Words: Kit Heathcock | Images: Wayne Warren
With its tree-lined lanes, swathes of greenbelt and open stretches of common land, the Constantia Valley is full of reminders of its rural farming roots and includes some of the most desirable property in Cape Town. This is an area of large gardens, mature trees, mountain streams and vineyards, with several notable wine estates more than holding their own among the suburban development that has taken over much of the farmland in the last 50 years. The various greenbelts provide a network of trails, perfect for horse riding, mountain biking, running and walking, and you’re never too far from stunning views of the mountains and surrounding greenery.
Property
At the top of the Constantia Valley and closest to town is Bishopscourt, a long-established suburb that’s home to various embassies and celebrities. “I enjoy the peace and tranquillity in Bishopscourt,” says a resident. “The properties are big, so neighbours are at a distance and there are very low traffic levels. It’s sheltered from the worst of the wind and the views are fantastic, looking straight up at the mountain or out over False Bay.” It’s also an easy commute to the CBD, avoiding the slow-moving traffic of Wynberg Hill that adds travel time for Constantia residents.
Constantia Heights, flowing down the slopes below Rhodes Drive, also has large stands with mature gardens and plenty of privacy. Properties range from comfortable family homes to grand villas hidden among the trees, with the greenbelt and common land woven between the residential areas adding more space and connection to nature. More recent developments have filled in the gaps around Constantia Village with secure gated complexes, but there are always plenty of trees softening the edges.
Feeling more like a rural village than part of Cape Town are the handful of properties that make up Hope of Constantia. Sandwiched between the vineyards of Groot and Klein Constantia, and including Little Stream Tea Room and Conference Centre (on land bequeathed to the Cape Town YMCA by philanthropist Muriel Jones in 1974), in the area you feel like you’ve completely escaped the city.
Just on the other side of the M3 from Constantia Village is Cape Town’s second suburb created by the Garden City movement in 1950, Meadowridge, with a 7ha conservation area at its heart. “Meadowridge is very green and quiet with lots of parks and big old trees,” says resident Katie O’Regan. “There are similar plot sizes to Bergvliet and Tokai, but it’s well priced in comparison; people haven’t really discovered it yet.”
Schooling
With the Constantia Valley’s history as a rural retreat, residents traditionally travelled to the established Southern Suburbs schools in Newlands and Rondebosch, but nowadays they have more options. The Constantia Waldorf School was established in 1967, the first Reddam House started here in 2000, there’s Herzlia Constantia Primary in Lower Constantia and Wynberg Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools are also nearby.
Explore
With hikes through the greenbelt up to Cecilia Forest to explore the De Hel Nature Area – which feels like stepping into a lost jungle full of birdlife – horse riding along the Silverhurst trail and mountain biking along any of the many greenbelt trails that link across the valley, it’s easy to enjoy an active lifestyle in Constantia. Heading to the beach is another attraction, either just up and over Constantia Nek to Hout Bay, or down the valley to Muizenberg.
And then there are the gourmet pleasures of the wine estates, with a wide choice of fine dining restaurants and plenty of family-friendly cafes. And you won’t find many Constantia families without membership to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, the first place to head to for picnics, summer concerts, open-air movies in summer as well as strolls and hikes year-round.
“I love being able to walk for miles on the greenbelts and the sense of history in the old wine farms. It’s a beautiful green valley that still feels connected to its agricultural past and is almost like living in the country, with quiet roads that you can safely cycle along.
Laura Jordan, resident
Eat:
- The Greenhouse at The Cellars Hohenort: for fine dining and for more casual celebrations at The Conservatory
- La Colombe: for delicious fine dining
- Chef’s Warehouse at Beau Constantia: for excellent tapas
- Foxcroft: for a vibey offering of small plates and fab desserts
- BCG: for wood-fi red grills, pizza, breakfasts and lunches
- Bistro 1682: for long lunches and evening tapas
- Harbour House Restaurant: for fine dining in a beautiful setting
- La Parada Bar de Tapas: for authentic Spanish-style tapas
Do:
- Visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens for summer concerts, open-air movies, meandering walks, picnics and tadpoles in the mountain streams.
- Enjoy hikes in Cecilia Forest and walk onto the mountain.
- Go mountain biking, horse riding, walking and trail running on the greenbelts.
- Taste wine throughout the Constantia Valley
- Watch a Shakespeare production in summer at Maynardville Open-Air Theatre in nearby Wynberg.
- Take the kids to Acrobranch Constantia for a treetop adventure obstacle course.
- Play a game at the Peter Matkovich-designed Steenberg Golf Course.
Shop:
- Constantia Village Shopping Centre: for everything from antiques and fashion to coffee shops
- Constantia Village Courtyard: for a select collection of small boutiques and the Alphen Farmstall for grocery shopping
- Steenberg Village in Tokai: for accessible everyday shopping
- Park n Shop: for local convenience in Meadowridge
- Cavendish Square in Claremont: for retail therapy and movies
