Tokara Redux
The cache, a small camo-taped tablet pot, is hidden on the edge of the garden of the delicatessen of this lovely wine and olive farm named after the owner’s two children Thomas and Kara. Tokara is open Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00 Sat/Sun 10.00-15.00 (closed Good Friday & Christmas Day).
Tokara farm is situated at 350-550m asl on the slopes of Simonsberg above the Banghoek valley near the crest of the Helshoogte Pass. In 1994, it was bought for residential purposes by banking boss billionaire Gerrit ('GT') Ferreira.
However, once the wine-making potential of this land was discovered with the combination of suitable terroir and cool air, classic grape varietals were planted along the slopes of the mountain and wine production started. Apart from the Tokara estate-produced wine, three other farms in Stellenbosch, Elgin and Hemel-en-Aarde valley near Hermanus supply the winery.
Tokara deli also has a sculpture garden with pieces reflecting the ‘specific psycho-geography of the Stellenbosch area’.
From the estate, can be seen Idas Valley (4km east), False Bay (25km SW) and the Simonsberg Mountains (immediately to the north). To the south-east are the spectacular Groot-Drakensteinberg mountains with various peaks from 1,200-1,600m high.
Permission to place the cache was kindly granted by Tokara management.
