Cherry picking in Ceres a great family activity

It’s become something of a family tradition to venture to Klondyke Cherry Farm in Ceres towards the end of the year for a family day out. We’ve been doing the annual trip for the last five years, mostly because my mother is crazy about cherries. Usually there is a lot of moaning (from a certain brother) because it entails an early morning start, a two-hour plus drive and some prep needed beforehand.

But it is an enjoyable outing with the drive down the N1, through the Huguenot Tunnel and then the most scenic views while you are dwarfed by the majestic mountain ranges.  The road meanders next to the Breede River, which was quite dry this time of year. Because I have a huge family, we met at the Engen One Stop on the N1 so we could drive in convoy to the farm.

Am I in cherry heaven?

The view from the orchard

How much does it cost?

Klondyke offers a R10 discount per person if you arrive before 10am. Thereafter, the entry fee is R30 per person, R15 per child under 10 and kids under 5 are free of charge. You need to pay for your entrance fee in cash but they do accept cards to pay for the cherries.

How does it work?

They provide you with a plastic punnet to fill with your harvest, which is weighed on your way out. It is R60 per kilogram, which is relatively cheaper than you would pay at a retailer. The farm is open from 8:30am to 4:15pm. The cherry picking season opened on 23 November and closes on 31 December but consult their website (www.cherryfarm.co.za) in case that changes. They are closed on Christmas day.

What can you do there?

There are braai spots available (your own wood or charcoal is needed) with some picnic tables and benches to sit at. The area is quite shaded as the giant oak trees create a canopy. It’s a good idea to take some picnic blankets and some camping chairs along.

We usually enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading to the orchards for our morning picking expedition. We went earlier than usual this year (8 December) because there were very few cherries last year, due to the drought, which forced the farm to close their season early. Luckily they were blessed with good rains this season, which meant the trees were still full of cherries.

The breakfast spread...

There are signs that indicate that you can’t eat any cherries while picking but you’ve got to test to make sure you are at a good tree :) This year I was a bit lazy so I didn’t pick much. I ended up buying the “already picked” cherries which are refrigerated at the shop where they weigh your harvest. It cost R220 for a 2kg of extra-large cherries. They also sell a variety of cherry-products like cherry jam and sauce.

Hard at work!

Once we’ve worked off our breakfast, we usually head back to our spot, which we always leave supervised by one or two people, then we braai and relax. After lunch we have another picking session. Depending on the day, we leave in the late afternoon. We were blessed with very cool weather on the day, because the orchard can get quite hot and a little bit unbearable, even in the shade.

The best cherries are usually right at the top

Iman posing with the fruits of her labour

Muzzafar and ouma in the orchard

Look at all those cherries

Some tips to ensure an enjoyable day at Klondyke Cherry Farm

1. Make sure you take along a sun hat and lots of sunblock.
2. Wear closed shoes (preferably takkies) when going to pick the cherries. There are lots of thorns and if you have thin-soled shoes, you can get injured. Take along sandals or flip flops that you can change into.
3. Do not eat too many cherries, they are a quick-working laxative ;)
4. Take lots of water and cold beverages. We take along a kettle for tea and coffee.
5. It is ideal if you pack all your food for breakfast and lunch. There is a shop where you can buy cold drinks or chips but no food. There was an ice-cream van too. 
6. If you don’t want to drive back the same day, you can enquire (ahead of time) about booking a chalet on the farm or you could even pitch a tent.
7. The Ceres zip-lining activity is also close by, which is another fun thing to do.
8. You could also try the steam train ride from the Royal Yacht club in Cape Town to Ceres – this is something I’d love to do.
9. Maybe take a good book or some board games for entertainment.
10. There isn’t great cellular signal so you get a break from your smartphone too. But you can use it to capture some memories.

Have you been to the cherry farm? Drop me a line in the comments and let me know whether you enjoyed it.

Take care,
Imtithaal