Elgin, Cape Overberg

The Elgin Valley, one of the Cape’s most beautiful fruit growing areas, is literally an hour’s drive from Cape Town and one of the Cape’s better kept secrets in the sense that it is yet to be inundated with crowds over weekends. Who wouldn’t want to remain schtumm about this gorgeous fertile valley filled with vineyards, orchards, forests and sweeping views of mountains that hover in a way that feels not only protective but slightly magical? The drive from Cape Town to the Elgin Valley is not only worth a mention but remains one of the most beautiful. The N2 heads up Sir Lowry's Pass where, on a clear day, views over False Bay are simply spectacular. You then descend into the Elgin Valley, over the mountain - hence the term ‘overberg’.

The Elgin Valley falls into the UNESCO protected Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and is very much geared for life in the outdoors. There are private game reserves, incredible hikes, birding, mountain bike routes, bass and trout fishing, kloofing, fly-fishing - the list of tours, trails and things to do is endless. The Elgin Valley, which is part of the Four Passes Fruit Route, is famous for its cool-climate wines, fruit trees and roses.

Add to this the creation of the world’s first biodiversity wine route - the Green Mountain Eco Route - which encompasses Grabouw in the Elgin Valley, Bot River, Houw Hoek and Villiersdorp, and you can understand why scenic beauty, coupled with acres of preserved fynbos might be attractive.

Elgin is also the site of one of the country’s finest examples of transformation where the Oaks Village, including 106 homes, has been handed to the families who have worked on the Molteno fruit farm for up to four generations, giving over 700 people ownership of their homes.