Elgin, Cape Overberg

/ About Elgin - Attractions, Destinations and Places of Interest in Elgin, Western Cape, South Africa
Western Cape Destinations

Elgin, Cape Overberg

Elgin
Elgin, Cape Overberg

Once you've booked your Elgin accommodation explore our pages for info on attractions and what to do in Elgin.

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 Western 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’.

Preparation of new vineyard, Elgin, Western Cape
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.

Get the Scoop

Elgin Reviews

average visitor rating: 5/5"If you love country-style towns this one is a must visit! The views, the gardens, the atmosphere ... its all lovely! Its "Apple country", you will see orchards ..." - Christine, Cape Town

view or submit elgin reviews

Visitorials: We Love South Africa

Elgin Visitorial

I Love Elgin because ...

Featured in: Visitorials: We Love South Africa

We’ve asked those in the know to share their favourites things about Elgin. Find out where locals go for the best cup of coffee, lunch suggestions and much more. We’re letting you in on all of their secrets ... I Love Elgin because ...

Related Links

Featured Attractions in (or near) Elgin

Elgin Valley Wine Estates

The Elgin Valley is home to a number of wine farms, which do so well as a result of the cool climate, low pH of the soil and plentiful rainfall. Some of the farms include well known labels like Arumdale, Beaumont, Elgin Ridge, Highlands Road Estate, Oak Valley Wines (one of the first farms ... more information

Elgin Wine Route

The Elgin Valley is exquisite, with long stretches of forest and endless mountain peaks surrounding fruit orchards, and indeed Elgin is part of the Four Passes Fruit Route. The wines that have begun production here are predominantly fruity, and Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Shiraz do particularly well ... more information

Green Mountain Eco Route

Based on the Overberg Tourism map, the Green Mountain Eco Route starts on the other side of Sir Lowry's Pass, as you enter Elgin Valley on the N2, from Cape Town. The Green Mountain Eco route is not only home to the world's first biodiversity wine route - 75 kilometres over the Groenland Mountains ... more information

Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve

The 42,000 ha Reserve stretches from Elgin in the south to beyond Villiersdorp in the north, and from the Stellenbosch mountains in the west, eastwards to the Groenland mountains. The entrance to the reserve is at Nuweberg, situated high in Viljoen's Pass, between Grabouw and Villiersdorp. The ... more information

Houwhoek Pass

To reach Houwhoek Pass, on the tarred N2, you will have to crest Sir Lowry's Pass first. In fact, there is a 25 kilometre stretch of road between the two passes, known as Cole's Pass, to add further confusion to the mix. All in all, this mountainous part of the national road is a series of three passes ... more information

Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve

Lying within the southern extension of the Hottentots Holland Mountain range about 90 kilometres south-east of Cape Town and 8 kilometres from Kleinmond, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve has managed to remain largely unspoilt, in no small part due to its ability to remain relatively ... more information

Van Der Stel Pass

The Van der Stel Pass lies between Bot River and Villiersdorp, a beautiful pass that takes one via the Theewaterskloof Dam. This part of the Overberg is filled with flowers, birds and wines, with scenery to match. The Bot River, after which the little town is named, follows the swing of the pass emptying finally into a ... more information

Viljoen's Pass

Viljoen's Pass cuts through the Groenland Mountains to follow a gorge through which the Palmiet River flows, linking Villiersdorp with Grabouw. Named after local apple pioneer, Sir Antonie Viljoen, the pass is a wonderful drive overlooking the valley that is regarded as 'apple country'. The pass is often incorporated as ... more information

Related Links

Things To Do in Elgin

Cliffs, Canyons, Kloofing and Coasts

Where: Western Cape
How much (per person): On Request

Kloof is the Afrikaans word for ravine/gorge. Kloofing is an adventure activity which utilises these natural little 'valleys'. Typically the ... more information

Wine tasting at Elgin Ridge

Where: Elgin
How much (per person): On Request

Elgin Ridge lies high on the slopes of a mountain, with fantastic views stretching over the vineyards to reveal the entire Elgin Valley. Elg ... more information

Related Links

Restaurants in Elgin

Houw Hoek Farm Stall

Where: Grabouw

This delightful farm stall greets you like an old friend as you travel between the Overberg's majestic Houw Hoek mountain pass and Cape Town. The authentic South African architecture of a white farm h ... more information

Thandi Kitchen Farmstall

Where: Elgin

“The name THANDI, pronounced taan-di is the Xhosa word for love, and is the powerful symbol for the projects message 'Growing Together with Love'.” Established in Elgin in 1995, Thandi’s aim is to ... more information

Related Links

Events and/or Festivals in Elgin

event starts: 19 August 2013
August
TBC
event starts: 27 October 2013
October

Related Links

On Holiday in Elgin

Elgin Map
Things to Do in Elgin
Visitorial - I ♥ Elgin because …
Elgin Accommodation
Grabouw Accommodation
Botrivier Accommodation
Caledon Accommodation
Cape Overberg Accommodation
Western Cape Accommodation

View Western Cape Destinations

View accommodation in Cape Overberg:
Arabella Estate, Baardskeerdersbos, Barrydale, Bettys Bay, Botrivier, Caledon, Cape Agulhas, De Hoop, De Kelders, Elgin, Gansbaai, Grabouw, Greyton, Heidelberg, Hermanus, Kleinbaai, Kleinmond, Pearly Beach, Pringle Bay, Riviersonderend, Sandbaai, Stanford, Swellendam, Vermont, Witsand

View other towns / suburbs in Cape Overberg:
Arabella Estate Attractions, Baardskeerdersbos Attractions, Barrydale Attractions, Bettys Bay Attractions, Botrivier Attractions, Caledon Attractions, Cape Agulhas Attractions, De Hoop Attractions, De Kelders Attractions, Elgin Attractions, Gansbaai Attractions, Genadendal Attractions, Grabouw Attractions, Greyton Attractions, Hawston Attractions, Heidelberg Attractions, Hermanus Attractions, Kleinbaai Attractions, Kleinmond Attractions, Pearly Beach Attractions, Pringle Bay Attractions, Riviersonderend Attractions, Sandbaai Attractions, Stanford Attractions, Suurbraak Attractions, Swellendam Attractions, Tesselaarsdal Attractions, Vermaaklikheid Attractions, Vermont Attractions, Villiersdorp Attractions, Witsand Attractions or ...

View other regions in Western Cape:
Atlantic Seaboard, Blaauwberg, Breede River Valley, Cape Agulhas, Cape Flats, Cape Helderberg, Cape Overberg, Cape Town North, Cape West Coast, Cape Whale Coast, Cape Winelands, Cederberg, City Bowl, Constantia Valley, False Bay, Garden Route, Karoo, Olifants River Valley, Route 62, Southern Suburbs, Swartland or choose another province: South Africa Destinations

Visiting Elgin?
Also see Things To Do in Cape Overberg or check out Things To Do in Western Cape to view activities by category, including watersports, sightseeing activities, arts & crafts and many, many more.

Western CapeWestern Cape