Tulbagh - the "Valley of Abundance"

Tulbagh – “Valley of Abundance”. Surrounded by mountains, a fruit and vine valley, an area for all seasons. The valley is popular with families, romantic couples, and adventure seekers.

About Tulbagh

Experience the bounty of the earth surrounded by magnificent mountains in this fruit and wine valley! Snow caps in winter, Spring flowers, hot summers and blazing autumn colours – A valley for all seasons.
Escape to romantic, adventurous, family, and vineyard getaways!
Tulbagh, being the fourth oldest town in South Africa, has a romantic historical feel to it, with the highest count of protected historical buildings in any one street in South Africa. The earthquake of 1969 led to a complete renovation of the old Church Street buildings, which left the houses in a very good condition.

A ring of mountains hugs a valley of abundance in a cosy embrace.

Why visit Tulbagh?

Looking for an idyllic setting, with mountains towering close-by, wrapping natural beauty and romantic vineyards and orchards? This dreamy agricultural village offers a family-friendly, romantic appeal. Abundant natural beauty calls for hours of hiking in the mountains or wandering through vineyards on foot, or trails on horseback. Add idyllic and award-winning vineyards and you have a destination well worth a visit!

Read on for more information about the area

What not to miss around Tulbagh

Church Street – Old Town historical houses.
Earthquake Museum.
De Oude Kerk – Historical Church
Waterfall Hiking Trails.
Saronsberg Cellar.
MontPellier de Tulbagh.
Rijk’s Wine Estate.

What to do in Tulbagh:

Around Tulbagh:
Best Scenic Drives around Tulbagh
Annual events
Vineyards and wine tasting
Eat Drink and Do:
Restaurants
Café’s and Coffee Shops
Child-Friendly things to do
Pet-Friendly things to do
Arts, Culture and Museums
Markets and Shopping
Health Resorts and Spas
Sports and Wellness
Golfing
Outdoors:
Adventure
Natural Attractions in the area
Beaches in the area
Mountain Bike Trails
Hiking Trails
Surfing spots,
4×4 tracks,
Accommodation:
Luxury Accommodation Options
Self Catering Accommodation options
Budget Accommodation options
BackPacker Accommodation options
Pet-Friendly Accommodation options
Camping options
Info Details Tulbagh

Around Tulbagh:

Best Scenic Drives around Tulbagh:

3 Boland Passes
Tulbagh R46 – Over Wolseley – R43 – R301 Bain’s Kloof Pass to Wellington – Paarl – R101 over Du Toitskloof pass – Rawsonville – Slanghoek Road through the Slanghoek valley – R43 – R46 Over Mitchell’s Pass to Ceres – Return via R46 Over Mitchell’s Pass back to Tulbagh. ±190 km

Tulbagh Annual Events:

Tulbagh Vintage & Vine Faire: Celebrate the valley’s award-winning wines, top class olives and other products of the Tulbagh Valley

Vineyards and Wine tasting:

Tulbagh Wine Route

Below are notable vineyards in the Tulbagh wine route

My Top 4 cellar choices:
Saronsberg Cellar
Rijk’s Private Cellar
Manley Wine Estate Private Cellar
Krone

Other vineyards in the Tulbagh valley:
Lemberg Wine Estate
MontPellier de Tulbagh
Schalkenbosch Wines
Theuniskraal
Tulbagh Winery
Bianco Fine Wines
Blue Crane Vineyards
Buck’s Ridge Wines & Olives
De Heuvel Wine & Olive Estate
Twee Jonge Gezellen

Eat and Drink:

Please check the latest information on these restaurants, cafés and coffee shops to ensure the cuisine and ambience is what you are looking for.

In the valley of abundance, there is also an abundance of choice for fine food. Find one of the many fine-dining or casual restaurants that serve an array of superb dishes from continental, South African, vegetarian and pub fare. Cafés and Coffee Shops are well recommended.

4 Cafés and Coffee Shops to try:

Kole en Deeg
Coffee and Cream Coffee Shop and Eatery
Saronsberg Kunskombuis
Obiqua Café

5 Restaurants to try:

Information about Restaurants

The Olive Terrace at the Tulbagh Hotel
Readers Restaurant
Caffe Blu
Rijk’s Restaurant
Paddagang Eethuis en Fijne Wijne

3 Child Friendly things to do:

Tulbagh is known to accommodate the whole family – including children

Horse About Trails
Earthquake Museum
Waterfall Hiking Trails

Arts, Culture and Museums:

Historical Tulbagh revolves around Agriculture, religion and trade.

Tulbagh Church Street – The highest number of heritage Cape Dutch, Victorian and Edwardian buildings in one street in South Africa
Earthquake Museum – Commemorating the 29th of September 1969 earthquake
Oude Kerk Volksmuseum – Old Church Museum (1795)
Christo Coetzee museum – Art Museum

Markets and Shopping:

The festivals around Tulbagh are renowned for their family-friendly atmosphere – well worth a visit

Christmas in Winter (June)
Tulbagh Spring Arts Festival (September)
Tulbagh Horse & Wildflower Show (September)
Tulbagh Nursery (All year)

Sports and Wellness:

Tulbagh is well loved for the following outdoor sports.

Cycling
Hiking
Horseback riding

Golfing:

The closest golf courses in the area:

Ceres Golf Course

Health Resorts and Spas:

Several accommodation properties offer in-house spas.

The Tulbagh Hotel and Spa
Vindoux Tree House Guest Farm and Spa

Adventure:

The mountains, vineyards and orchards surrounding Tulbagh offer the following adventurous activities.

Buchanan’s Brewery
Ceres Zipline Adventures
Cycle Hire – Wine by Bike @ Vindoux
De Oude Drostdy
Duikersdrift Parkrun
Fynbos Café & Farmstall
Fynbos Guest Farm and Animal Sanctuary
Lizards Gift Shop @ Tarzan Shoes
Mountain Bike Hire @ The Tulbagh Hotel
Murludi Hiking Trail
Silwerfontein
Tulbagh Horse Trails
Tulbagh Scenic Tractor Ride
Tulbagh Tuk Tuk Tours
Waterfall Eco Trails
Waverley Hills Hiking Trail

The natural environment:

Fynbos: an abundance of Fynbos, but an abundance in variation too, including:

Breede Alluvium Fynbos
Breede Shale Fynbos
Breede Shale Renosterveld,
Hawequas Sandstone Fynbos
Kouebokkeveld Shale Fynbos
Swartland Alluvium Fynbos
WInterhoek Sandstone Fynbos

Natural Attractions in the area:

Tulbagh has great natural diversity, especially in floral and bird species and interesting geological formations.

Nature centered Activities:

Oudekloof Farm – Hike or take a tractor ride up to the crest of the Old Oudekloof Pass, with views over the Swartland and the Tulbagh valley, Fynbos and bird-life. Stay for some of their
Silwerfontein – Famous for birding and Fynbos, hiking, mountain biking, fishing.
Murludi Hiking Trail River or mountain hiking trails
Waterfall Eco Trails
Waverley Hills Hiking trail
Mountain Bike Hire @ the Tulbagh Hotel
Tulbagh Horse trails

Birds to look out for in the area:

With around 350 species recorded, here is a small extract of birds you could find in the area:

Blue Crane – South Africa’s National bird

Common: Apalis Bar-Throated, several Canaries, Cape Batis, Bishop Yellow and Red, Wax-Bill Swee, Cuckoo, Doves, Guinea Fowl, Ibis Sacred and Hadeda, Neddicky, Nightjar, Grassbird, Mousebird, Several Martins, Swallows, Swifts, Flycatchers(African Paradise, Blue Mantled Crested, African Dusky and Spotted), Pigeons, Starling

Endemic: Cape Rock-Thrush, Cape Weaver, Francolin(Cape and Grey-winged), Greater Double-Collared Sunbird, Ground Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Orange-Breasted Sunbird, Protea Seed-eater, Whydah, Victorin’s Warbler

Raptors: Jackal Buzzard, Verreaux’s (Black) Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, African Goshawk, Black Harrier, Rock Kestrel, Owls., Sparrowhawk, Osprey, Kite,
Waterbirds: Avocet, Coot, Cisticola, Ducks, Egret, Flamingo, Geese, Grebe, Heron, Kingfisher, Moorhen, Pelican, Plover, Warbler

2 Best Mountain Bike Trails in the area:

Tulbagh offers a few scenic Mountain Bike Trails in the Tulbagh valley. Silwerfontein Nature reserve offers an intermediate circular MTB route. The Hermanus cycle track and Onrus gorge route.

Silwerfontein – 16 km, easy, circular
Tulbagh valley. 13 to 29 km. Easy to intermediate. Maps are available from the Tulbagh tourism Bureau on Church street. From 7 km family friendly, 50 minutes to 60 km, 150 minutes, challenging circular routes.

5 Best Hiking Trails in the area:

For all South African hikes, take:
sunscreen,
hat,
water,
rain protection,
jacket,
cell phone with emergency numbers for the area loaded.

Do not hike alone – for your own safety.

Beware of baboons – stay away from them, do not feed them.

Waverley Hills hiking trail
Waterfall Eco trail Guided, slack packing day hikes – Waterfall, Fynbos, historical routes, orchards and vineyards.
Silwerfontein Hiking Route to Ontongs Cave, some wild animals, good birding, fynbos and Proteas
Murludi Hiking trail – Spectacular valley views, diverse plant life, different routes.

3 Best 4×4 tracks in the area:

The valley has no 4×4 routes, but Ceres is close by and has a route, with incredible views.

Matroosberg 4×4 (Ceres)

Accommodation

Tulbagh has a wide variety of accommodation and caters for all tastes and budgets. As accommodation can change quickly due to circumstances, please check current ratings and comments on your favourite trip planner.