Situated in South Africa, Klupmuts and nestled between Simonsberg Mountain range and the Berg river, this beautiful 3.5 hector garden is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms. This garden is still a working garden with over 300 varieties of edible plants. Babylonstoren, a rather strange name originating from the owners, who thought a hill looked like the Tower of Babylon, and named it Babylon’s Toren in the 1700’s, which has evolved to Babylonstoren today.
This place is rich with history when it comes to the working garden, filled with weird and wonderful things to discover, like the way they water their gardens, using gravity. Water from a stream is guided to the different areas of the garden, a system that has been used just over 300 years ago. The garden is also divided into different areas where one can get lost in a prickly pear maze or relax watching local birds come and go. The garden is easily accessible to day visitors for a small entrance fee, with plenty of parking available.
Babylonstoren is not only about fruit and veg, it has an array of different things, including a bakery, butchery, cheese, restaurants, spa and a few shops where crafts and preserves are available. Fresh breads are baked daily, that is used to supply their own restaurants but also available for visitors to buy. Meats and cheese are sold in many different ways, with some being cured in techniques brought by the Dutch settlers that arrived in the 17th century. Their restaurants are very tasteful with one being the Babel, an old cow shed that is unrecognisable and the another situated at the back of the garden, the greenhouse. The restaurants offer changing menus with ingredients source mainly from the farm and what is currently in season. The craft and preserve range from hand made crafts of various materials, handmade soaps to delicious preserves and of course wines. There is also a relaxing spa available if a little more relaxation and tranquility is needed or a bit of wine tasting in the cellar. If you fall totally in love with the place they, it also a venue for weddings and other special events.
This is a child friendly area, allowing children to experience and learn more about where food comes from with some friendly donkeys that love the attention and chickens wandering around with other natural wildlife. If a day visit is not enough, there is also a farm hotel, where you can book in and have some more first hand experiences.
Tips:
Address: Babylonstoren, Klapmuts Simondium Road, Simondium, 7670
GPS: 33 49′ 21.00″ S 18 55′ 48.00″ E
Cash: ZAR, cash and card
Clothing: Walking shoes
Cost: Entry fee: Adults R20, Children R10, General shopping
Disabled: Paths are accessible, but some are not easy
Parking: Yes, free
Pets allowed: No
