Grabouw is the commercial centre for the biggest apple growing region in South Africa. It is the heart of the Elgin Valley, known for Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Starking apples and the home of South Africa’s favourite juice, Appletiser.
The Elgin apple industry was started in 1905 by Sir Antonie Viljoen, after whom Viljoen’s Pass was named. A railway station built to send export fruit to Cape Town, had to be placed on the only level land in the area – a farm called Glen Elgin, hence the name of the valley. The story of the apple industry is told in the Elgin Apple Museum, one of only two apple museums in the world.
Grabouw has a setting of great natural beauty, set alongside the Palmiet River, bordered by the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, the Kogelberg Biosphere – a fynbos heritage site protecting 1600 species of the South African floral kingdom and the Groenland and Kogelberg Mountains. Add to this the beauty of the orchards, roses and gardens and more recently, the vineyards that produce excellent quality cool climate wines, and you have a very special place.
The beautiful drive from Cape Town to Grabouw is under an hour, but there are so many sights and attractions, you had better get under way early for a fantastic day trip. Once here, you may want to savour the juice of the vine, so the Elgin Wine Route info will come in handy. If it is a slow food day you are after, then stop at one of the many farm stalls or wineries, depending on your mood, or consider eating at the Shuntin Shed, based at the old station. A tour of de Oude Molen award-winning brandy distillery, will share the centuries-old methods of brandy making, and you get to sample the wonderful amber liquid at the end.
If you feel active, then there are hikes in the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, slack packing, Segway or quad bike trails, horse trails, mountain bike trails, kloofing and mashie golf to name a few activities to keep the whole family busy. The nearby Theewaterskloof dam covers 52km and is a popular water sports destination.
The Elgin Valley garden show in November is one of the most popular garden shows in South Africa. More than twenty gardens are open in spring, over 2 weekends, in the beautiful Elgin, Bot River & Vyeboom areas. Not only are the gardens a sight to behold, but the surrounding flowering orchards are also magnificent. A free detailed brochure with map is available from all major nurseries in the Western Cape. Enquiries: Keurbos Nursery 021 8489146.
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