requires you to pump water with your feet, and aim the strong stream of water across the pond.
After completing the loop through the farm, visitors can return to the tasting room, sit down and relax while sipping on a well-deserved glass of wine. Hikers can choose between three different wines to sip.
Almenkerk is open Tuesdays through to Saturdays, but since they only open at 10am, make sure to bring a hat or apply enough sunblock so the sun doesn’t catch you. The best time of the year to visit would be during the spring months when the apple trees are blossoming, or in late autumn and early winter when the temperatures are more manageable.
The details:
- Location: 50 Elgin, Viljoenshoop Rd, Grabouw
- Website: www.almenkerk.co.za
Also read:
Experience this multi-day adventure getaway in the untouched hills of Elgin Valley
Picture: @almenkerk / Instagram
