Brackenfell, Cape Town North

Lying in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, behind what is locally known as the ‘boerewors curtain’ (a homegrown term for an invisible curtain that ostensibly divides English and Afrikaans speaking people in Cape Town) lies the suburb of Brackenfell, a little north east of Bellville. The area around Brackenfell used to be a major road crossing in the old days, whilst today it is essentially a residential suburb set within view of the beckoning mountain scenery of Oostenberg, at the start of the winelands of the Cape.

The major advantage to staying in Brackenfell is the ease with which one can choose to escape in to the winelands or explore Cape Town. Lying within 45 minutes of the city has its advantages, particularly if wine is high on your agenda. Brackenfell lies just on the outskirts of the city, and the start of the rural winelands. From here Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek and Pneil are all within easy reach. This part of Cape Town is for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. With the constant lure of the mountains in the background, and lush vineyards as early as Durbanville, using Brackenfell as a home base makes more than a little sense.

The beautiful Durbanville wine route has no fewer than nine estates lying within a stone’s throw of Brackenfell, set in the gorgeous Tygerberg hills, and producing a surprising array of wines, just 20 kilometres outside of the city bowl. Head a little further out to Stellenbosch, and you will find a wine making tradition that spans years, and the oldest wine route in the country represents over 300 wineries. The wine routes of Paarl and the Helderberg are also within easy reach.