Green Mountain

Wildekrans Country House is a historic 1811 homestead with a rambling country garden. Home to a private collection of South African contemporary art and antique furniture, the atmosphere is relaxed, quirky and ancient, all rolled into one.

In the words of artist Caryn McArthy, visitors can expect to ‘step through the gates of this historical 1811 property , and into the magic of an enchanted garden. This diverse and informal garden nestled at the foot of the Houw Hoek mountain range offers snippets of storyboards, streams and water ponds, old heirloom roses heady in scent, shaded lawns to stretch out on under old majestic trees, olive groves, fruit trees, indigenous beds, abundant birdlife and in between all of nature’s beauty – contemporary sculptures quietly take residence here.’

Artworks by celebrated South African artists Bruce Arnott, Deborah Bell, Wilma Cruise, William Kentridge and George Phemba are carefully placed inside the Homestead and around the gardens. A diptych by the late Robert Hodgins and a collection of Nguni ceramic heads by the late Nikki Swanepoel form part of this collection. A self guided garden sculpture route takes the visitor to around fifteen places of contemplation at the current placing of the sculpture side of the collection. The artworks are moved around playfully and to suit the growth spurts of the garden and time of year.

The Elgin Valley is home to Wildekrans Country House, Cape Canopy Tours, Elgin Railway Market, Houw Hoek Farmstall, Peregrine Farmstall and Liberty Books.