Despite the virtually quotidian rain in Cape Town, we’ve had the most fantastic weekend weather throughout May and so it was with glee that we set off after lunch on Saturday for the Overberg – yet another of South Africa’s breathtaking destinations. Ten of us headed to Robertson to an old fruit farm in the Dassieshoek Valley near Robertson – over 300 hectares of unspoilt fynbos and dramatic mountainscapes. Down a long and winding dirt road that is sufficiently off the beaten track to make you feel like you are in a remote and unspoilt paradise. But it’s actually not far from Robertson where there’s plenty going on, not least the Wacky Wine Weekend taking place from 3 – 6 June. Pay R70 for a ‘passport wine glass’ and then stumble from vineyard to vineyard – Arabella, Excelsior, Graham Beck, Springfield and Zandvliet among them. Live entertainment, shows, tastings and a lot more await.
We arrived at our friend’s farm – Die Laaitjie at about 4pm gasping for a glass of wine. Thankfully the cellars were well stocked. The sun was plunging behind the mountains on a cloudless day and the three German Short-Haired Pointers (not English Pointers which are apparently smaller with more white in their coats) were bounding around the dam – Jack, Alice and the grand dame of the clan, Cosmo. Jack and Alice are siblings who love nothing more than to mount each other in the centre of the gathering, a rather awkward spectacle among the evening’s civilities. The lamb went straight in the oven and before long we were a very merry bunch relaxing in front of a crackling fire. Especially Cosmo, who turned out to be a rather gassy old bag.
After a splendid evening of rambunctious camaraderie we awoke to a terrifically chilly frost which was burning off just as we exited for a spot of amateur, city-slicker rambling – bounding through the idyllic rock pools like unaccomplished mountain gazelles. There is something intensely invigorating about being in the mountains. That nostril twitching fresh mountain air and the dazzling clarity of the splendid scenery. Perhaps it the imposing rock faces towering above that put life in perspective – city stresses suddenly feel rather trivial. I found just being there for even 24 hours to be the perfect tonic. And also a reminder that most of South Africa’s favourite destinations are as fantastic to visit in the winter as they are in the summer.
If this sounds like your cup of freshly ground coffee well then there are plenty of places to stay in the area, a few of our favourites are the Robertson Small Hotel with its signature restaurant Reuben’s at the Robertson, as well as Excelsior Manor and slightly further afield, between Ashton and Swellendam, Mardouw Country House. If you want to find out more, then just give us a call.
sounds like a fantastic experience, Ross – well written!