Outdoor & Adventure Activities
Porterville truly offers something for everyone.
For foodies there are a myriad of coffee shops, restaurants, and eateries – as well as a popular weekly Farmers Market that draws visitors in their droves. Gin enthusiasts can enjoy a gin-tasting and tapas experience at the boutique distillery in the mountains above Porterville. Art lovers are spoilt for choice with a multitude of artists having made the town their home, and which not only exhibit and sell their art, but also offer workshops and classes.
Outdoor enthusiasts are also in for a treat with a visit to Porterville, which offers a variety of hiking trails to fascinating destinations like De Hel (the hell) and De Tronk (the jail) where impressive rock formations can be found. There is also an uphill waterfall trail dotted with 24 waterfalls snaking their way down the mountainside, interspersed with crystal clear pools for a cooling dip.
The town boasts its own pristine 9-hole golf course with a dramatic mountain backdrop as well as a licensed club house. Mountain-bikers will love the many trails that wind their way through the surrounding countryside. For those keen to truly test their adrenalin levels, there are companies which offer tandem-paragliding experiences off the Dasklip Pass. Botanists can view tracts of the rare Disa Uniflora during its flowering season.
For those looking for something a bit more mellow and wanting to relax and unwind, Porterville has a variety of hair and beauty salons as well as spa facilities available.
Berghoff
29.8km from town, winding Dasklip Pass leads the way to Porterville-on-the-Mountain. This route offers a spectacular panorama of the area and as one steadily climbs higher “ fynbos “ fragrances fill the air. On reaching the summit a gravel road takes one to Berghoff, an export, cut flower farm and home to the endemic Proteamagnifica. Owners Margot and Marius Huysamer have been farming with cut flowers since 2009. Join Margot for a drive through the fields of Barbis, Ice Queens and Snow Princesses. The packing shed will enchant all flower lovers. Here deft hands clean the proteas of excess leaves and the perfect flower heads are carefully placed in tissue clad boxes for their overseas journey. Visitors are welcome to arrange a short tour for he farm and packing sheds. Flower season is June to December. Visits by appointment only. No cost. Monday – Thursday: 09H00 – 17H00
Berghoff, Porterville, 6810
Tel: +27 83 954 52 76
Email: margot@berghoff-fynbos.co.za/ website: www.berghoff-fynbos.co.za
GINSMITH
Tygerkloof Distillery, the home of GINSMITH GINS is just over 2 hours from Cape Town.
Gin Tastings and Tapas are an easy to reach destination and can form part of an interesting and adventurous day out.
Our beautiful fynbos farm, which is home to the Tygerkloof Distillery, is high in the mountains bordering on the Grootwinterhoek Wilderness Area. This area is accessed just north of Porterville via the Dasklip Pass (famous for paragliding), with breath taking views extending from Table Mountain to the West Coast village of St Helena Bay.
The last kilometre of road up to the distillery is a track which can be driven with an ordinary sedan, slowly and carefully. A SUV or equivalent is recommended.
Tygerkloof Distillery, Groot Winterhoek Conservacy, Porterville, 6810
Tel: +27 83 9466 050 / +27 73 233 7083
Email: colleen@ginsmith.co.za / Web: www.ginsmith.co.za
Groot Winterhoek
The Groot Winterhoek Wilderness is known for its rugged, wild landscape, with exceptional rock formations carved by the elements. This mountainous area lies about 120km north of Cape Town, near Porterville.
The greater Groot Winterhoek conservation area is particularly important for protecting mountain fynbos and wildlife. It is also one of Cape Town’s sources of fresh, clean water, and is a World Heritage Site.
This area is rich in history, with ancient rock paintings by the San and Khoi people, and the oldest farm established in 1875. Early settlers in the area used animals to transport produce and supplies between Porterville and Saron. Their tracks are still visible above Driebosch and Weltevrede.
There’s plenty to do in Groot Winterhoek, including various day and overnight hikes, crystal-clear mountain pools and mountain biking.
Houdconstant
Houdconstant Farm is home to garagiste Fan Olivier. A wide variety of produce is harvested on the farm including grapes, pomegranates, and citrus ad vegetables. The farm is also a processing plant for the power of fruits, pomegranates, and dragon fruit. The fruit is sourced from the area and the pips and juice exported to the ISA and UK. Fan’s latest addition to his crops is lemongrass- an increasingly popular ingredient of modern dietary preferences. Figs and other seasonal vegetables from the surrounding farms are packaged on the farm. The farm also specializes in producing barrels of fermented wine. During harvesting season (February) visitors can see how barrel-fermented wine is produced according to the old ways with a vintage winepress.
Houdconstant Farm, Porterville, 6810
Tel: +27 22 931 3209
Email: fan@houdconstant.co.za
Jan Danckaert Museum
The Jan Danckaert Society was established in 1973 and the museum in 1979. The museum was named after the leader of the first expedition that traveled through this area in 1660. The building was build in 1879 and was initially used as the court and prison.
Porterville Golf course
Beautiful 9 hole course in Porterville. Very scenic with the mountains as a backdrop. Fully licensed clubhouse with great hospitality. Definitely worth a visit for all golfers and guests.
10 Buitengracht Street, Porterville, 6810
Tel: +27 22 931 2017
Email: portervillegholfklub@cybersmart.co.za
