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Somerset Wes/t
is exactly written with a "/" before the "t" on many traffic signs.
That is no personal spleen; it is based on the 2 different official
languages
in South Africa. In this way one can avoid writing both names (English: Somerset West; Afrikaans: Somerset Wes).
Somerset West has been named 1819 after Lord Charles Somerset.
(LORD CHARLES
is now the name of a famous 5-star hotel. This hotel is situated at the
outside
part of the real nice residence area of Heldervue where I have my house). The city has thrived and is
now the commercial and residential capital of the Helderberg basin
whilst still maintaining its village atmosphere. Ideal situated the
town is regarded as the gateway to the wine lands and an ideal starting
point for many activities.
- Sports
- Sightseeing
- Game and nature reserves
The climate is moderate with a mean annual rainfall of 634 mm, mainly
between April and September. The mean annual temperature is a mild
64°F. Somerset West is protected from the coastal winds by the
majestic Hottentot
Mountains.
Sports:
- 3 golf courses in Somerset West; many more in the
surrounding area
- swimming,
- sailing,
- surfing,
- biking,
- racing,
- hiking,
- mountain tours,
- motor- and glider planes,
- hot air ballooning,
- hang gliding:
the Table Mountain and the Lion's Head are always surrounded by hang
gliders
- canoeing
- etc....
The capetonians are crazy for sports |
Sightseeing:
- Garden Route,
- Boland (famous wine
region) with the small towns of Stellenbosch and Paarl,
- the famous
wineries,
- Grabow,
- Cape Town,
- Table
Mountain,
- Robben Island,
- Victoria&Alfred
Waterfront
- Two Oceans Aquarium,
- The Castle
of Good Hope,
- a lot of museums,
- Ratanga
Junction,
- Nature Reserve of
the Cape peninsula,
- Simons town -
home of the South African Marine Corps,
- Swartland,
- Langebaan
with its lagoon - known for its bird population
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Game and Nature Reserves: the Helderberg Nature Reserve -just in the
neighbourhood
of the Heldervue area- with many pretty orchids, which will be in
blossom
from December to February. Here live Duiker, Springbok, Bontebok and
Grysbok
and numerous kinds of birds; big parts of the Hottentot Mountains are
nature
reserves, too. Excellent hiking routes lead through these reserves
(from
few hours up to 5 days). Game Reserves are a day trip away. Whale
watching
from the shore at the whole bay is almost possible throughout the whole
year.
The best months to watch are April to November.
Distances:
- some 30 minutes drive away from Cape Town centre and the Table
Mountain
- 15-20 minutes to the international
Airport Cape Town
- 2 golf areas and a big shopping mall a small 5 minutes
drive away (in Cape Town and surrounding areas are more than 20 golf
courses)
- to the beach (False Bay) with the town named Strand only 10
minutes
- Somerset/West centre 10 minutes away
- the nearest wine cellar (begin of the famous wine route
Somerset/Stellenbosch/Paarl) is only a 5 minutes drive away; bottle
prices start from $3 for excellent qualities
- 2 yacht harbours in Gordon's Bay round about a 20 minutes
drive away
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How to get there?
