Durbanville Valley, Welgemoed and surrounds

Welcome to Durbanville - valley of wine, art, culture, food - where the morning mist of the cool Atlantic Ocean, nestles in the valley before dawn and mountain bikers enjoy the plethora of beautiful rides on surrounding wine estates.

As residents, we just love our valley, as it has retained its village character, since its early beginnings of 1806, when it was known as Pampoenkraal - a meeting place for local farmers, due to its fresh water springs. In honour of the then Governor of the Cape Colony, the name was later changed to D’Urban, but was changed again to Durbanville, due to confusion with Durban.

Its village feel has been retained, due to historical by-laws, banning all forms of industry in the village. It is not uncommon to bump into your neighbour, in her jodhpurs, in the bank, having a friendly chat to the teller, whom she knows by name.

To the astute property investor, there is more than a quaint village. It is home to an affluent, well informed, vibrant and multi-cultural society ~ with properties, which retained their inherent worth and grown together with the natural flow of the economic tide - away from squatter camps and mass housing ~ with a market capitalisation R20m plus. There is no better place to consider investing than right here - sectional title flats, townhouses, clusters, family homes, security estates, smallholdings or equestrian and wine estates ~ after all, business tycoons from Gauteng, invested in wine farms Meerendal and Bloemendal.

For the young investor, Sonstraal Heights, Goedemoed, The Crest, Uitzicht and Pinehurst are excellent options, offering good value homes and good address, with close proximity to the N1. The village centre is ideal for first time buyers and investors, with its concentration of sectional title units. As a retirement option, Durbanville offers many choices. Medical facilities are varied and plentiful and the local Medi Clinic offers the best in medical services. Older, leafy suburbs with abundant birdlife abound and include Eversdal, Vygeboom, Valmary Park, Kenridge, Durbanville Hills, Wellway Park, Nerina and Proteaville. Should country vistas and equestrian lifestyle be your thing, areas to consider include Aurora, D’Urbanvale, Schoongezicht, Ruitershoogte and Vierlanden.

The Welgemoed, Welgedacht, Kanonberg enclave, as well as the new Clara Anna Fontein with Reddam Private School campus, offer luxury properties on par with the best in the winelands and Atlantic Seaboard. With multiple hiking, cycling and equestrian options and a village abuzz with modern eateries, medical facilities and schools, the options are varied and legion.

Highlights and attractions

All of the above offerings are a mere 30 minute drive from Cape Town, the International Airport, major shopping centres, beaches AND the most beautiful mountain in the world, Table Mountain.

Golf

For the golf enthusiast there are Durbanville and Bellville (Welgemoed) Golf courses. Sports facilities include cricket, tennis, polo, soccer and rugby.

Food and drinks

To tantalize your excellent taste, there are 12 boutique wineries, most also offering child friendly café-style dining, to fine dining, functions and weddings. Fine dining restaurants are plentiful and varied, also from French café-chic, the popular Ocean Basket, Italian trattorias and hearty steak houses.

Schools

Good schools are in abundance, both public and private. Public

primary schools include Durbanville, Kenridge, Eversdal, Gene Louw and

high schools include Durbanville, Fairmont and nearby Stellenberg,

whilst private schools include Curro, Chester House and El Sheddai

Christian School.

With the advent of the new Curro University in Graanendal, as well as the anticipated private Cape Winelands Airport at Fisantekraal, the surrounding areas are becoming extremely popular with expected capital growth.