I’m going to share a little secret with you: Seven Fountains Farm is a gem tucked away in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, and I had the pleasure of staying there, nestled in the quiet beauty of Grahamstown’s outskirts, these days known as “Makhanda”, in memory of the Xhosa warrior and prophet Makhanda ka Nxele.

Setting foot on this historic farm, I was immediately struck by its rustic charm and the tranquility that permeated the air.

You’re going to find out why this accommodation at Grahamstown became one of those places where we wished to have stayed longer, and it’s not solely because of its picturesque views.

Our choice to stay there for a few days was influenced by the fact that we didn’t want to drive too far this time on our South African tour, coming from Port St Johns, yet still be within a stone’s throw of historical sites and the vibrant culture of the region.

Also, after this, we had plans to visit Addo Elephant Park, which isn’t too far to drive to either.

But first: Seven Fountains Farm’s Location and a map of the area of Grahamstown in South Africa!

I’m here to help you get a feel for where Seven Fountains Farm actually sits on the map. Nestled in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, you would need to drive about an hour and a half from Port Elizabeth to the farm in Grahamstown, which is a very refreshingly scenic route.

On Google Maps, you will still find Grahamstown, instead of the current name Makhanda, although when looking for this latter name, Google will still lead you the way. (click on the map below to take you there).

Grahamstown in South Africa is a historical beacon, lying about 25 minutes away from the Seven Mountains Farm, and keeps promising a trove of tales with every visit.

So this farm can indeed serve as a lovely stopover, strategically placing you at a comfortable driving distance from both beachside escapes (Port Elisabeth) and bushveld explorations, making it a versatile pick for any itinerary.

As for the nearby attractions, game reserves teem around the area.

Addo Elephant National Park, auctioning off unparalleled wildlife encounters, is an hour’s drive away, and from the farm, we also visited Sibuya private game reserve, which we enjoyed immensely and is only about a 45-minute drive.

For those of us who enjoy South Africa’s wilderness, Seven Fountains Farm offers a practical and pleasant base camp, with things to visit in all directions.

And most of all, the roads in the Eastern Cape are way better to drive on than the region we just came from: Kwazulu Natal, that was kind of a relief haha!

Things To Do In and Around Grahamstown: From Huge Pineapples to Peculiar Pubs, a beautiful cathedral, and more.

So on our first day after arriving at Seven Fountains farm, we decided to take it easy and just sniff the area and hit the road to Grahamstown, known for its vibrant arts scene and historic ambiance.

The town, steeped in tales and beautiful architecture, held a certain allure that you might find irresistible if you’re a history buff or cultural enthusiast. Maybe a little bit worn out and old, but this town still seems to whisper tales of the past.

Many of the buildings are colonial-style structures, with elegant facades and timeless charm. (which looks and feels very different from the other African countries I have been to and kind of reminded me of Apartheid, sadly).

Grahamstown is today still a university town and used to be the second town to grow immensely after Cape Town.

In the video below, you can see what I filmed, don’t mind the grumpy old man in front of the camera, as he was complaining that I filmed too much hahaha!

Visiting the cathedral in Grahamstown.

If you look closer in the video above, you can see the large church, and of course, we had to visit it and luckily, it was open and we were welcomed with open arms by an older lady who took us on a tour.

The “church’ in Grahamstown, is actually a cathedral, and it is called the Cathedral of St Michael and St George.

If you are lucky to meet the same old lady who gave us a tour, you can visit each corner of the cathedral, as she even took us behind the scenes! The pastor’s office, the sacristy, and even the toilets!

Remember, when getting a special tour like that, make sure to tip the guide a nice sum of South African Rand!

Take a look at the Settler’s monument.

Now, this felt a bit peculiar for us as tourists, to see that a symbol of colonization and apartheid, the Settler’s National Monument, was actually still standing and hadn’t been destroyed by the black people.

We were told afterward, that it was actually Nelson Mandela who decided to have it rebuilt, to not forget the past, but to show that everyone is equal and strong enough to conquer everything. A wise man he was!

Behind the monument, we actually thought there was a museum, but it turned out that it is a building where everyone can come together for art and music, and apparently, we came in the middle of rehearsals for a musical haha!

So it actually a sort of cultural center, which includes a theatre and a conference center.

(nevermind the crappy video lol)

We visited the pineapple farm and took a look at the giant pineapple

On the same day, we decided to drive around some more, so we had a busy day. In a brochure, we noticed this giant pineapple standing on a tatatataa: pineapple farm!

Imagine driving up to a store with a gigantic pineapple structure welcoming you – pretty wild, right? It’s not just a charming photo op; the place is a tribute to the area’s agricultural roots, and the sweet, tangy flavor of their freshly grown pineapples isn’t easily forgotten.

Although that was another half our drive from Grahamstown, it was quite funny to see all the people posing and dancing at the giant pineapple 🙂

Inside the pineapple is a little shop, where you can buy pineapple candy, pineapple jam, and more..

Visit the Ploughman Museum and unique little pub.

Also on the itinerary was Bathurst itself, home to a small but mighty interesting Ploughman Museum, if you are interested in the history of farming.

We found the Ploughman Museum by coincidence, as we were looking for something to eat and saw the sign, so this is not exactly available on Google or so, it only has one review haha.

But right beside the museum is an intriguing pub with the same name (Ploughman pub), decorated full of funny quotes and decorations.

The conversation we had with the lady at the bar, however, is not something that I would like to repeat on my site for political reasons lol!

But let’s move on to the actual review of the accommodation where we stayed at Grahamstown!

Accommodation at Grahamstown: Seven Fountains farm review.

We arrived later on the day at Seven Fountains farm, somewhere in October, and were welcomed to a guesthouse farmhouse with ancient walls (completely restored by the charming Dutch host) by a wonderful house manager and staff.

Check out this accommodation on Booking .

Or check out this accommodation on Tripadvisor.

Now the house manager was also the cook and wow, could she cook! It was like we were eating at a 5-star restaurant! Turned out that she was an actual chef, no surprise haha! I would recommend a three-course dinner, put your feet under the table, and enjoy the ride!

Also, if you just like a braai around the campfire at night, while sometimes you can hear the lions roar in the distance, you can also choose to do this, it is totally up to you!

The rooms are nice and clean with a large shower and comfortable beds.

And most of all, the surroundings are wonderful ==>

Grahamstown Weather

Summers in Grahamstown are warm and vibrant, with daytime temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F), occasionally punctuated by refreshing thunderstorms.

Autumn brings a gentle transition, with pleasant days hovering around 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F) and cooler nights.

Winters are characterized by crisp air and chilly temperatures, averaging between 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F) during the day and occasionally graced by frosty mornings.

Spring heralds renewal, with temperatures climbing back to 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F), accompanied by blooming flowers and increasing rainfall.

My Final Conclusion.

I hope that you found my review on Seven Fountains Farm and Grahamstown interesting, and if you have any more questions about this, please feel free to leave them down below in the comment section or join me on my social media channels for more stories, pictures and videos of my travels to Africa!

I wish you happy travels!

Kind regards,

Lizzy

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