Elim, Moravian Mission Town, Cape Agulhas Area
Elim is an almost forgotten village that developed around a Moravian Mission in the mid 1800’s. Its sense of separation from the city buzz is a rare find. On entering Elim, the historical charm of the town will be immediately evident with the lime washed cottages, Moravian Church and friendly people to welcome you. Ask around and you are sure to find a guide!
Elim was settled by former farm labourers and freed slaves from the area, who built a church-protected community blessed with the sweet waters of the Nuwejaars River. To this very day, it is one of the few church-run towns in South Africa. It has the only known slavery abolition memorial in South Africa.
The entire village is a national heritage site! The Kerkwerf is the centre of it all and includes the oldest house in the village, the church, the museum, a guest house, a little coffee shop and the original water mill. The residents have begun producing their own brand of stoneground flour at the restored mill and their homemade bread is delicious.
You’ll notice that many of the whitewashed houses, and even the church, are beautifully thatched. In fact, thatching is Elim’s main trade. These master craftsmen travel all over the world, creating beautiful, watertight reed-roofed houses. The tradition started centuries ago, and is still being passed down from father to son.
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Walk or drive in the Geelkop Nature Reserve behind the town, where a mass of yellow Leucadendrons cover the hill in spring and provide for great views. The flowers around the town are best in September, October and November. Ask the locals for directions.
The Elim community welcomes visitors, who can stay in an old restored buiding which is part of the historic church complex.
Elim Guesthouse: Tel: 028 482 1715 or Elim Tourism 028 482 1806. E-mail: eliminfo@ymail.com
The Black Oystercatcher Winery is close to Elim. This winery’s boutique wines offer crisp yet elegant, fruity flavours, formed by the cool coastal winds, the unique Elim soil and the distinctive winemaking philosophy. The wines are top quality of an excellent standard. The Black Oystercatcher Restaurant is on the wine farm and offers a fresh, intimate food experience. If you are interested in a winelands wedding, this could be the place to fulfil your dream.
Elim can be reached, via gravel road from a number of places.
For more information on this area, visit ShowMe Cape Agulhas.
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