I’ll admit it: when my husband and I first drove through Darling I wasn’t all that impressed. It took under 10 minutes to drive from one end of town to the other, and as it was a public holiday, there wasn’t much open. We kept driving.
It was only when we drove back towards the R307 that I felt something change. It could have been the music, it could have been my soul being soothed by the spring flowers, or it could have been because my tummy started rumbling and my thoughts turned to food. Whatever the cause, I’m happy to say we decided to investigate the town properly. If you’re in the West Coast area, stop in and visit:
1. Darling Olives at Alexanderfontein Estate
The lush wine and olive estate of Alexandersfontein is well worth popping into –not only to nibble on their delightful produce and learn how to discern subtle flavours from olive oils, but also to pick up some of their incredible scented bath salts, preserves, and do an Ormond wine tasting.
2. Evita Se Perron
The national icon, Evita, is known around the world – and for those wondering, no, she is not the same Evita as the “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” one. South Africa’s Evita Bezuidenhout is a smart, sassy creation of talented drag artist, Pieter Dirk Uys. Evita was outspoken at injustices during Apartheid and became an activist by spreading her message far and wide through humour. Today Tannie Evita performs regularly at her home base, Evita Se Perron, to appreciative locals and tourists. Visit the art gallery, pet the cats, or catch an afternoon show. The kitchen is open for meals from 10h00 – 17h00, Tuesdays to Sundays.
3. Buffelsfontein Game Reserve
Buffelsfontein is set apart from the surrounding fishing towns and farmlands by a beautiful landscape of flora that seemingly goes on forever. Enjoy a brunch at the restaurant, or to organise a 2 – 3 hour game drive and see wildlife such as lions, buffalo, wildebeest, bontebok, and wild cats. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen, insect repellent, and a camera to ensure your memories of the day are good ones.
4. Slow Quarter and Darling Slow Beer
Beer aficionados will be at home sipping on the variety of artisan brews at Slow Quarter, the official Darling Slow Beer tap room. Choose which of their creations you’ll start off with or order one of their beer tasting platters and pair it with a light meal.
5. Darling Wine Shop
The Darling Wine Shop, located near the start of Main Street, stock wines from all of the surrounding wine farms. As they themselves say “it is possible to visit all the wine farms in the area, but it’s not always practical”. So make the practical choice and sniff, swirl, and sip everything that takes your fancy. The best news is the Darling Wine Shop will ship your chosen purchases to anywhere in the world!
6. Marmalade Cat
The Marmalade Cat country store is filled with collectable gifts and quirky consumables. You’ll find everything from aprons and crockery, to farm breads and preserves. Stop in to the café portion for a hearty breakfast, and remember to give the white and ginger Marmalade cat a rub if you come across him napping in a sunlit corner.
7. Darling Morning Market
Held every first Saturday of month, the Darling Morning Market is a draw for everyone in the surrounding area. You can purchase all kinds of nick-knacks, fresh produce, food items, and everything in between.
8. Darling Bird Route
The Darling Bird Route is home to over 240 avian species, with hides and watch points scattered throughout the area. Throughout spring and winter, bird species are abundant and you will likely see plover species, Cape sparrows, blue cranes, larks, weavers, and could even spot a lone jackal buzzard perched in a tree.
9. West Coast Fossil Park
Though looking at animals long dead and buried may not be your cup of tea, a trip to the West Coast Fossil Park is ideal for families. The taxidermy animals can be seen peeking out of potted plants and trestle tables, and information on the area is beautifully spread out over two rooms. The tour takes place outdoors and you will drive to one of the shaded, indoor dig sites.
10. Darling Wildflower Show
One of the annual Darling highlights is the Wildflower Show from 16 – 18 September. It has a festive, family-friendly atmosphere and you can view everything from vintage cars to indigenous flowers as you feast on treats such as homemade ice-creams, lemonade, and boerewors rolls. If you miss out on the flower show, pop into Duckitt Orchid Nursery and enjoy the vivid hues and scents of indigenous flower species.
It is well-worth it to brush aside your misconceptions and spend time learning to dawdle in Darling. You may just calm your frazzled city nerves like I did.
For more nearby activities, check out our Langebaan area guide, and leave a comment detailing what you love to do in Darling!
