What’s on in April?
March 24th, 2026After a long, hot summer we are ready to welcome the softer season. Golden-ripe quinces dot the garden hedges and leaves are spiralling down – a million voyagers leaving their invisible trails in the air.
As verdant vineyards turn to shades of rust and ochre, the wine harvest slows and we turn to our olive groves. This year’s harvest kicked off with Maurino and Frantoio, which will soon be pressed for their golden liquid and tinned into our farm-made olive oils. It’s the perfect time to experience an olive oil tour and see the olive oil-making process up close.
In the garden, the seasonal stars are persimmons, their deep orange glow heralding autumn. Their mellow sweetness makes them a welcome addition to the season’s table. Slice into salads, pair with cheese or enjoy on its own – a soft, honeyed fruit that brings warmth and brightness to cooler days. Similarly, the espaliered hedges are dotted with ripening quince, fuzzy and golden-hued. Cooler days make for lazy strolling – bring the whole family for a visit.
Easter egg hunts
The approaching school holidays and April’s long weekends are a wonderful time to spend a slow day at Soetmelksvlei. The children’s play area at the Old Stables Restaurant is an immersive, hands-on experience, as is the life-size Cape Dutch playhouse. Hours of screen-free fun, guaranteed. Bring the family for a day at Soetmelksvlei over Easter weekend and let the hatchlings run wild during an organised egg hunt for little ones (aged 2–7) and an adventure hunt for older children (aged 8–16).
If you’re planning on spending the day in Babylonstoren’s garden, opt for a morning of Easter family fun – waddling through the garden, catching critters with our bug experts, egg painting and a light lunch in the House of Shadows. With limited spots available, booking is essential.
Grown-ups can hunt for one of 30 golden Easter eggs hidden in a clutch of chocolate eggs. The lucky ones will win a share of R30 000 in online vouchers to spend at shop.babylonstoren.com! Stock up on all your favourite treats with our selection of sweet, savoury and family-style meals, wine and so much more.
Soak in the season
Make the most of April’s longer nights and long weekends by booking a stay at the Babylonstoren Farm Hotel. Rise early for a gentle bike ride on the farm, stretch and breathe in the White Studio and savour a peaceful moment while the kids join an Easter egg hunt. Linger in the spa for an afternoon – featured in Scape magazine’s inaugural Gold Key edition for exceptional hospitality.
Book in April and stay four nights, paying for only three. Offer valid until 30 August
Sensory storytelling at Babylonstoren
In the latest instalment of BabylonSTORIES, Babylonstoren’s own museologist Elsa Vogts delves into creating the interactive museum experiences at Babylonstoren. Tune in to our vodcast on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts, with new episodes released monthly.
Great Garden Show
Our sister estate, The Newt in Somerset, invites plant growers, flower friends and horticultural hedonists from all over the globe to join their inaugural garden show. The Great Garden Show is a nine-day celebration, held from 9–17 May at their estate in the English spring countryside. Apart from entertainment and on-tap dining, horticulture’s leading voices and The Newt’s own garden experts will present a daily programme of talks, workshops and demonstrations. Entry on 15 May is included with a valid Babylonstoren Garden Membership.
Workshops in April
With the school holidays just around the corner, it’s the ideal time to join a hands-on workshop and learn a new skill together. There’s plenty of variety for keen learners of all ages.
Babylonstoren
1 April – Autumn decor from the garden
2 April – Explore a bug’s life (kids aged 8–12)
7 April – Grow your own winter vegetables
9 April – Risotto 101: a celebration of our farm-grown rice
14 April – Explore the world of Babylonstoren’s olives
15 April – Combat garden pests, naturally
21 April – Discover the secret life of bees
22 April – Craft your own homemade soaps
28 April – Crafting kokedamas
29 April – Pasta from scratch
Soetmelksvlei
4 April – Blacksmithing: make your own braai fork
8 April – Family fun: Learn how to make sun prints
10 April – Master meat: all about venison & biltong
11 April – Bake your own savoury breads
11 April – Carpentry: craft a herb planter
16 April – Everything’s better with butter: make butter & bake buttermilk rusks
17 April – Bake your own pies: four ways with traditional butter pastry
18 April – Craft a wooden spoon and an iron ladle
23 April – Healing herbs: doepa with local finds
24 April – Pickle & preserve the season’s abundance
25 April – Leathercraft for beginners: make a belt
30 April – Bank on it! Seed saving and swopping
