Have lunch at the Hickory Shack
Texas-BBQ style cooking is probably the last thing you would expect to find in Elgin, but you will be glad you did after visiting the Hickory Shack! Quickly becoming a popular stop for anybody visiting the valley, whether it be to refuel after one of the many races held out there or simply to line the stomach for a big day of exploring, this awesome restaurant is a must-visit. Here wood-fires and blue smoke set the perfect moment for the pit-masters craft, with the smokehouse out front well-worth a gander as well. This is slow-cooking at its very best. Electric smokers are never used here, only local wood and organic chips with a firm belief that only time will serve the cut. We recommend you order a little bit of everything and share, that way you won’t miss out on a thing!
Website: http://www.hickoryshack.co.za/
Cape Canopy Tours
What better way to take in the beauty of the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve than from up high? That’s right! There isn’t a better way. The Cape Canopy Tours allows you to experience this beautiful area, which forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom (a World Heritage site), while getting zipping down 11 slides. The longest slide measures at 320m in length and they save the best one last. Open to ages 5-75, this is something the whole family can enjoy together. There is a bit of hike after the final slide, but this allows you to take in the scenery even more, and even lets you work off some of the excitement after that 300+ metre ride into the final platform.
Website: www.canopytour.co.za
MTB and Trail Run
The Elgin Valley is a favourite for local mountain bikers and trail runners with some of the best trails in the country to explore here. From soft, forest tracks to more technical rock gardens, and big climbs off-set by manic descents and hair-raising drop-offs, you are guaranteed a great day out. Visit the Elgin Valley website to find out where the best routes are or you could just enter one of the many races held in the area throughout the year. The Trail Series, which runs a race in the winter and in the summer, is one of the best ways to explore what the trails have to offer without getting yourself lost. It you’re looking for somewhere to base yourself, look no further than the Trails End bike hotel, which was conceived with athletes in mind. Bring your own bike or rent one, the choice is yours, and then it’s off to explore the trails!
Website: http://elginvalley.co.za/
Explore the wine farms
While not as well-known as some of the other wine valleys in the Western Cape, the Elgin Valley, a 350-metres above sea level, is South Africa’s coolest climate wine region. There are large number of wine farms in the region, all with their own unique characteristics and offerings. Picnic on their lawns, stay over at their accommodation or simply stop in for a wine tasting, it’s up to you how much time you want to spend exploring the farms (we recommend you take your time) and exactly which you would like to visit (we, of course, recommend stopping in at all of them!). The wines produced in Elgin are predominantly fruity, with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Shiraz traditionally doing well in the region.
Website: https://winesofelgin.co.za/
Quad Biking
If you want to explore the trails, but don’t have the energy to run or cycle them, then you have to give the quad biking a go! Heck, even if you’ve already cycled and run around the valley, we still think you should jump at the chance to take out the quad bikes. There are number of route available, but the 3-to-4-hour waterfall trail is undoubtedly the most popular one. This 30km tour takes you to the Old Gantouw Pass Wagon Trail which is a world heritage site, and was originally used by the Dutch and British settler’s as a wagon route for over 150 years. While admittedly taking a little less effort than the human powered alternatives, the quad bikes do allow you more time ‘in the saddle’ and allow you to explore areas you may not be able to get to on a bike or by foot. Other options include the Adventure Trail and the Full Day Trail.
Website: http://www.naturediscovery.co.za/
