Our olive trees bow heavy with fruit as autumn burnishes the farm in sepia tones of old gold. The rhythm shifts from the hurried press of grapes to the steady crush of olives, with the 2025 olive oil vintage taking shape. 

In the garden, quince ripen along espaliered hedges, while glowing pomegranates and persimmons dangle like edible lanterns. Towards the end of April, the first of our citrus harvest arrives in the form of Nules, a seedless clementine that offers sweet, juicy pops of vitamin C.  

Beneath soft skies, we plant broad beans, root crops, leafy greens – garden gifts for the cooler days to come.  

Enchanted Easter

This Easter, we draw inspiration from the quiet corners of our garden. Add an element of whimsey and wonder to your Easter celebrations with our woodlands-inspired chocolate animals, beautifully decorated soetkoekies, and our range of delicious Easter bakes.

To add to the excitement, we’ve snuck a few golden eggs among our pastel-hued chocolate hens’ eggs. Find a golden egg and win your share of R30 000 in vouchers. Available at the Farm Shop or online.  

Loofahs

We are in the midst of our second loofah harvest. Grown from the sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca) – curious cucumbers that transform into nature’s own exfoliators. 

“These vigorous growers flourish in our tunnels, pest resistant and wild. Dried on the vine, peeled, seeded – then ready to be used for a plant-powered pamper,” says Elzé Bresler, our tunnel expert.

Ancients on Display

Our succulent collection will be on display in the Puff Adder walkway in April. Master botanist Dr Ernst van Jaarsveld and his team have amassed a phenomenal collection of rare and fascinating plants. Drought tolerant, hardy and amazingly diverse in shape, colour and type, succulents have evolved over millennia to withstand the harsh environment. By the same token, they’re equally well prepared for a water-scarce future. 

Soetmelksvlei

With school holidays and Easter coming up, Soetmelksvlei is the place to be. Our animals have blessed us with new life. The kraal is home to a new Ayrshire calf and a Blackhead Persian lamb. If all goes well, they will be joined by a Percheron foal soon. How big is the foal of a giant white horse, you may wonder. We have no idea and can’t wait to see for ourselves!

Keep an eye on our events page towards the end of April, as Soetmelksvlei will host a hands-on Easter crafting day for children, with home-baked treats and fun activities. Also from April onwards, fish for endemic Cape whitefish in the farm dam using handcrafted reed rods and a catch-and-release system. Fishers under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.  

Blou in the Press

Get your hands on the exquisite autumn issue of House & Leisure. BLOU in Keurbooms makes its media debut in a beautiful article by its very first guest, editor-in-chief Charl Francois Edwards. “This old-meets-modern style is synonymous with Babylonstoren and The Newt, and what I call ‘the Babylonstoren aesthetic’,” he observes, losing himself in every view and hue of blue. BLOU encapsulates barefoot luxury on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Its eight self-catering cottages can only be booked by guests who have previously stayed at either Babylonstoren Farm Hotel or The Newt in Somerset. 

Sink into Autumn Dreams

Long weekends and long nights make April the perfect month for a stay at Babylonstoren Farm Hotel. Rise early for a water buffalo tour. Linger over a slow lunch at Babel. Let time drift in the Garden Spa, afloat in the heated pool with views of Simonsberg Mountain. Or take the mountain drive to the lookout point and sip a sundowner as the sky burns in farewell. And as dusk deepens, draw a bath and slide into crisp sheets. 

Book in April and stay four nights, paying for only three. 

Workshops in April

Babylonstoren

1 April – Young artists: drawing in the garden (kids aged 7–12) 

2 April – Fishing on the farm: a family affair (kids aged 7–12) 

3 April – Explore a bug’s life (kids aged 7–12) 

8 April – Grow your own winter vegetables  

9 April – Sketching in Babylonstoren’s garden 

10 April – Risotto 101: a celebration of our farm-grown rice 

16 April – Combat garden pests, naturally 

23 April – Discover the secret life of bees 

24 April – Craft your own homemade soap 

Soetmelksvlei

4 April – Family Fun: learn how to make sun prints 

11 April – Everything’s better with butter: make butter & buttermilk rusks 

12 April – The ancient art of bookbinding 

15 April – Explore the world of Babylonstoren’s olives 

17 April – Healing herbs: doepa with local finds at Soetmelksvlei 

25 April – Seed saving and swapping in the Soetmelksvlei garden 

Book a workshop