Babylonstoren

Location

Babylonstoren nestles in the heart of the Drakenstein Valley where morning mist clings to vine rows before dissolving into crystalline mountain air. The estate spreads along the Klapmuts-Simondium Road, positioned perfectly in the golden triangle between Franschhoek’s gourmet restaurants, Stellenbosch’s oak-lined streets, and Paarl’s granite domes. This strategic placement offers all the Winelands’ riches without the tourist congestion of staying in town.

The Simonsberg Mountains rise dramatically behind the property, their sandstone cliffs changing colour from rose-gold at dawn to deep purple at dusk. The conical hill that inspired the farm’s name, early settlers thought it resembled the biblical Tower of Babel, stands sentinel over the historic werf where thick-walled buildings have sheltered generations since 1692. From higher ground, views stretch across the Berg River valley’s patchwork of vineyards, their neat rows creating corduroy patterns that shift from emerald in spring to gold in autumn.

The immediate surroundings read like a wine lover’s wishlist: Backsberg’s family-run cellars lie just 2 kilometres away, Vrede en Lust’s Victorian manor house sits 4 kilometres south, while Fairview’s goat tower punctuates the skyline 10 kilometres north. This concentration of prestigious estates makes spontaneous tastings possible without designated drivers travelling far. Yet despite this accessibility, Babylonstoren feels wonderfully remote, the nearest village, Simondium, remains a mere crossroads with a church and scattered houses, preserving the rural tranquillity that defines the true Winelands experience.

The 200-hectare property encompasses its own agricultural universe: 94 hectares of vineyards climbing the lower slopes, citrus orchards perfuming the air with orange blossom in spring, olive groves silvering in the wind, and even flooded paddies where they cultivate risotto rice in rotation with indigenous waterblommetjies—a uniquely Cape ingredient that flowers in winter ponds.

Rooms

Babylonstoren’s accommodation spreads across 33 units that marry authentic Cape Dutch architecture with clean contemporary design, each featuring the signature aesthetic: thick whitewashed walls, Oregon pine floors, enormous bathrooms with freestanding tubs, and hearth fireplaces softened by modern furniture from Philippe Starck and the Bourroulec Brothers.

The Garden Cottages line the oak avenue beside the main garden, comprising six one-bedroom suites ideal for couples seeking simplicity, three one-bedroom cottages adding glass-cube kitchens for self-catering flexibility, and four two-bedroom cottages perfect for families or friends. These cottages embody the estate’s design philosophy—historical bones with contemporary comfort—where massive fireplaces warm winter evenings while private terraces overlook either Simonsberg’s peaks or the productive gardens. The glass-cube kitchen additions create striking architectural contrast while maintaining functionality, allowing guests to prepare simple meals with produce from the farm shop.

The Farmhouse occupies the beautifully restored Manor House dating from 1777, containing nine one-bedroom suites that retain more historical character with yellowwood ceilings and original hearths. The Butterfly Room’s loft suite has become one of South Africa’s most sought-after honeymoon retreats. Farmhouse guests enjoy exclusive access to their own pool and spa facilities, creating a hotel-within-hotel atmosphere where service feels more personal. Note that the Farmhouse doesn’t accommodate families with children, maintaining an adults-only tranquillity.

The Fynbos Cottages perch higher on the slopes beyond the vineyards, offering enhanced privacy and panoramic views across the valley toward the Franschhoek Mountains. These eight cottages (six two-bedroom, two one-bedroom) feature the same white-on-white aesthetic but with added seclusion—private patios with hanging nest seats, floor-to-ceiling windows framing mountain vistas, and access to their own pool and bar area. The distance from main facilities (requiring golf carts or bicycles, both provided) becomes an advantage for those seeking deeper retreat.

For larger groups, the Fynbos Family House accommodates ten guests across five en-suite bedrooms arranged around a central courtyard with private pool, while the historic Manor House from 1777 offers exclusive-use booking for groups wanting complete privacy in the original farmhouse with its yellowwood beams and wide stoep overlooking the gardens.

Communal Areas

The communal spaces at Babylonstoren blur boundaries between functional and fantastical, with the magnificent garden serving as the property’s beating heart. The formal garden spans over three hectares, inspired by Cape Town’s historic Company’s Garden but elevated to extraordinary botanical diversity with 15 distinct clusters. These include productive vegetable patches, berry tunnels, citrus walks, a healing garden with medicinal plants, a spice garden telling the Cape’s trade history, and even a prickly pear maze. Water channels flow throughout, gravity-fed from mountain streams, feeding ponds planted with edible lotus and indigenous waterblommetjies. Everything grown here supplies the restaurants daily—this isn’t decorative but a working system where breakfast fruit was picked at dawn.

The Garden Spa exemplifies the estate’s aesthetic, set within a bamboo forest with treatment pavilions connected by flowing water channels. The newer Hot Spa addition features an indoor heated pool, authentic marble hammam, Himalayan salt room, sauna, and two vitality pools. Herbs for treatments are harvested fresh from the healing garden each morning, creating genuine farm-to-spa experiences.

The Farm Shop complex near the entrance showcases the estate’s remarkable productivity across multiple spaces. The Lekker Room tempts with roasted nuts and artisanal chocolates, the Cheese Room displays varieties made from water buffalo and Jersey milk, the Meat Room offers biltong and charcuterie matured with Himalayan salt, while the Bakery produces daily bread in traditional wood-fired ovens. These aren’t merely retail spaces but working production areas where you can observe cheese-making or bread-shaping throughout the day.

Wine enthusiasts gravitate to the contemporary Tasting Room with floor-to-ceiling glass walls framing views of the Babylonstoren hill and surrounding mountains. The striking green-tiled bar has become an Instagram sensation while remaining functional for serious wine appreciation. Adjacent, The Story of Wine museum provides multi-sensory journey through viticulture history, including a screening room constructed inside a giant wine vat.

Activities

Garden exploration stands as Babylonstoren’s signature experience, with daily tours departing at 10am from the Farm Shop. Expert gardeners lead these walks, encouraging guests to pick, taste, smell and touch while learning about companion planting, seasonal cultivation, and the relationships between 300+ plant species. The tours reveal hidden treasures: the succulent collection, the streamside grove where 7,000 clivias bloom spectacularly in spring, the spice garden mapping ancient trade routes, and seasonal highlights from lavender fields to wisteria tunnels. Hotel guests enjoy complimentary access while day visitors pay R100 entrance (becoming annual membership via the Babylonstoren app).

Wine experiences range from standard tastings in the Tasting Room (additional cost from R180 for seven wines) to comprehensive cellar tours (R325) journeying from vineyard through the working cellar with its amphora pots, concrete eggs and traditional oak barrels. The estate produces 13 varieties across 94 hectares, with the highest vines planted at 600 metres on Simonsberg’s slopes specifically for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Soetmelksvlei offers unique historical immersion—a meticulously recreated 1890s Cape farmstead accessible by 25-minute shuttle ride (additional cost: R300 adults, R100 children 4-17). This sister experience features working demonstrations of traditional crafts including blacksmithing, butter churning, wheat milling and bread baking, plus heritage animal breeds that children love feeding. The Old Stables Restaurant serves traditional fare while the shop sells handcrafted items from on-site workshops.

Active pursuits include mountain walks through fynbos and wetlands, cycling on provided bikes through vineyards and orchards (included for hotel guests), and rowing or fishing on the dam [availability to be verified]. Regular workshops (additional cost varies) cover everything from soap-making using farm lavender to pasta preparation with Babel’s chefs, with seasonal highlights including asparagus harvesting in spring.

The spa offers treatments using herbs picked fresh daily (additional cost), with the Hot Spa’s facilities—hammam, salt room, heated pools—justifying half-day visits. Children particularly enjoy the farm activities: egg collecting, donkey feeding (opposite the Farm Shop), helping bakers knead bread, and the treasure hunt through the gardens.