March is still peak harvest time on the farm as the crops reach optimum ripeness. Our plump pumpkins are the star of the show, while the last of the red wine grapes are making their way to the cellar. Soon, lush bushels of carnaroli rice will ripen in our paddies and the team will start harvesting towards the end of March. In the garden, the blushing belladonna lilies, or Maartblomme as they’re known in Afrikaans, announce the arrival of autumn. 

Our gardeners and cellar team aren’t the only ones bustling to and fro – a small group of our water buffalo herd enjoy making their way up from Rietvlei for a casual stroll through the gardens. Visitors can catch sight of them plodding along the pathways on Friday mornings. 

Perfectly pumpkin 

Get your pumpkin passports ready for a day filled with family fun! Our annual Pumpkin Day takes place on Sunday, 1 March. We have a host of activities planned, along with pumpkin-inspired treats for everyone to enjoy. Come and visit the pumpkin display in the Puff Adder walkway, and let your little one get their pumpkin passport stamped each time they participate in an activity – five or more stamps earn them a free gelato at the last stop. 

Visit the farm, on repeat 

Soetmelksvlei visitors will receive an extra treat this March: the R200 pass for Soetmelksvlei also includes an annual Babylonstoren membership valued at R150. That means you can come back to Babylonstoren as many times as you like for an entire year! This offer is valid from 1–31 March 2026. 

Coming home for Easter 

This Easter, we invite you to come home to a special place at the table, where warmth, love and acceptance are paired with beautiful decor and delicious dishes. We’re celebrating with handcrafted delights, like a clutch of classic chocolate eggs (with a chance to win your share of R30 000 in online shop vouchers when you discover a golden egg), praline-filled treasures and Spikkels, a magnificent chocolate hen made to smash and share. Hot cross bun-inspired treats – from cruffins to biscuits – add fragrant notes of spice, while the Easter table is set with linen, crockery and timeless glassware. Babylonstoren’s complete selection of Easter treats, meal solutions and homeware is available online at shop.babylonstoren.com with free nationwide delivery.  

On the farm, the whole family is invited to discover the treasures of Easter. Little ones can delight in egg hunts, face painting, chocolate egg decorating and even a boat race. It’s a time to gather with loved ones and take it slow, making memories that feel both timeless and new. Over at Soetmelksvlei, children aged 2 to 16 can participate in a special Easter hunt between 3 and 6 April. 

Turn Easter into a restful reprieve by spending a few nights in the Farm Hotel. Book two nights at Babylonstoren Farm Hotel between 16 March and 30 April and get 20% off. Guests are invited to spend a day at Soetmelksvlei and enjoy the taste of farm-fresh hot cross buns and freshly brewed coffee. Stay for three nights or more and indulge in a two-course meal at Babel, on the house.

Savour the Season 

Join us for an autumn feast at Babylonstoren’s Harvest Table taking place on 28 March. It’s a gathering that celebrates abundance, with a long table set in a beautiful location on the farm that invites guests to linger and connect. Be sure to save your seat! 

Berg to Beach 

Experience luxury and the best of both worlds when you book a five-night escape that combines two nights at Babylonstoren and three nights at BLOU in Keurbooms. Farm-style hospitality in the heart of the Winelands, followed by a restful reprieve along the rugged coastline of the Garden Route, offers you the chance to rest, recharge and reconnect with yourself and nature.  All airport transfers are included; private flights can be arranged upon request. 

Tune In 

In the latest episode of BabylonSTORIES, we share a conversation with the inimitable Dr Ernst van Jaarsveld. His passion for plants and his vast gardening knowledge have inspired a generation of gardening enthusiasts. Join us and be inspired too! Available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes monthly. 

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Workshops in March

Babylonstoren 

27 February – Pampoenpret (in Afrikaans) 
28 February – Pumpkin fun (in English) 

3 March – Unlock the diversity of indigenous succulents 

4 March – Farm brew: bean to cup coffee experience 

5 March – Risotto 101: a celebration of our farm-grown rice 

10 March – Capture the season’s scents with fragrant herbs 

17 March – Craft your own homemade soaps 

18 March – Naturally sweet: baking with honey 

19 March – Risotto 101: a celebration of our farm-grown rice & pumpkin 

25 March – Discover the secret life of bees 

26 March – Explore the world of Babylonstoren’s olives 

Soetmelksvlei 

5 March – Handcrafts at Soetmelksvlei: plant pressing 

6 March – Master meat: make boerewors & droëwors 

7 March – Blacksmithing: make your own braai fork 

12 March – Pickle & preserve the season’s abundance 

13 March – Heirloom tomatoes: bake your own galette with traditional butter pastry 

14 March – Easter delicacies: pickled fish & hot cross buns 

14 March – Craft a traditional wood & riempie stool 

20 March – Cape food: traditional bobotie with quince chutney 

21 March – Advanced leathercraft: make a leather handbag 

27 March – Perfectly pumpkin: a seasonal baking experience 

28 March – Make a wooden milk stool