We stumbled across this place when we'd been on the (hot and dusty) R62, taking the scenic drive from Franschhoek to Swellendam. The café is somewhat hidden by the KFC next door, but look out for signs to the Bon Courage and Le Grand Chasseur wine shops. Grand Café somewhat aptly served the best coffee we had on our holiday. We also ordered their excellent chilli beef pittas for lunch, which come served with a mean curried beetroot pickle. The pickle was so tasty that we bought a jar to take with us on our journey.

Grand Cafe, Robertson, 36 Voortrekker Street, Robertson 6705
Tel: +27 23 6265783
www.grandcafe.co.za

Google map: tinyurl.com/ylsd39a

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I'm a regular visitor and every time I see the changes; it's a great evolving, entertaining and inspirational place. The owners don't target mass tourism but prefer a very personal approach. Their succulent gardens (11.000 sqm) houses the largest outdoor succulent plant collection on the African continent and, most probably, the largest of its kind in the world. But it's not about being the largest, the biggest or the best: Soekershof has many aspects of life; the philosophy and the passion behind it are unmatched and the down to earth approach is refreshing.

soekershof.com
It's two hours drive from Cape Town in Klaas Voogds West between Robertson and Ashton/Montagu along Route 62
Also read about Soekershof in soekershofwalkabout.blogspot.com

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It's a huge maze and an incredibly succulent garden but there is more to it. Not the banter of restaurants, craft and curio shops but it is the real thing to do if you want to discover South African culture. And for garden lovers: one of the English visitors I met said that this garden is, in its own right, far more interesting than the ones of Kirstenbosch or Worcester.

It's a bit weird but Soekershof distinguishes itself from all the others by the absolute passion of owners and staff. These people are really devoted to their plants. But for me it's more; it was a very personal spiritual experience, hard to describe.

Being a black South African I learned something about by own country: the meaning of the handshake I grew up with; the meaning of the 'evil spirit' of the Uthikulose which does not have to be evil and what wonders me most of all: I had to learn it from two very nice Dutch people who joined our country seven years ago.

It's in Klaas Voogds West along Route62 between Robertson and Ashton; 2 hrs easy drive from Cape Town. I discovered 3 own URLs. The general one: www.soekershof.com The 'weird but passionate' one with the latest developments in and around Soekershof: soekershofwalkabout.blogspot.com and the one they regard themselves as a 'service tool for their nursery customers and other succulent lovers': soekershof.wordpress.com

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A nice 'green' combination between Cape Town and the Garden Route.

Bon Cape for it grows its grapes organically and produce South Africa's only wines with Michelangelo stars (see www.boncaporganic.co.za).

And Soekershof Walkabout, Mazes and Botanical Gardens because also this farm does not apply fertilisers and other chemicals in the cultivation of its unique collection of plants. Above all this place is a huge leg stretching entertainment area with an educational twist.

Bon Cap: Eilandia (between Worcester and Robertson) See: www.boncaporganics.co.za
Soekershof Walkabout: Klaas Voogds West (between Robertson and Ashton/Montagu also along Route62)
See: www.soekershof.com

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