Tokara’s Rare Plant Fair & Open Garden 2024 

Tokara invites the public to enjoy a day of botanical splendour at the Rare Plant Fair and Open Garden on Saturday, 26 October 2024. This special event usually takes place in autumn but was postponed due to the devastating Cape storms.  This year it will be part of the Stellenbosch Garden Town festival, one of South Africa’s most celebrated garden lifestyle events, which runs from Friday 25 October to Sunday 3 November 2024.  

Experience Tokara in all its blooming glory as this renowned Stellenbosch family wine and olive estate opens its private farm garden to the public. The annual Rare Plant Fair features exhibitors from far and wide, presenting a unique opportunity for gardening enthusiasts to acquire rare and exotic plants. Cultivate your own spring retreat from a diverse selection of indigenous and exotic flora available for purchase on the day. 

Stroll through tranquil garden paths adorned with magnificent sculptures by local artists. Highlights include terraces of the picking garden, serene wetlands, a textural cork oak forest, and a babbling mountain stream flowing into soothing lily ponds.  Discover the dedicated oasis of indigenous flora and the extraordinary Adamastor Moss Garden, a continually evolving masterpiece.  

The past two years have seen the remarkable integration of local sandstone, granite, indigenous mosses, and fynbos in the Moss Garden. This year, the garden’s beauty is further enhanced by hand-chiselled Paarl granite pieces, creating a kaleidoscope of muted hues and textures. The newly completed hewn stone lintels framing the garden invite visitors to experience the tranquil beauty reminiscent of a Japanese-inspired, South African landscape.  Guided tours will be conducted throughout the day by moss garden expert Gert van Tonder and his team. 

Besides delicious nourishments and refreshments in the farmyard, Tokara will be well represented with its elegant wines and award-winning extra virgin olive oils.  This year you can also pre-order a picnic box filled with local delicacies from the Tokara Delicatessen.  The Rare Fare Picnic Box for two is available at R495 for adults and R150 for children and can be ordered via email at projects@tokara.com before 23 October 2024.  Collect your picnic at the Boathouse next to the unique Dionysus sculpture and enjoy a leisurely meal on the rolling lawns below the main house. 

Event Details 

The Tokara Rare Plant Fair and Open Garden 2024 is open from 08h00 to 16h00. Entry is R100 per vehicle, payable at the gate on the day. The Tokara Tasting Lounge, Restaurant, and Delicatessen will be open as usual on Saturday. For more information, visit www.rareplantfair.co.za or email info@rareplantfair.co.za. 

Diary Listing Information: 

• Date: Saturday, 26 October 2024 
• Time: 08h00 – 16h00 
• Tickets: R100 per vehicle, payable on the day at the farm gate. No pre-booked tickets available.  Proceeds will go to the Camphill Farm Community in Hermanus, a dynamic community for adults with intellectual disabilities 
• Food and Other Refreshments: Available at stalls in the Farmyard. 
• Pre-paid Picnics:  Rare Fare Picnic Boxes at R495 for two adults and R150 for children, book via projects@tokara.com before Monday 21 October 2024, collect at the Boathouse and enjoy on the big lawn. 
• Venue: Tokara Wine Estate, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch 
• Contact: info@rareplantfair.co.za, www.rareplantfair.co.za 

Join us at Tokara for an unforgettable celebration of Spring and botanical treasures amidst the captivating landscape of the Simonsberg Mountains.