Tag: Wine Route 62

Must do’s at AfriCamps at Pat Busch

A stay at AfriCamps is not just about glamping. It is a chance to experience the surroundings, taste the local produce and simply unwind in nature. AfriCamps at Pat Busch offers the most breathtaking mountain views and plenty of ways to explore the mountain up close. Get closer to the fynbos, streams, mountain dams and birdlife. Explore the surrounding wine farms famous for award-winning wines, or just have fun with the family, swimming the day away.

Here are a few activities to tick off during your stay at AfriCamps at Pat Busch…

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

Swimming

During our hot summer days nothing is better than going for a dip. The salt water pool is a favourite among the kids. Keep an eye on them from the sun beds while soaking up the rather magnificent mountain views (you can’t really go anywhere at Pat Busch without being surrounded by the majestic Langeberg Mountains.) Get a spot of shade beneath our sun covers, stretch out on a sun bed and get lost in a good book.

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

Thrill seekers might prefer to cool off in our farm dam after a hike or mountain bike ride. Our farm dam is located beyond the tents at the top of the property. You will also find row boats and kayaks available for rent. Try your luck at catching Bass and Tilipia (strictly catch-and-release). 

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

Mountain Biking

Rent a bike for a half-day or a full-day to explore the farm and the surrounding area. How does a wine tour by mountain bike sound? A 30km route takes you past some of our neighbouring wine farms for tastings or meals. Book your bike with us in advance (helmets included).

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

Hiking

When arriving at Pat Busch, you can already spot some of the trails leading up the mountain. These can be quite intimidating, but fear not, there are trails for all fitness levels! These hiking trails are not open to the public, so you can hike in complete privacy. Make sure you pack enough water, power snacks, good hiking boots, sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. 

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

Guided Day Hike

Duration: 2,5 – 3 hours

An early start is advisable because in high summer months the temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees. A qualified field guide will walk with you through the area. During this hike he will tell you everything that you want to know about the local fauna and flora! *Minimum of 2 adults. Subject to prior arrangement and availability.

Self-Guided Hiking Trails

There are also three self guided hiking trails on the property. On arrival at AfriCamps you can find information on the various hikes inside the welcome book in your tent. !

Middelrug Trail

Duration: 3 – 4 hours

The hike begins at the farm dam just beyond the tents. This is a fantastic trail to hike in the morning, not only because of the cool weather but also for the sunrise. The hike will return along the stream and kloof.  The hike is quite steep but other than that not difficult.

Hermit’s Ridge Trail

Duration: 2 – 3 hours

Hermit’s Ridge Trail is named after the legend of an old hermit who used to live in the Langeberg Mountains. The story goes that he hoarded a fortune in Kruger Rands and the secret of this treasure was lost when he died. Start at the gate near Oak Cottage where the trail takes you deeper through the Poplar Forest where, if the legend is true, the treasure can still be found. This trail from bottom to top should take about 2-3 hours, but don’t forget to add on the return time for returning via Karin’s trail.

Karin Trail

Duration: 2 – 3 hours

This beautiful hike is named after Pat Busch’s wife, Karin Busch. You can choose to continue this hike from the top of Hermit’s Ridge Trail, or follow the trail there & back. This popular trail follows the mountain streams along shaded valleys. Indigenous trees, boulders and the gurgling stream are your companions.

Watch the sunset

Sunsets at AfriCamps at Pat Busch Mountain Reserve are simply one of the best sunsets you will ever see. Watching the sun disappear behind the mountains, see the sky change colour from orange to pink. There are simply no words to describe it! Make yourself comfortable in one of the comfy deck chairs outside and watch the sun slowly going down. (A glass of Robertson’s finest wine will make it even more special.)

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

Guided Wine Tour

Last but not least, Pat Busch Mountain Reserve offers a guided wine tour which starts at the property. This tour shows you around the beautiful sights and tastes of the Robertson Wine Valley. And no worries about driving! Your chauffeur will drive you all the way to the world-famous wine cellars. Lunch, wine tastings and an underground cellar tour is included. If you want to extend your tour with a boat trip along the Breede Rivier, your guide is happy to add that in the tour. All tours can be tailor made to suit your preferences. A minimum of 2 persons is required for a guided tour.  *Subject to availability and prior arrangement.

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

We look forward to host you at AfriCamps at Pat Busch. For more information and bookings click here.

Activities at each of our AfriCamps camps

If you are planning to visit one of our AfriCamps camps, you should know that the camps also offer some activities.

AfriCamps at Klein Karoo offers you a sunset game drive and stargazing. You can rent mountain bikes and do hikes at AfriCamps at Pat Busch; and you can play putt-putt and enjoy the nice swimming pools at Africamps at Kam’Bati.

Sunset drive in Klein Karoo

Experience a close encounter of the fauna and flora (excellent bird watching opportunity) of the Little Karoo with our specialist guide. During the drive there is the possibility to view some wildlife and ending the day with a beautiful sunset over the mountains. Thereafter returning to your tent for dinner. Duration +- 2 hours. This is all including drinks and snacks.

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Star gazing

Join us for a fascinating 45 minutes tour of the Southern Celestial Hemisphere at the comfort of your own tent (Subject to availability, amount in group and clear skies). And enjoy the beautiful starry sky of Oudtshoorn.Thank you Fabrice Debatty for the picture

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Rent a Mountain bike at AfriCamps at Pat Busch

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

In 2014 we purchased two new Axis 90 mountain bikes with front suspension & Shimano 18 speed parts. These bikes are great quality and very comfortable.Try out some fun mountain bike action over the weekend or explore the Klaasvoogds Valley by cycling to nearby restaurants for breakfast or drinks. Bike rental includes helmets.

Hiking in our private mountains

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

Beautiful scenery awaits the nature lover! The reserve offers several trails, from mountain fynbos & protea hikes to kloof hikes along wooded streams. Hiking trails are not open to the public – exclusively for the enjoyment of our overnight guests so that guests can walk or hike in complete safety. Each cottage has a detailed map of our trails. Please remember to never hike alone, and to be prepared with enough food & water, good hiking boots, common sense and a jacket. Take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints. Hikes take 3-5 hours and can be difficult. 

Swim at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati

There are 3 swimming pools and water slides at Kam’Bati. The relatively new (Jan Hagen) landscaped entertainment area is situated at the old conference centre parking area in the middle of the resort. Besides that there are some nice play areas next to it. For the parents there is a new pool lounge to relax in while the kids are playing!

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Play putt-putt

Next to the swimming pool you can find the putt-putt hole course, this course consists of 8 holes. This is fun for the kids and adults who can thoroughly enjoy it! So as you can see you don’t have to leave the property to have an awesome stay at AfriCamps at Kam’Bati! If you want to know more, check our website here!

africamps at kam'bati swellendam boutique glamping south africa

Enjoy your AfriCamps stay with us!

Top 7 Things To Do in Stanford

We are opening a new AfriCamps glamping location in Stanford! It’s a great place and there are a lot of things that you can do in this area. We’ve made a selection for you, of our highlights of things you must do during your stay in Stanford.

1. Whale Watching

From June until November, Southern Right whales are highly visible along the Cape south coast, making this the perfect time of year for a whale-watching trip. You can do these trips at several companies near Stanford but you don’t even have to go out on a boat to see them because Hermanus, overlooking Walker Bay, is considered to be the best land-based whale watching spot in the world. Southern Rights often come in close to the shoreline, sometimes appearing only metres from the shore. Hermanus’ cliffs offer an incomparable viewing point.

You can also do a whale-watching from the sky! It’s a unique experience to see the whales from the air.

2. Shark Diving

Go shark cage diving close to Stanford to see these amazing creatures. The area around Stanford is known for the numerous sharks who visit this area. You can go on a half day tour with a shark diving company, where you will go into a cage and see sharks up close!

3. Wine Tasting – Stanford Wine Route

The Stanford Wine Route officially launched late 2015 and is seen as one of the up and coming wine routes in South Africa. This close-knit group of wine farms with their cooler temperatures have produced outstanding wines over recent years. This wine route meanders through the Stanford valley and each wine farm welcomes you into their tasting room. The Stanford Wine Route encompasses Springfontein Wine Estate, Raka (try the Biography Shiraz), Brunia, Boschrivier, Sir Robert Stanford, Stanford Hills, and Lomond Wines.

As with the other wine routes, this one holds a number of smaller wine festivals throughout the year with the Stanford Stumble being one of the known favourites.

 4. River cruising

River cruises are a relaxing way to spend the day. These cruises will take you through the Klein River and will offer you breathtaking views of the Klein River Mountains. Relax on the boat, braai, jump in the river or get pulled along in a tube. These cruises cater for everyone. If you are lucky you can spot 129 species of birds who make this area their home. There are a few companies in this area who arrange these river cruises. Platanna: www.platanna.com or African Queen: www.africanqueenstanford.co.za and River Rat www.riverratstanford.wordpress.com

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOPZ3AtjPQ2/?taken-at=1023085057

5. Horse Riding

One of the best and most highly recommended ways to explore this beautiful area is by horseback. These horse riding tours will allow you to escape into nature for one, two or three-hour tours.

6. Hiking & mountain biking

Fancy a bit of adventure, why not go into the mountains for a nice hike or a mountain bike ride. This is an incredibly beautiful area and you will not get bored for a second. You will find these hiking and mountain bike trails all around Stanford.

Stanford is home to beautiful indigenous flora and fauna which make this area a delight to explore. For all the mountain bike enthusiasts this area covers part of a few famous mountain bike races, the most famous being the Cape EPIC.

7. Cape Agulhas

You are spoilt for beauty when you head through to Stanford as the surrounding areas are all spectacular. Cape Agulhas being one of them. This is the southern-most tip of Africa, perfect for a day trip to see the point where the Atlantic ocean and the Indian ocean meet.

Our fourth camp, AfriCamps at Stanford Hills Estate is set to open later on this year. Check into our Facebook page for more info on bookings and launch dates.

AfriCamps 9-Day Route

Sometimes a holiday at one camp is just not enough. Now that we have three camps on the Garden Route and Route 62, we are introducing a full glamping tour.

Yes, why not stay at all three!

At the moment we are planning this route with different activities on the route and in the area. We will focus on three different groups of people, families with kids, couples and a group of friends in more details later.

The route is planned for a total of 9 days, with a 3-day stay at each camp. You can add in a stop or two at different places on the Garden Route as well. For instance Mosselbay, George, Amalienstein, Hartenbos, Calitzdorp and Montagu are beautiful. It is also possible to do a shorter tour, of course, we just want to show you the possibilities.

There is so much to see in the Western camp and along this route you can be sure that this will be a road trip that you won’t forget.

Let’s go.

AfriCamps at Kam’Bati

Starting from Cape Town it’s a 2.5-hour drive to our first camp AfriCamps at Kam’Bati in Swellendam. On your way there you can have a break at the Stormsvlei Restaurant & Farmstall, this is our recommendation for a great lunch. During your stay there you can also do a lot of things in the area.

3 days in Swellendam will give you ample time to relax in your tent and to also explore the area. Some activities in the area are horse riding, canoeing, hiking and you can even book yourself a massage (can also be enjoyed in your tent) from Rain Spa. Do you want more info on the highlights surrounding AfriCamps at Kam’bati?

Read our blog post about things to do in Swellendam.

Breakfasts and braai packs are also available for purchase at the farm.

africamps at kam'bati swellendam boutique glamping south africa
africamps at kam'bati swellendam boutique glamping south africa

After your stay in Swellendam at Africamps at Kam’bati, you can move onto our next camp, AfriCamps Klein Karoo in Oudtshoorn.

This drive will take you 2 hours and 50 minutes. If you go straight of course. However, if you want more of a scenic route you can take a detour and visit one of these three beautiful towns; Mossebay, Hartenbos and George.

If you do not have a lot time then you can drive straight to Oudtshoorn through Barrydale where you can have take break at Clarke of the Karoo or visit the famous Diesel and Creme for a good lunch.

Detour options

Mosselbay, a harbour town is a beautiful place to visit. Thank you for the picture Reece Briesies.

Hartenbos, a small town near to the beach is a perfect stop for a quick swim and some relaxing time on the beach. Thank you Perot Louw for this picture.

Another coastal town to add on the list, should you choose the detour route is George, This will leave you with an hour and a half to head off to AfriCamps Klein Karoo.

Thank you Beautiful Towns and Cities for this perfect picture.

AfriCamps Klein Karoo

Ostriches and Cango Caves, both possible when you stay at AfriCamps Klein Karoo in Oudtshoorn. This location has become a favourite among many international guests as it offers something unique to their holiday. Besides the standard activities in the area, we offer sunset game drives and biking trails on the property.

Breakfasts and braai packs are also available for purchase at the farm.

africamps klein karoo oudtshoorn boutique glamping south africa
africamps boutique glamping south africa
africamps klein karoo oudtshoorn boutique glamping south africa

After 3 days in Oudtshoorn, it will be time to move onto Robertson. During this 3-hour drive. You can stop at Calitzdorp, Amalienstein and Montagu. Why not try something different with Vilioensdrift wines & cruises for lunch and wine tasting, before checking in.

On Route

Calitzdorp is a quaint karoo town. Thank you The Inside Guide for this picture

Amalienstein, a town with rich historical past as it still is a mission station. Thank you, Sweis van der Horst for this picture.

One of the most beautiful stops close to Robertson is Montagu. This town is a favourite among locals for it’s beautiful location and it’s great restaurants and coffee shops. Montague is also the home to Sanbona Wildlife reserve, why not add in more wildlife to your trip.

Africamps at Pat Busch

Africamps at Pat Busch in Robertson is the last stop on the list before you head back to Cape Town.

Being a wedding venue and a nature reserve, you know you are in for a treat when it comes to this view. Try a hike through the surrounding mountains or just enjoy a dip in the pool or dam on the property. At AfriCamps at Pat Busch you are surrounded by great wine and olives, why not hire some bikes and explore the area? There are a lot more that we can recommend, take a look at our blog about the

There are a lot more that we can recommend, take a look at our blog about the things to do in Robertson.

Breakfast baskets are available for purchase at this camp. 

africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa
africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa
africamps pat busch robertson glamping south africa

With only 2 hours back to Cape Town you can drop in at Nuy on the hill for lunch, wine tasting and more spectacular views. This place is in a beautiful area, we are sure you would love it.

Are you ready to book your glamping road trip?

#WeAreGlamping

Top 5 things to do in Robertson

What is the first thing that comes to mind when we say Robertson? It must be wine. Known for it’s wine tasting and beautiful views, this town in the Western Cape of South Africa offers much more than just your odd wine tasting on route down the coast. Have a look at our list of highlights in the area and extend your stay for a few days to explore this area more thoroughly.

Here is our list of the 5 things to do in Robertson.

1. Wine time

Robertson is known as a wine valley, so of course, you have to do a wine tour. But which tour do you have to do? We definitely recommend the Viljoensdrift wine tour. This tour is nestled in the south of the Elandsberg Mountains. The main benefit of the tour is the possibility to do the tour on a boat down the river.

Beautiful picture by  @guy_mcdonald

2. Wine Festivals

Every first Thursday of June the Robertson wine valley will host the Wacky Wine Weekend festival. The festival takes place over 4 days and with over 40 wineries participating. Boutique wineries and tourist establishments showcase the valley’s award-winning wines. Thousands of wine lovers come to this lovely festival. For around R150 you are allowed to visit this festival every day. You also get a glass, water and a tasting voucher at every winery.

Photo Credit @WackyWineWeekend.

Another popular festival is called the Wine on the river festival, which will take place every second Friday of October. This festival is known as the “most beautiful wine festival” because this festival takes place on the riverside farm of Goudmyn and gives wine lovers the opportunity to taste more than 250 wines from 30 wineries. The ticket prices are between R90 till R180 a day and R190 till R250 for the entire weekend.

3. Best view of Robertson

Want the best view of Robertson then head over and do the tractor trip in Montague. This tractor trip is Nestled at the foot of the majestic Langeberg mountain range. 

“The tractor, pulling its load of sightseers, meanders its way up the Landeberg Mountain, reaching an altitude of 1500m above sea level. On the way up you will have a bird’s eye view of the Koo Valley and, once at the top, you can look down into the Robertson Valley.”

For more information check it here.

A really nice picture by @Amanteco_almonds

4. Cacti world

If you want to do something different, then you have to visit the world’s largest hedge-maze.This botanical garden is chosen as one of four best botanical gardens in South Africa. A really nice part of this garden is the possibility to do a guided tour, where you can do a ‘’flower tasting’’ and you get to hug a cactus. This entrance has to be booked online here.

Amazing photos by @ninadupl

5. Fly in the air

If you are looking for an adrenaline rush then you have to go skydiving. Skydive Robertson is one of the longest running Parachute Association of South Africa (PASA) approved dropzone. You can do 2 different falls from 3.500 ft to 11.000 ft. Are you already excited? Book it here.

So come for the beauty, the nature, the wine and get some rest in this beautiful part of South Africa, Robertson is just one of the many gems along the Western Cape of South Africa. With our third location, AfriCamps at Pat Busch Mountain Reserve situated in Robertson we are sure that you will find these activities and many others to keep you entertained when you come and stay with us.

Launch of AfriCamps at Pat Busch

There is no doubt in our minds that Klaasvoogds Meander in Robertson holds some of the most exquisite hidden gems in South Africa. This becomes very apparent after you take the turnoff into the valley and drive up towards Pat Busch Mountain Reserve. Pat Busch is nestled between the beautiful Langeberg mountains and this is where you will find our third camp, AfriCamps at Pat Busch Mountain Reserve.

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On the 2nd of November, we launched the third camp in our Africamps collection. The day was a warm 36’ C and the sunshine brought with it the invitation of summer. Everyone arrived early afternoon and we headed off to Tent 5 for the welcome drinks and meet and greet.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

This camp introduced an upgrade to the tents with regard to the extended deck and braai area. Which has already become a favourite among everyone who had previously seen the other tents at AfriCamps Klein Karoo and AfriCamps at Kam’Bati. The extended deck meant that we could house everyone on the deck for speeches and a toast.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

Now that we have officially opened AfriCamps at Pat Busch, We had a chance to welcome Stephan and Lindi into the AfriCamps family. It was a 3 month period between the launch of AfriCamps at Kam’Bati in Swellendam which opened in August. Then the AfriCamps team headed off to Robertson to join Stephan and Lindi to start the build for this location. It’s quite amazing what they have achieved in such a short period of time. The tents fit naturally into the surrounded nature and have the charm of the mountain reserve embedded in the details. This can be seen in the consol solar hanging lights which lights up the pathway to the tents and the new deck design.

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Stephan and Lindi Busch, your hosts at Africamps at Pat Busch Mountain Reserve.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

After the toast, we walked over to the dam where we had a taste of the award-winning Marbrin olive oil. Marbrin Olive farm is another one of those hidden gems in the valley.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Travel bug Rose

The dam played it’s part nicely as it invited everyone to take a dip and cool off. Some of the little ones were quite entertained and had fun dipping their toes into the water. The boat became a quick favourite of some of our guests who decided to try it out.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

The free time before dinner gave guests the opportunity to take a dip in the swimming pool. While some took in the nature, with a quick walk around the property, others lazed back on the deck chairs and enjoyed the serene quietness of this idyllic place.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo credit: Mademoiselle Nomad

With each build, the Africamps team finds their favourite products and restaurants in each area that we set up. A standard for the last build was Saggy Stone beer, which has become an AfriCamps favourite. Jackie brought her range of beer for guests to try out and pick their favourite.

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

Dinner was held on the lawn by the pool with a long tresel table set out for the meal. A massive thank you to the Yoga Kitchen and Misa’s mobile catering for the delicious food. You both have catered to the foodie in us, with the spit braai and the delicious salads that accompanied it.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

The rest of the evening …the Esona wine was flowing and the atmosphere was cheerful as we took in the beautiful sunset.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

After a good night’s sleep we awoke to the nature sounds. Then breakfast baskets were delivered at the tents and the rest of the guests joined us at the hall for a delicious breakfast and coffee.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo credit: Mademoiselle Nomad

Overall this was another great launch which we got to share with great company. Thank you to all who joined us for the launch, we hope that you will be back to visit sometime. It was great to welcome you into the AfriCamps family.

africamps boutique glamping south africa

Photo by : Morne Breede photography

Thank you Stephan, Lindi and the Pat Busch Team, The Yoga Kitchen, Breede Photography, Travel Bug Rose, Things to do with kids, Mademoiselle Nomad, Cape Town magazine, Madiba Travel, Saggy Stone, Marbrin Olive estate, Esona Wines, Weltevrede Bubbly, Misa’s mobile catering.  

Top 7 things to do in and around Swellendam

Planning a trip to Swellendam. Here are our top 7 picks for things to do in and around Swellendam.

1. Swellendam Town

A short drive from AfriCamps at Kam’Bati lies the picturesque town of Swellendam, which is the 3rd oldest town of South Africa after Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Swellendam is filled with rich historical buildings and great restaurants. 

Add in a trip to the Drostdy Museum while you are there. 

2. Restaurants

Indulge the foodie in you and go try out some of the many great restaurants in the area.

Our top picks in the area are Tredici, Field and Fork and La Sosta which serves up great Italian food. Woodpecker pizzeria serves up the best pizza in town, added bonus is the homely setting. Old Goal on Church Square has a beautiful courtyard and offers the perfect settings for breakfast and lunch options.

3. Garden Route

Swellendam is the ideal stopover on route to the Garden Route when you leave from Cape Town. This is one of the most beautiful routes to drive in South Africa and it starts from Mossel bay and makes it way to Port Elizabeth. This route is packed with diverse vegetations, lagoons, lakes and beautiful ocean views.

Photo by AfriCamps Team.

4. White water rafting at the Breede River

This will bring out the daredevil in you as it gets your adrenaline flowing. Take a trip down the Breede River which meanders for 300km before it flows into the Indian Ocean. This is ideal for outdoor lovers, families, couple and kids.

Photo by Claire Farringer for  Denver Knoetze

5. Marloth Nature Reserve

Just outside of Swellendam you can find the Marloth Nature Reserve which lies within the majestic Langeberg Mountains, which can be seen from the deck of your AfriCamps at Kam’Bati tents. This nature reserve is ideal for hikes, picnicking, biking or bird watching.

Photo by Friends_of_Marloth

Enjoy the nature of this beautiful area while on a horse ride in the Marloth Nature Reserve. These guided tours will let you experience the beauty of South Africa from another perspective. Beginner’s and advanced riders are welcome.

6. Cape Agulhas

Most people think that Cape Point is the most Southern Point of Africa but in fact, the most southern point is Cape Agulhas. This is just a short 1-hour drive from AfriCamps at Kam’Bati.

Add in a stop at the famous Cape Agulhas lighthouse and have a bite to eat at the rustic restaurant.   

Photo by Giuliana Loi Cockcroft

7. Whale watching at De Hoop Nature Reserve

Lose the crowd who usually go to Hermanus for whale watching and go spot these majestic creatures at the De Hoop Nature Reserve. This is a beautiful nature reserve which is the home to many different animals such as elands, baboons, buck and the occasional leopard.

This is just some of the many highlights around this area. Plan your stay at Africamps at Kam’Bati and add in some or all of these great activities.