Western Cape DestinationsConstantia, Constantia Valley
Dominated by farmland and vineyards until fairly recently, Constantia lies in one of the greenest, leafiest parts of Cape Town, where ‘old money’ and style are the operative description for stately homesteads, long driveways and oak-lined streets.
In Constantia you still find a smattering of country lanes and horses and a number of green belts for walking the dog or stretching your legs - this is a suburb fiercely protected by its residents who have a very active ratepayers association.
Many parts of Constantia lie bordering or close to the original vineyards that make up one of the Cape’s oldest wine routes. It includes the cellars of Groot Constantia, Simon van der Stell’s original farm, which offers up its gardens for picnics - a popular weekend outing for locals and visitors; Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting, Uitsig and Steenberg.
You’re only 20 minutes from the centre of Cape Town here and yet there is little reason to leave Constantia.
There are numerous walks and hikes that include the popular Alphen trail near the Alphen Hotel and the Sillery walk along the Spaanschemacht River. The Tokai forest is also popular with mountain bikers and the arboretum is a lovely spot for tea.
The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are close by; the beaches of False Bay are only a short drive away, and numerous shopping centres more than meet the needs of local residents, although getting in to Cape Town is only a quick trip along the M3.
