With the Witzenberg, Winterhoek and Saronsberg mountains in close proximity, Tulbagh in the Western Cape is an important agricultural area acclaimed for its vineyards and olive groves.

Established in 2010, Raptor Rise is a working farm with guest accommodation that is varied in terms of the price and amenities offered but all of very good quality.

Graded four stars in the self-catering category, the more recently upgraded accommodations such as the Farm House and the Barn, where Farmer’s Weekly stayed, are worthy of five stars-plus in terms of the quality and outstanding attention to detail.

There are many accommodations in Tulbagh itself, some of which are in Church Street, home to 32 historic monuments and considered the largest concentration of monuments in one street anywhere in South Africa.

The benefit of lodging at Raptor Rise, rather than in the town itself, is that it is less than five minutes away by car but a world away as an escape. In this writer’s experience, places that typically exude the bucolic and pastoral are not also places from which you can quickly dash into town to get eggs or the bread you may have forgotten.

Spring lambs

During a spring-day visit, the mountain tops still glistening with recent snow and the nearby canola fields in eye-popping yellow, we witnessed lambs from the 75-strong Dormer flock being born and brought, together with the ewes, into a protected enclosure during nursing. All this activity is very nearby to the main concentration of accommodations.

Since 2020, Jeremy and Robyn Mackintosh have owned Raptor Rise. “The Dormers are bred only once a year and yield a high percentage of twins and occasionally triplets, which we market as grass-fed lamb,” says Jeremy.

“We plan to slowly grow their numbers. We have about 4 000 olive trees that produce about 40t of Mission, Leccino, Coratina and Frantoio [cultivars] in more or less equal quantities.

“We press for oil at Goed in Riebeek-Kasteel and they, in turn, sell to Woolworths and Pick n Pay. We retain some volume that we sell off the farm.”

They recently acquired the adjoining Digger’s Home farm, which at 72ha is larger than Raptor Rise’s 38ha.

“Historically, Digger’s was all about its vines but sadly these were neglected, so we will expand grazing for livestock and investigate more sustainable crops for our area,” he says.

“The Tulbagh Valley is predominantly about the Ps: peaches, pears and Pinotage, but nectarines do well and some speciality cattle studs too.

“Saronsberg, Twee Jongezellen, Rijk’s, Swanepoel and Manleys are some of our great wine producers. The valley is popular for weddings, with neighbouring farms Morgansvlei, Montpellier, Mont Rouge and Saronsberg being very sought after,” Jeremy tells Farmer’s Weekly.

Recent upgrades

Two Raptor Rise properties have recently been upgraded and completed: the Barn, where we stayed, and the Farm House, a significant trot away from the biggest concentration of accommodations.

The Farm House has its own swimming pool and four beautifully appointed en-suite king bedrooms. The Farm House has an electric-powered hot tub, air conditioners in all bedrooms, inside and outside showers and an entertainer’s dream kitchen complete with dishwasher and bean-to-cup coffee machine.

The Barn has retained its original double barn doors and semi-circular windows on either end of the building. Within that space is a very, very large bedroom with an open-plan shower and double-basin vanity. The toilet is adjacent but separate from the bedroom.

Notable is the quality of the millwork throughout, which even seems extravagant for short-term stays. Only three hangers were provided, so bring your own to take full advantage of the wardrobes.

Both sides of the king bed had multiplugs as well as two USB A points. High-speed Wi-Fi is freely available in all the accommodations.

The Barn’s kitchen has top-end appliances, stemware, cutlery and crockery and is a pleasure to cook in. There is a 90cm-wide electric oven and a five-burner gas Smeg range, a microwave, an air fryer as well as, crucially for people who like to entertain, a dishwasher. There’s a large fridge and freezer too with a water-filter jug.

While the Barn can only accommodate one couple to sleep in one bedroom, the entertainment areas inside and out are perfect for larger gatherings. Spaces at Raptor Rise have been designed with such gatherings in mind. It will be well suited for a corporate getaway or farm-style wedding for up to 46 people once Digger’s Home comes on stream.

It’s worth noting that the Montpellier Wine Estate, with its gorgeous vineyard chapel, is a close neighbour to Raptor Rise.

Paddock rooms

The three Paddock rooms are the most affordable, with rates available from around R1 214 for two people per night, while Farriers Corner is a little larger, with the added benefit of a bath tub and shower. The Foundry, also in the same complex of buildings as the above, has two en-suite bedrooms.

Small Weber braais are on all the stoeps and larger stainless-steel fire-pit-type braais are also available. Firewood is freely and generously available. Bring your own fire-starters or purchase them as well as charcoal from the reception. Only charcoal may be used in the Weber.

For an extended family visit, combining the Barn with its wonderful kitchen and entertainment spaces and the Paddock rooms, only 100 or so paces away, would be akin to staying in a large villa together but with added privacy, too.

There is a six-seater blond wood dining table inside the Barn and there are stools to sit on around the very large kitchen island.

In the covered outside area at the back, two iron tables and chairs can seat eight people while rattan lounge furniture and fold-up armchairs are available.

The Mackintosh family home is close to the Barn, which has pretty front and back gardens that are fenced in and gated.

While many of Raptor Rise’s properties, such as the Barn, are pet-friendly by arrangement, note that a medium-sized dog such as the writer’s was able to escape the garden’s confines and unexpectedly enquire at the shared swimming pool for its humans.

The large, wall-mounted smart TV also works as an excellent sound-system via AirPlay and other streaming services.

Although Raptor Rise guests may explore the farm area fully, there are also marked hiking and mountain-biking trails of varying complexity.

Email [email protected], phone 072 555 3782, or visit Raptorrise.co.za.