Visit our Garden

Everything’s better with butter: make butter & bake buttermilk rusks

Only 10 places available.

Join us for a buttermaking and buttermilk rusk baking workshop at Soetmelksvlei, a delightful new excursion by Babylonstoren.

Prepare to roll up your sleeves as we embark on our journey at the Babylonstoren ticket office. Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, you will experience the age-old tradition of churning fresh farm milk into butter. See how we separate the cream and follow the simple steps to make your own butter. Under the guidance of master baker Martjie Malan you will bake buttermilk rusks, using fresh buttermilk – a by-product of the buttermaking process.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch in the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.

Traditional needlework: the basics of colourful quilting

Only 10 places available.

Join us for a hands-on quilting workshop at Soetmelksvlei, a delightful new excursion by Babylonstoren.

Prepare to learn two fundamental quilting techniques as we embark on our journey at the Babylonstoren ticket office. Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical Soetmelksvlei farmyard, which represents a time when life was simpler and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, renowned quilting master Doortjie Gersbach will share her extensive knowledge of the art of quilting. Guests will try their hand at two different techniques, including the beautiful“grandma’s flower garden” & “Japanese fold”.

This class will focus exclusively on hand quilting, where there is no need for a sewing machine.

A hearty lunch will be served in the Old Stables Restaurant before guests return to Babylonstoren.

Discover the secret life of bees

Only 15 places available

Cape honeybees are honoured workers on Babylonstoren Farm – not only do they produce an abundance of honey for the breakfast table at Babel Restaurant, but they also play a key role in pollinating many of our garden fruits, herbs and vegetables.

We host our workshops during the warmer seasons, when the garden is buzzing with Cape honeybees, hard at work foraging for pollen and nectar. The workshop starts with a guided walk through the garden to explore the bees’ favourite spots, from nectar-filled annual flowers to pollen-rich trees. We’ll then invite you to put on your beekeeping suit and discover our collection of diverse beehives – including the traditional woven skep, the practical Langstroth with moveable frames, and the much-talked-about flow hives. Our beekeeper, Arné Stander, will share the story of the indigenous Cape honeybee and explain the basics of beekeeping.

Note: Please bring along your sun hat for the garden walk and closed shoes such as gumboots or wellies or high-ankle hiking boots for the practical session with beekeeping suits.Please bring along your sun hat for the garden walk and closed shoes such as gumboots or wellies or high-ankle hiking boots for the practical session with beekeeping suits.

Steaming coffee from the Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
A refreshing lunch at the Greenhouse Restaurant is included.

Discover the healing powers of herbs

Only 15 places available

Welcome to the sanctuary of our Healing Garden, where Gundula, the guardian of this special space, will inspire you to look at herbs with new eyes. She’ll delve into the healing powers of each of the more familiar greens and uncover a few herbs you may not have come across before. You’ll return home with a few simple recipes for homemade remedies and an understanding of how herbs may support and guide the body – but not before indulging in a scrumptious, healthy alfresco lunch.

Steaming coffee from the Lekker Room is served upon arrival.
Lunch in the Spice House is included.