Nature on the doorstep

Beyond the vineyards and wheat, the Riebeek Valley has a wilder side worth discovering.

Elandsberg Nature Reserve, about 20 kilometres away, protects renosterveld and fynbos, among the most threatened vegetation in the Western Cape, and is home to eland, bontebok, zebra and the rare geometric tortoise.

The Berg River runs along the east of the Swartland and is good for a quiet paddle or a walk along the bank. The slopes of the Kasteelberg offer fynbos and big views.

Spring is especially beautiful, when wildflowers appear along roadsides and in the fields.