Events – Weddings
Since the owners held the weddings for two of their children at African Relish, we have hosted numerous others. African Relish is available as a venue and as a full facility for catering up to 100 seated guests. We have a beautiful choice for an outside wedding ceremony in our gardens and courtyard or we can present alternative venues. Our chef and team cater for both informal day or formal evening wedding feasts. Along with décor styling, floral arrangements, bar options we aim to make your wedding and reception wonderful, anxiety free and memorable. Prince Albert has both church and courthouse or the wedding party is able to bring their own minister or officiant. African Relish has its own accommodation and access to top end – mid range accommodation in the town, click here.
Functions and Private Events
On the same basis we cater for a number of corporate events and launches in town and arrange fine picnics in the countryside. We also cater for and hold dinners or lunches at the school for any size personal functions whether it be special birthdays; celebrations or school reunions.
Activities
Prince Albert has become home to many artists and artisans. There are a number of galleries and stores in town where collectors pieces can be found and the character of the Karoo and Prince Albert is captured on canvas or film. Browse through the wares of the local blacksmith; the Mohair shop and Karoo Loom. Visit and taste local produce at the dairy, fig farm, olive producers, or choose fresh fare from the Saturday morning market.
Tours
African Relish Foodie Tour
Join a small group for a friendly and exclusive guided tour of the culinary food producers in the town of Prince Albert. African Relish recreational cooking school sources some of the area’s best local and seasonal produce for our classes and we are happy to introduce you to these producers and creators.
Whether it is tasty artisan breads and pastries, gingerbeer, vetkoek and roosterkoek, pickled olives and oil, figs, cheeses, biltong, wines and witblits, you are in for a charming tour of the towns’ food and culture. Take the option of a stroll along with a drive in the African Relish Tuk Tuk or a leisurely cycle option; we will accompany you on this fun and tasty tour. Produce also on sale at various food suppliers at good prices. Please bring cash along.
Included: transport to and from the food suppliers, light meal, all tastings and food experiences.
What to bring: basket or bag, water bottle, hat, sunscreen, comfortable outdoor clothing and shoes, cash.
Duration: 4 hours
Price on request. Phone the office on 0235411381 or email foodies@africanrelish.com
Tours only available in the morning from 09:00:00 and 13:00. Important to pre-book.
Foraging excursions with African Relish
Learn to forage in the Karoo and cook with wild ingredients.
With the Swartberg Mountains, part of the Cape Fold Mountain series, and the Greater Karoo as a backdrop, we take you to get acquainted with the Karoo veld, its inhabitants, and what it has to offer on this unique outing with plant ecologist and guide, Dr Sue Milton-Dean, and our resident chef..
Our foraging excursion will produce all the seasonal goodies the humble Great Karoo, as its found at the northern foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, has to offer, and we will enjoy a picnic brunch in the veld, whereafter we will return to the African Relish Cooking school where resident chef Camilla will take you under her wing to show you how to use the morning’s treasures in cooking.
Included: foraging, snacks and light lunch, cooking ingredients, class and dinner.
What to bring: hat, sunscreen, comfortable outdoor shoes, warm jacket (Winter), love for nature and willingness to try something new.
Duration: Full day
Cost pp R1775
Min 2, Max 6 persons.
Explore the Museum
The Fransie Pienaar Museum offers fascinating exhibitions on fossils, the building of the Swartberg Pass, Outa Lappies and the forgotten communities off Rooikamp and Nuwerus. They also distill their own Witblits.
Entrance fee of R20. Hours 08:15 to 16:30 week days, Saturdays 09:30 to 12:00. Contact 023 5411172.
Hire a bicycle
Peddle along village streets or out on a gravel road. Bicycles range from mountain bikes, tandem bikes, BMX’s to smart “town” bikes. Hiring times are also tailored to suit your itinerary needs.
Prince Albert Cycles – 083 395 9038.
Gamkaskloof ‘The Hell’ Tour
Highly recommended is the Gamkaskloof ‘Die Hel’ (translated to The Hell) which takes you to visit a lost community and although it is only 50km away, this is a full day tour where you head down the valley from the top of Swartberg Pass in a 4×4 to the valley and enjoy a historical talk on this forgotten area, meet the people and then enjoy a local lunch before heading back in the afternoon. Contact Lindsay 082 456 8848.
Walk Gordon Koppie
Follow the footpath along the ridge behind town. This is an easy walk with spectacular views an is just the thing for early morning or late afternoon exercise. Walk is 3km and takes approximately 1 hour.
Minerals Explained
Visit Lydia Barrella’s fascinating collection of minerals, quartzes, gem stones and related collector pieces. Lydia and her late husband Zigri built this collection of interesting, rare and spectacular minerals over a period of almost four decades. The collection is housed in a large room in a beautiful 1850 homestead. Contact Lydia 023 5411350 or the Museum 023 5411172.
Parkrun is lots of fun
Join us for a free, timed 5km run and be one of more than half a million park runners worldwide. Our route offers great Karoo views. Starts at The Odendaal Sports Ground, Odendaal Street at 7am October to March, 8am April to September.
Contact Zelia at 072 108 1987.
Do the Art Bin route
Prince Albert’s rubbish bins decorated with paintings showing something of the history or current way of life. The free Prince Albert app unlocks the story behind the bins between the dairy and the Swartberg Hotel.
Download free app by searching Prince Albert Great Karoo on you app store.
Olive oil tasting
Visit farms Kredouw, O for Olive and Prince Albert Olives for olive oil tasting and olive preserving. The unique micro climate of the Prince Albert district producing beautiful figs, grapes, pomegranates and citrus –made olive production a natural fit. You would find extra virgin olive oil in blends from a seasonal selection of the Frantoio, Leccino, Coratina, Barnea, Dor Carlo, Koroneiki or Favolosa varieties or unusual single varieties.
Wolwekraal botanical excursion
Dr Sue Milton, a lecturer in conservation ecology, arid zone vegetation dynamics and restoration at the University of Stellenbosch. Sue is the driving force behind RenuKaroo Veld Restoration, an initiative to educate and assist in the rehabilitation of wilderness areas and overgrazed pasture land. Sue guides the 2 hour early morning botanical walks. Contact Sue at 082 770 0206.
Cheese-tasting at Gay’s Guernsey Dairy
One of the best managed and most productive dairy herds in South Africa. Gay’s Dairy has won many major South African and international awards for its high quality cheeses all made from unpasteurized milk and guaranteed free from hormones, antibiotics, colouring and preservatives.
Southern end of Church Street – contact Claudia or Gay at 023 5411 274.
Ghost Walk with the Story Weaver
Join Ailsa Tudhope, our local historian and storyteller, on a 1,5 hour pre-dinner walk around the streets of the village, in the company of the Ghosts of Prince Albert. Set out at dusk and wander through the streets as darkness descends. Tales of characters who have lived in the village over the centuries – and their ghosts who don’t want to leave! Contact Ailsa at 023 5411211 – you must book.