The Imhoff Farm

If you’re on the way to visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve — or hey, even if you’re not — be sure make a stop at the Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie. You’ll find your­self whil­ing away a more than pleas­ant after­noon at this his­tor­ical farm­stead, whether enjoy­ing a leis­urely lunch, brows­ing around the shops and boutiques, or par­ti­cip­at­ing in one of the many activ­it­ies on offer. Open seven days a week and with some­thing for every­one, the Imhoff Farm is a def­in­ite must-visit. And it’s kid-friendly too.

The Blue Water Café offers relaxed alfresco din­ing with beau­ti­ful beach views, com­bined with an impress­ive menu of hearty options, from sal­mon tartines to ostrich fil­let to mouth-watering pizza (but save room for dessert – try the Cape sticky tof­fee pud­ding). All food is pre­pared with farm-fresh ingredi­ents, and com­ple­men­ted by South African wines ...

Foodies will also love the Free Range Farm Shop, crammed full of organic and free-range pro­duce. With homemade cheeses and jams, freshly baked bread, a vari­ety of olives, organ­ic­ally grown fruit and veg­gies, and old favour­ites like homemade lem­on­ade, you’ll never want to hit a gen­eric super­mar­ket again. Pop into the Free Range Coffee Shop for a light meal, and look out for the cook­ing and bak­ing classes that are start­ing here soon.

Shopaholics will be pleased to know their Imhoff retail ther­apy doesn’t end there. You can visit Imhoff Cheese for a tast­ing, pop into the well-stocked Old Cape Wine Shop, per­use a vari­ety of art, crafts and décor stores, take the kids brows­ing at Peek-a-Boo Children’s Boutique or get earthy at the Imhoff Plants Nursery. Of course, my per­sonal favour­ite and first stop is the Chocolate Silo, a former wheat silo now hous­ing a selec­tion of cre­at­ive and drool-icious Belgian chocol­ate delights by Artichoc Africa. Yum!

But you’re far from fin­ished at Imhoff. Kids will simply adore the Higgeldy Piggeldy Farmyard, an edu­ca­tional pet­ting zoo where they can get up close and per­sonal with furry and feathered farm­yard friends while learn­ing fun facts about these and other animals.

Adult animal lov­ers should head to the Imhoff Equestrian Centre to book a two-hour guided beach ride. The centre caters to any­one over 12, whether you’re a begin­ner or an exper­i­enced rider. There’s some­thing magical about can­ter­ing down the breath­tak­ing expanse of Noordhoek beach, com­plete with pos­sible bird, whale and dol­phin sight­ings, and a look at the fam­ous Kakapo shipwreck.

Horses a little too passé? Imhoff is the proud home of three of Vered’s camels. These ships of the desert are avail­able for rides – if you can stom­ach tot­ter­ing along at two metres above the ground. For even more exotic creatures, visit the res­id­ents of the Imhoff Snake Park and Reptile Sanctuary, includ­ing a 3.5 metre yel­low anaconda and a Burmese python.

All very ener­getic for one day, but if you return (and you’ll want to), make sure it’s to book a game of paint­ball for an after­noon of paint-splattered adrenalin-pumping action. Of course, you might want to visit the yoga centre or mas­sage stu­dio after­wards to soothe aching muscles and ease all that special-ops tension.

And then why not start all over again back at The Blue Water Café?

Where?
Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie Road, Kommetjie, Cape Town
Telephone: +27 (0)21 783‑4545

Useful Links:
Kommetjie Attractions
Things to Do in Kommetjie
Kommetjie Accommodation
Cape Town Accommodation