There’s something grounding about pulling fruit from a sun-drenched tree or snipping your own bouquet under open skies.
Picture: Chartfarm.co.za
Whether it’s warm strawberries, delicate roses, or sticky-sweet figs, the Cape has no shortage of glorious farms where you can pick a bounty of freshness, fill your baskets and breathe in the good farm air.
Fruit picking spots
Hoogwater Farm — Fig picking under shady trees
Once a year, during the balmy window between January and February, the fig orchards at Hoogwater Farm swing open to the public. What awaits is a postcard scene: fat, purple figs ready for the taking, kids tumbling around a jungle gym, and a charming deli serving homemade croissants and coffee. Come for the figs, stay for the cheese boards and the country calm.
Polkadraai Strawberry Farm — Strawberries and carnival vibes
Cape Town’s most beloved strawberry picking destination isn’t just about the berries. At Polkadraai, the fun comes in clusters: tractor rides, pony rides, face painting and mini golf turn a fruity outing into a festive family day. Baskets are provided, and strawberries are ripe for the plucking from October to December.
Klondyke Cherry Farm — Cherries under the pines
A summertime bucket list must. Between November and December, Klondyke’s cherry orchards become a pick-your-own paradise. It’s all rustic charm here – picnic spots beneath whispering pines and rows of ripe red cherries just waiting to be gathered. Don’t forget your hat and basket.
Cheverells Farm — Orchard-to-basket apple picking
Tucked away in Elgin, this charming farmstead transformed from an old apple packing shed now hosts delightful apple-picking mornings during harvest season (March–May). The experience is intimate and special – only a few slots open per season – and includes a walk through the orchards with Cath and Selbourne, the warm-hearted owners.
- Location: Elgin Valley
- Website: www.cheverellsfarm.com
- Contact: 083 700 3878
- Times: Apple picking by pre-booking only during harvest season (March–May). Follow social media for dates.
Wildebraam Berry Estate — Berries, booze and mountain views
Nestled in Swellendam’s Hermitage Valley, Wildebraam is a berry lover’s dream. During the 6-week harvest (mid-Nov to late Dec), visitors can pick youngberries and blackberries in the cool morning air. There’s also the added bonus of berry liqueur tastings and the quirky annual Wildebraam Berry Festival in early December.
- Location: Swellendam
- Website: www.wildebraam.co.za
- Contact: 082 550 2258
- Times: Berry picking daily during season (mid-Nov–end Dec), 9am–4pm. No booking required.
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Redberry Farm — Year-round strawberries and a giant maze
Most farms wind down after December, but Redberry Farm in George keeps strawberries coming 365 days a year. Grab a bucket and pick your fill, then explore the mind-boggling hedge maze – the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere – with hidden strawberry stations and rewards. Bonus: There’s no entrance fee, just pay per activity.
Flower picking spots
Chart Farm — Rose gardens with a view
Tucked into the slopes of Wynberg, Chart Farm is home to 6 000 rose bushes and a view that could make a poet weep. For a small fee, you can clip your own roses and sip on coffee afterwards at The View, their rustic café. Come spring or summer, the gardens are a blooming sea of colour.
Jaftha’s Flower Farm — Flowers and family history in Constantia
This family-run gem offers much more than fresh-cut flowers. At Jaftha’s, you’ll find dahlias, arum lilies, freesias and snapdragons in abundance – but also an invitation to connect with the land’s heritage. Guided walks with storyteller Azzara Makan offer insight into the Jaftha legacy and flower farming history among Constantia’s coloured communities.
- Location: 15 Brounger Road, Constantia
- Website: Facebook or Instagram
- Contact: 072 935 2331
- Times: Monday – Friday: 8am–5pm | Saturday: 8am – 1pm
Article originally published by Cape Town ETC
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