Somerset West

South_Africa

Hottentots Holland mountains with winter snow Somerset West is a city in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. It is a suburb of the metropole of greater Cape Town, and is administrated by the City Council of Cape Town. Somerset West is mostly a relatively up-market residential district, but the commercial and industrial ereas of the city and surrounds have grown in proportion to the number of inhabitants. An economically significant number of the home-owners of Somerset West are the so-called "swallows", commonly citizens of a European country who keep a second (or third) home in South Africa and migrate with the seasons. As a result, a number of businesses cater for the shopping requirements of these occasional inhabitants, and house prices in some areas are relatively high.

  • Helderberg Nature Reserve, +27 21 851-4060. Daily: Nov to Apr 7:30AM to 7PM; May to Oct 7:30AM to 5:30PM.
  • Monkeytown Primate Sanctuary, Mondeor Rd, +27 21 858-1060. More than 230 primates have found a home here

Helderberg Nature Reserve, +27 21 851-4060. Daily: Nov to Apr 7:30AM to 7PM; May to Oct 7:30AM to 5:30PM.

Monkeytown Primate Sanctuary, Mondeor Rd, +27 21 858-1060. More than 230 primates have found a home here

  • Erinvale Golf Club, +27 21 847-1144.
  • Somerset West Golf Club, +27 21 852-2925.

Erinvale Golf Club, +27 21 847-1144.

Somerset West Golf Club, +27 21 852-2925.

There are a lot of dive sites within day-tripping distance on the Cape Peninsula and False Bay coasts. Dive shops and charter boat operators in the Strand and Gordon's Bay on the east side of False Bay are the nearest, and operate mostly from Gordon's Bay to Rooi-els.

The Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West.

Lourensford, Lourensford Rd, +27 21 847-2200.

Vergelegen Wine Estate, Lourensford Rd, +27 21 847-1334.

Morgenster Estate, Vergelegen Ave, +27 21 852-1738.

Somerset Mall is the biggest shopping area of the district. Most classes of consumer goods are available within easy walking distance of the large parking area, at the cost of probably higher prices than in the older commercial area of Somerset West, where parking is more of a problem. It is a large covered mall with restaurants, supermarkets and the full catastrophe of boutiques for fashionware, sports equipment, computer and communications hardware, etc.

In the central commercial part of Somerset west there are also an adequate range of similar outlets, but spread over a larger area.

One of the more convenient, with its own parking area and a small cluster of shops, is Lion's Square. The anchor tenant is the Lion's Square Spar supermarket, which is a relatively small, but upmarket supermarket with in-house bakery, delicatessen and coffee shop. The same building houses a restaurant, IT shop, laundry, pharmacy, and a few clothing boutiques.

Craig's Casual Eatery, 171 Main Rd, +27 21 851-3443.

96 Winery Road, 96 Winery Rd, +27 21 842-2020.

Blue Waters Seafood & Sushi, 5 Lourensford Rd, +27 21 852-8012.

Cattle Baron Steak Ranch, 9 Huising St, +27 21 852-9992.

The urban areas of Somerset West and Strand are contiguous, and there is often confusion as to where the boundary lies. For most practical purposes this is only important when using the telephone directory, as some subscribers are listed in the wrong area. If in doubt, try both.

There is not a great deal for the visitor to do in Somerset West except eat, sleep and generally reside. Social activities tend to centre on a few sports and home-based entertainment. For other activities the inhabitants generally go somewhere else.

  • Cape Town is near enough for a night out. The N2 is congested during rush hour, and should be avoided between about 6AM and 9AM on weekdays westbound, and between 3:30PM and 5:30PM eastbound, but is generally OK at other times and over weekends.
  • There are good beaches at Gordon's Bay and Strand, and good Scuba diving in Gordon's Bay, Rooi-els and the Cape Peninsula
  • Boat rides and boat charters at Gordon's Bay, the Waterfront in Cape Town and Hout Bay
  • Stellenbosch has some cultural attractions, and is about 20 minutes away off peak hours by the R44
  • There is a public swimming pool in Strand