Things to Do in Somerset West
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Somerset West is a pretty upmarket suburb of Cape Town lying on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain,…
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Wine Estates
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Somerset West Lourensford Estate offers a lot more than just wine – you can embark on a unique sensory and tasting experience. Nibble delicious nougat, chomp truffles and over 40 different types of chocolates or eyeball, sniff and sip at the wine tasting and more. There’s also a world class cheesery, coffee roastery, charming River Garden Deli & Eatery as well as an art gallery. At Lourensford there’s something for every connoisseur.
Nature Reserves
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Somerset West Initially a wild flower garden, the 407-hectare Helderberg Nature Reserve was proclaimed a reserve in 1960 to preserve an important enclave of Mesic Mountain Fynbos.Along with the incredible plant diversity, the reserve has a rich fauna. Visitors can experience bontebok grazing at any time of the day and some 169 species of birds have been recorded. Look out for three types of tortoise – the mountain tortoise, the angulate tortoise and the padloper.There are several lovely walking trails, of which only the Brown Route is non-circular. Facilities in the reserve include an information centre, plant herbarium, gift shop, indigenous nursery, resource centre, walking paths and benches, Oak Café restaurant, picnic area, facilities for the disabled and ablutions.
Golf Courses
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Somerset West The De Zalze Golf Course situated within the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate was designed by Peter Matkovich (course architect for Leopard Rock, Arabella & Pinnacle Point amongst others) who made the most of the stunning setting and created a course that places a premium on accuracy.
The course has an excellent mix of parkland holes with its main challenges presented in the form of the water features on several holes, as well as the Oak tree lined Blaauwklippen River which winds its way through the Golf Estate and comes into play at various intervals
Wine Estates
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Somerset West Morgenster Estate is a thriving olive and wine farm, producing Bordeaux-style wines and award-winning extra virgin olive oil and olive products. The vineyard specialises in four red wine cultivars and our forte is blending. More recently, this winery has also planted small quantities of Italian varieties Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. Morgenster has a host of olive products from the olives themselves to extra virgin olive oil and olive pastes for sale. The olive farm was named "Mill of the Year 2007" – the highest credential for olive producers.
Hiking Trail
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Somerset West Go on guided walks and wine tastings on the Schapenberg Hills in the Somerset West, Sir Lowry's Pass vicinity.
Admire beautiful scenery and views across False bay and the Helderberg Basin. The area is rich in fynbos, which your guide will tell you about.
Enjoy a picnic and wine tasting at one of the participating farms.
The guided walks costs about R150 per person. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Wine Estates
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Somerset West Officially part of the Helderberg Wine Route, Vergelegen is undeniably the best reason to visit the town of Somerset West. Not only are the Cape Dutch buildings national treasures, but the estate produces a range of South Africa's best wines.A notorious history precedes the grandiose estate, primarily built by Dutch East India Company slaves brought by the governor Simon van der Stel. Today the farm is owned by a subsidiary of the large mining company Anglo American, who restored the farmhouse to its original magnificence.Stroll through the massive grounds planted with chestnut and camphor trees. Beautiful ponds and streams make this one of the most tranquil places to picnic or chill out in. The interpretative centre provides an interesting overview of the history and environment of Vergelegen.Open daily 9:30am – 4pmLady Phillips Restaurant: 021 847 1346.
Galleries and Museums
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Helderberg Estate Ogle hundreds of sensual stone effigies made by Zimbabwe’s talented Shona artists.
Art Creations Africa is one of southern Africa’s largest exhibitors and exporters of the famous “Hard Rock" stone sculptures from Zimbabwe. Regular exhibitions are held at top hotels, art galleries, wine estates and botanical gardens around the world.
See the Art Creations Africa collection at their gallery in 43 Almond Drive, Helderberg Estate, Somerset West. Open Monday to Friday 08:30 – 16:30 and weekends by appointment only.
+ 27 (0) 21 855 0131
www.artcreationsafrica.com
Golf Courses
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Somerset West New championship layout with abundant water hazards and bunkers. Many of the holes on the back 9 play in semi-links style. Near the famed Strand Beach and Stellenbosch wine estates.
Popular Attractions
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Somerset West Based in Somerset West, X Paintball is ready to take on large groups for an adrenalin-pumping paintball session.
All sessions are scenario based, making it an interactive, strategic and realistic paintball experience. There are three fields available, comprising bush, urban and tire environments, but can be combined together to create one large play area. Facilities include a braai area with tables and chairs, tuck shop and toilets.
Bookings are encouraged if you desire a private group session, or you may engage in social open sessions every first Sunday of the month. Rentals and markers are available.
Shopping Malls
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Somerset West The Somerset Mall is a large shopping venue in the Helderberg area offering numerous shops ranging from boutique clothing stores to anchor shops like Pick 'n Pay, Woolworths and Dion Wired.
All major banks are represented in this Mall and it also houses a variety of coffee shops, fast food outlets and restaurants. Ster Kinekor movies and ten pin bowling is also contained in this Mall.
Golf Courses
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Somerset West Host of the World Cup 1996 and South African Airways Open 2003 and 2004, Erinvale is considered one of the best residential golf courses in South Africa. Designed by legendary course designer and golfer Gary Player, the course features many of his distinctive immaculate challenges.Stunning views, well established shade trees and the substantial attention to maintenance of the fairways elevate this course to world-class standards.The first nine holes are on the low lying part of the estate and the second nine are on higher, rolling ground. The standard of the gorgeous shaped greens and beautifully consistent putting surfaces remains throughout.All in all Erinvale promises a superb experience when you play a round of 18 on this outstanding layout in the Winelands.
Village Marketplaces
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Somerset West The Southey's Vines Country Craft Market has been around for years. Open only during the summer months, your shopping experience will be enjoyable with the family in tow.
You'll find crafters at every turn, selling everything from jewellery, clothing, trinkets, to home decorations.
Hours are 08:00 to 13:00, and entry is free with plenty of free parking as well. The market begins on the 29th of September, and will be open on October 13th and 27th, November the 3rd, 10th and 24th, December 1st, 8th, 15th, and lastly the 22th.
Sports Stadiums Clubs
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Somerset West An exciting and thrilling water activity awaits you at Blue Rock Lake. For a wild cable ski adventure, you won't have to travel far if you're in Cape Town.
Blue Rock uses an overhead cable system with an electric motor which pulls users around the lake. This system is completely user friendly and safe, as the water skiing is in a controlled area in addition to buoys and floating walkways which also separate activities. Skilled water ski instructors are always in attendance.
The resort also offers diving facilities, volley ball, swimming, rock jumping and a kids playground.
Galleries and Museums
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Somerset West Walk through an original historic migrant labour hostel. The only preserved hostel in the Wesrtern Cape, Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum is a memorial to the system of migrant labour, single sex hostels and the control of black workers through the identity document which controlled the lives of black South Africans under apartheid - the infamous pass book.The museum reminds residents and visitors of the horrific living conditions that the migrant labour system imposed. Lwandle was established in 1958 with hostel type accommodation for workers in the nearby fruit and canning industry. These hostels were only intended for single men. Hostels provided very basic accommodation with four to six men occupying a small confined space, with an entire block sharing rudimentary ablution facilities. In the 1980s, as the control of the flow of people from rural areas was eased, these hostels became even more overcrowded. Facilities were not provided to sustain the increased population.With the onset of democracy in South Africa, the ANC led government turned the hostels of Lwandle into family type accommodation. Residents of the area felt that at least one hostel should be preserved to sustain a memory of how the system of apartheid had operated and decided to establish a museum. On Workers Day (1 May) 2000 the museum was officially opened by the poet and ex-Lwandle resident, Sandile Dikeni. The museum's exhibits commemorate the trials, tribulations and triumphs of migrant workers and hostel life in Southern Africa. Here you can learn more about the migrant labour system, walk through an original historic hostel, meet members of the community and view the whole township on a guided walk.
Fun Parks
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Somerset West For a fun family experience or an adventurous day outdoors, go to Helderberg Farm. On offer are a 4x4 Route, Off-road Go Karts, paintball combat games and strawberries picking. Grab a bite to eat afterwards in the beautiful tea garden.