From caravans to kayaking, to nearby mountain-biking trails, wine estates and art galleries, the Old Mac Daddy estate and surrounding Elgin Valley area has something for everyone.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
- In this weekend’s Pick of the Pack, News24 Outdoors visits the little oasis that is the Old Mac Daddy estate off the N2 in the Western Cape.
- From caravans to kayaking, to nearby mountain-biking trails, wine estates and art galleries, the Elgin Valley area has something for everyone.
- If you have a suggestion for Pick of the Pack in your neck of the woods, email the team at the address below.
- Riaan Manser is a pioneering South African explorer and brings a team as the newly appointed News24 Outdoors editor, driven by Ford.
We’ve all rocketed along the N2 past Grabouw and through the Elgin Valley a million times. Rushing straight through to Hermanus. Maybe a pie-stop, that’s it. Or a roadblock, under those blue gums near Peregrine Farm Stall.
But who’d have guessed there’s this little oasis a few minutes off this national highway?
Old Mac Daddy’s famous Airstream caravans and their psychedelic artwork are famous, of course. But with summer cruising in, our BIG surprise was plunging into nature.
The Boss sings this song called Secret Garden, and that’s exactly what we found. A spring pumps out crystal-clear water up in the middle of the property, giving abundant green life to a delightful garden gorge. Which, in turn, flows into this quite spectacular dam. Not just a dam. It should be called “Paradise Pond”.
The water is carefully filtered and environmentally monitored, giving families like ours the ability to swim in this silky-smooth water.
And would you believe it, there’s a lakeside “beach”. Yes… soft white sand, a Beach Bar, kayaks, and tractor tubes on the estate.
But this is just a launchpad. Next door and nearby is South Hill wine estate, restaurant and art gallery – and then mountain-biking trails at Lebanon, near Oak Lane cottages.
Kudos to the OMD team for setting up a mega-big screen to show the Boks’ greatest victory against the All Blacks in history during our stay. And apologies to any guests who had to tolerate our screaming – when all you wanted was tranquillity.
The dirt road up to the lodge isn’t smooth enough for everyone’s low-slung Ferrari. But sometimes experiences that are worth it take a bit of effort and sacrifice. So if you’re planning on getting married there, maybe a horse-drawn cart is a better option!
Old Mac Daddy’s dam water is carefully filtered and environmentally monitored, giving families like ours the ability to swim in this silky-smooth water.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
Old Mac Daddy’s is a little oasis a few minutes off the N2.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
Old Mac Daddy’s famous Airstream caravans and their psychedelic artwork are famous.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
The lakeside “beach” at the Old Mac Daddy estate, with soft white sand, a Beach Bar and kayaks.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
Old Mac Daddy’s is a little oasis a few minutes off the N2 national highway.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
Old Mac Daddy’s famous Airstream caravans and their psychedelic artwork are famous.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
A spring pumps out crystal-clear water up in the middle of the property at Old Mac Daddy’s.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
A spring pumps out crystal-clear water up in the middle of Old Mac Daddy’s property, which flows into a spectacular dam.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
From caravans to kayaking, to nearby mountain-biking trails, wine estates and art galleries, the Old Mac Daddy estate and surrounding Elgin Valley area has something for everyone.
Murray Williams/News24 Outdoors
A hectic schedule means less time to explore during this visit. We’ll do so in one of Ford’s sexy wagons soon!
Other credible and worthy options to check out in the Elgin Valley include:
- Elgin River Lodge
- Trail’s End Mountainbiking Inn
- Oak Lane Cottages
Do you have a suggestion for Pick of the Pack? Email feelgood@news24.com.
Riaan Manser is a pioneering international explorer with multiple world-firsts, and brings a team as the newly appointed Outdoors Editor of News24 Outdoors, driven by Ford.
