Farms in the late 19th century relied heavily on animals. They not only transported people and goods, ploughed, pulled and herded, but their milk, meat, eggs, feathers and hides provided sustenance and comfort. The bond between the people and animals of Soetmelksvlei is a joy to behold. Not only do the animals add beauty and authenticity to the farmyard, but they also facilitate a joyous and interactive learning experience for guests.
Pint-sized provocateurs
"They’re our colleagues," says Medwin Dombas, assistant activity manager at Soetmelksvlei. "Just like every person here has a job, they too must work."
The only animals who are not yet pulling their weight are the two miniature donkeys, Faf and Tjokkie. "The plan is to build a small cart for them to pull around the farmyard and collect the recycling bins," he adds. Sorry, guys, being super cute is not a job.
Gentle giants
Marius West and Donovan Pieterse are dwarfed by the size of the Chianina oxen, Astro and Ilios. Once fully grown, they will stand between 1.7 and 1.9 m tall but can already rest their nose rings on their caregivers’ shoulders. Currently weighing in at 800–900 kg, they’re still growing and are set to reach about 1400 kg each. Chianina is the biggest cattle breed on earth. Fortunately, they are also extremely mild-tempered, making them ideal for guest interactions, like the ox cart ride around the farmyard.
On the topic of exceptionally large, pale animals, our Percherons, Simson and Delilah, are cared for by Advano Abelse. “Their wow factor is undeniably their size. Yet they are super docile,” says Advano. He recalls Simson’s intuitive reaction with a guest who was vocally impaired. “I get goosebumps thinking about it. It was as if he could sense the person couldn’t speak and was so gentle with him.”
Keeping Simson clean is a different story. He likes to roll around in the dirt and while other farm animals enjoy a weekly bath, Monsieur (of royal French descent) is a daily customer. Being the colour of fresh milk has its drawbacks on a farm.
Soul food providers
Soetmelksvlei has two Ayrshire cows, Blommetjie and Bella, who are milked twice daily. Marius and Donovan do such a good job of it, that Blommetjie and Bella are no longer keen on guests trying their hand at milking. Some things are better left to the experts. Guests can observe milking in the kraal twice a day, and their milk is used for cream separation demos at the Farmhouse.
Pecking order
Jamy Sampson takes care of our feathered friends. “We have nine Naked Neck hens and a rooster, two geese, one turkey, and a Boschvelder hen who lays eggs in the spring. Our Naked Neck hens are good layers throughout the year,” says Jamy. She uses an antique corn stripper to pop dried corn kernels from the cob, which the hens love.
Join Jamy and friends for egg hauls and chicken chats in the Fowl House.
Baa baa black (head) sheep
Spring 2024 welcomed the joy of newborns. According to Cheslin Kana, our six Blackhead Persian lambs have been extremely popular with young guests, who are encouraged to pet them.
Dog's life and cat's cradle
Our two rough collies are the darlings of the farm. Frequently found lazing in the shade of a tree or reclining in a shaft of sunlight in the restaurant, they have the people of Soetmelksvlei wrapped around their silky paws.
The animated ginger cat who welcomes visitors in our orientation film comes to life in little Gemmer. When Gemmer is not abseiling off the antique quilts in the Farmhouse, he’s chasing butterflies in the vegetable garden. Rooikappie is the newest cat at Soetmelksvlei, and Gemmer's play mate. Here at Soetmelksvlei, the dogs are friends with the cats, who in turn hang out with the chickens and ducks.
Harmony. It’s the Soetmelksvlei way.
Soetmelksvlei is an experience by Babylonstoren. Booking is essential.
Good news stories abound in the South African Winelands. The #wineforgood campaign, launched by wine.co.za in June 2016, is all about sharing these uplifting stories. We dedicate the month of April to our #wineforgood campaign each year, sharing a good news story every day. Join us in spreading the good news about South African wine. If you'd like to submit a story, please email editor@wine.co.za.