Boschendal

Highlights

• Working 330-year-old wine estate at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountain, 45 minutes from Cape Town
• Award-winning wine tastings at the Werf and Cellar Door with seasonal food and wine pairings
• Soil-to-fork dining across The Deli, Retreat Restaurant and Arum, drawn from the farm's own pastures and gardens
• Guided horse rides, hiking and mountain-biking trails across the farm and into the Franschhoek Valley
• Restored Herbert Baker-designed cottages and a luxury Mountain Villa sleeping up to twelve guests

You Should Know

• Family-friendly throughout, with a dedicated Tree House and Kids Play Area, pump track and supervised holiday programmes
• The Family Value Farm Escape package is valid for children aged 4 to 12 and excludes all one-bedroom cottages
• Boschendal is a cashless farm; card payment is required across all outlets

The Details

Location

Boschendal sits in the Dwars River Valley between Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountain. The estate is less than an hour from both Cape Town city centre and Cape Town International Airport, making it one of the most accessible Winelands properties for guests arriving from overseas.

The farm is a working agricultural estate of orchards, vineyards and pastures, run on regenerative farming principles. Guests have open access to the land and can wander freely between accommodation, restaurants, the Farm Shop and the tasting venues.

Accommodation

Accommodation is spread across a collection of restored historic cottages and farmhouses. The Mountain Villa sleeps up to twelve guests and looks out across the whole Franschhoek Valley. Cottage 1685, designed by Herbert Baker, sleeps up to ten and offers a slice of Cape Dutch history. The Retreat Cottages sleep four and sit among fynbos garden paths with a natural swimming pool, while the Clarence Cottage near the Werf sleeps six.

The Werf Garden Suites place guests at the heart of the farm with a shared pool, and the Orchard Cottages sleep between two and eight, set among the fruit trees with their own shared pool. The Cow Shed sleeps four with mountain views, and a collection of fully self-catering Farmhouses is dotted across the estate. Camp Canoe occupies a particularly scenic peak of the wine estate.

Dining

Dining at Boschendal follows a soil-to-fork philosophy drawn from the farm's own gardens and pastures. The Deli sits under the oaks and serves farm-style breakfasts, lunches and dinners with seasonal menus. The Retreat Restaurant is a relaxed all-day venue open to guests and day visitors. Arum is the estate's most expressive kitchen, celebrating Boschendal's heritage through craft and local produce.

Werf Picnics are served on the lawns under dappled sunlight, with baskets of seasonal ingredients and locally made artisanal goods. The Farm Shop and Butchery stocks pantry items, baked goods and produce grown on the farm or sourced from nearby suppliers. Wine tastings run at both the Werf and Cellar Door, with seasonal platters and food and wine pairings.

Activities

Guests can explore the estate on foot, on horseback or by bike. One-hour guided horse rides run throughout the day, taking in views of the Franschhoek Valley. The Trail Centre issues permits and route information for walking and mountain-biking trails across the farm.

Garden tours led by the Treehouse Leader cover the Werf Food Garden and the estate's regenerative farming practices. Younger guests have the Tree House and Kids Play Area, a pump track, supervised holiday programmes and an Adventure Passport scheme that rewards stamps with prizes.

Price Includes

• Accommodation in the chosen cottage, suite or villa
• Daily breakfast
• Open access to the working farm, walking and hiking trails
• Use of shared swimming pools at the relevant cottage clusters