Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s stunning Cape Winelands, Boschendal is one of the country’s oldest estates, with a legacy dating back to 1685. Surrounded by the beauty of the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek valleys, the estate has a rich history, from its origins as a fruit farm, to award winning wine estate, and is now a destination in itself, with a wide range of activities on offer.
The vast estate (1800 hectares) boasts apple and plum orchards, the second oldest vineyard in South Africa, several head of sheep and Black Angus cattle. At the main property (or ‘Werf’) there are two restaurants, a function space, cellar door, gift shop, delicatessen, butcher and art gallery.
It’s a popular choice for destination weddings (and other celebrations), while many people visit for a day trip or weekend away, to picnic on the extensive grounds, go horse riding, mountain biking and hiking. For picnickers, there is live music on weekend afternoons and a wide range of lawn games.
Rooms
Boschendal has a wide range of room types, from the Werf Garden Suites that I stayed in, to the restored historic cottages dotted throughout the estate, self-catered accommodation and the beautiful Mountain Villa, which sleeps 12, located at the foot of Simonsburg Mountain with sweeping views of the valley.
My ‘Werf Garden Suite’ is more cottage than suite, looking out over a beautiful garden, privacy on either side provided by tall hedges, and a meandering gravel path leading through flower beds and shrubbery to reveal a stunning view of the mountain beyond. The cottage has a fully equipped kitchen (including a Nespresso coffee machine with recyclable pods), dining and living area, wood fire for winter and air con for summer. My bedroom has a divine king size bed, plenty of closet space and an enormous ensuite with a free-standing bathtub.
Dining
There are several dining options on the estate, including the high-end Werf Restaurant overlooking the expansive kitchen garden and mountains (great location for sunset cocktails), the Deli Restaurant, Werf Picnic boxes and takeaway food from the Deli.
Our first meal at Boschendal was at Werf Restaurant. The menu includes several wonderful seafood options, but the highlight and signature dish here is the estate’s Black Angus beef. Our host orders us a T-bone steak to share – a steak the size of a Sunday roast – served in situ, but carved into palatable slices. It melts in your mouth. Dessert includes a delicious deconstructed whipped cheesecake.
Breakfast is served on the veranda at Werf Restaurant, a three-storey affair with a selection of fruit, cereal and pastries, baked daily in the Werf Bakery. Our second dinner is at the Deli, which has a more casual atmosphere (and menu). It’s all good. I ordered a pizza – woodfired with the crust perfectly crispy.
On our last day at Boschendal, we’re treated to a picnic lunch; a hamper of chicken and cold meats, salads, freshly-baked ciabatta, dips and cheese. In between these feasts, the Deli has a great selection of wraps and salads for your own DIY picnic, and of course there is the cellar door, for food and wine pairings.
Sustainability
Boschendal is not just a historically rich farm, but also one that deeply values environmental responsibility. The farm is committed to regenerative farming practices aimed at improving soil health, biodiversity, and ecological balance. This approach involves using sustainable, and biodynamic methods, minimizing chemical use, and focusing on creating a healthy, resilient ecosystem.
The estate’s commitment to the environment goes beyond farming, as it also works to protect its natural surroundings, the surrounding wildlife and fauna & flora.
Community
The estate places a strong emphasis on fair labour practices, creating a supportive and respectful environment for its staff, fair wages, access to healthcare, and educational opportunities, ensuring that its workers and their families benefit from being part of the Boschendal community.
This includes the funding of Excelsior School, which offers high-quality early education and care for the preschool children of employees. With 84 eager learners and a devoted team of 18 staff, the school fosters a Montessori-inspired environment where creativity thrives. Additionally, there is a Holiday and After School program for children from Boschendal attending Grade R to Grade 3 at neighbouring schools.
And then there’s Bertha Retreat, a rural retreat and convening space located on the Boschendal property. At the Retreat Bertha Foundation grantees, NGOs, partner organisations, the surrounding communities and other users can meet to connect, work, strategise and reflect.
Bertha Retreat includes accommodation for 34 people, conferencing facilities and meeting rooms, a micro-farming and food production project, and a community resource centre. The Retreat’s vision is to create safe and inclusive spaces where communities and activists work together to build more just neighbourhoods, cities, countries and planet.
The Retreat charges different rates based on a visiting group’s ability to pay, encouraging partners to select the rate most appropriate for their organisation, remembering that all booking fees power the space; the higher the rate paid for each visit, the more they are able to stretch resources and ensure that the local community and poorly resourced groups are able to access the facilities.
Top Tip
It’s worth staying here at least two nights to experience everything the Estate has to offer. I highly recommend a guided sunrise hike to a view point halfway up the mountain, for sweeping views of the valley as the sun first hits it.
Booking
- Bookings for all room types can be made via Expedia TAAP (Premium level commission) or direct at boschendal.com
- Phone Number: 021 870 4271 / 021 870 4293
- Email: accommodation@boschendal.co.za / enquiries@boschendal.co.za
- Website: boschendal.com
The writer was hosted at Boschendal as part of a media familiarisation tour. These opinions and words are a true representation of their experience and have not been endorsed.
