History of Tokai
Originally Tokai was a farm graced with a superb Cape-Dutch farmhouse. The land has since been sub-divided and developed for residential housing. The homestead remains, however, complete with tale of haunting by the ghosts of a horse and rider. The son of a former owner is said to have ridden his horse up the steep steps into the manor and around the guests seated at dinner, for a wager. On the way down the horse stumbled and the youth was killed. His ghost is said to ride again on certain nights.
The name of the estate originated from the Tokai hills of Hungary. The Tokai Forest, which extends up the slopes of the Constantiaberg range, was established in 1883 as the pioneer re-forestation plantation in South Africa.
A large experimental nursery was set up. During the winter rainy season, permits may be obtained from Forestry Department to visit the area.
In the cliffs of Constantiaberg, overlooking the forest, the entrance to a cave known as Elephant's Eye can be seen. (You can see this in the mountains in the picture above of the Manor House) Legend claims it to have been the retreat of a Hottentots princess, and its former name was Prinseskasteel ('castle of the princess').
