Southern Suburbs

Beautiful Southern Suburbs in Cape Town.

Constantia and its neighbouring suburb of Bishopscourt are situated about 15 kilometres from central Cape Town and are both easily accessible in about 20-30 minutes drive from the City centre along one of the main freeways that runs south towards the Cape Peninsula through these and other popular “southern suburbs” as they are known. Both are lush and leafy neighbourhoods on the wooded lower slopes of Table Mountain whose properties often have large private gardens, swimming pools and even their own tennis courts.

Constantia is one of the oldest suburbs of Cape Town and is rightly famed above all for its wines, being one of the earliest settled wine regions in what is still known as the “new world” of wine. The estate of Groot Constantia (Great Constantia) was established back in 1684 by the then Dutch Colonial Governor of Cape Town, Simon van der Stel.

These days there are now 8 wine estates operating in the Constantia wine route, all of very high quality, including the oldest estate, Steenberg which was established even earlier in 1682, as well as Buitenverwachting, Klein Constantia and Constantia Uitsig. All of the estates that form the Constantia Wine Route are well worth visiting not only to taste and buy their excellent wines but also to enjoy the fine restaurants that most of them offer in beautiful locations on these historic estates (our favourites being La Colombe restaurant at Constantia Uitsig and Bistro 1682 at Steenberg).

We also recommend a visit to the Iziko Museums and historical buildings at Groot Constantia that tell the story of this historic wine estate and the introduction of wine making into South Africa.

We love our Constantia wines, both whites and reds, but no visit to Constantia would be complete without experiencing (and we suggest buying) the legendary “Vin de Constance” which is a lusciously sweet dessert wine that is produced by Klein Constantia estate in a style that was enjoyed the world over as long ago as the 18th and 19th centuries, by the likes of Napoleon, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.

Smaller and less well known than Constantia, and consisting of no more than a few hundred properties in all, Bishopscourt is often referred to as one of the most exclusive suburbs in South Africa as evidenced by the large number of foreign Embassies and homes of other dignitaries in the area (this was also the home of our former President Nelson Mandela).

The world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are also located in Bishopscourt and are a highlight for any visitor to Cape Town, whether to explore some of the 528 hectares of beautiful gardens or relax with a picnic and enjoy one of the wonderful Sunday evening concerts in the park, with the magical backdrop of Table Mountain behind.

Table Mountain National Park borders the Constantia Valley on one end and is also a wonderful place to visit while you are in the area, with many well maintained hiking trails to enjoy and you also can hike in the nearby Newlands and Tokai forests, where there are also countless excellent trails reserved for mountain bikers.

Both Constantia and Bishopscourt are also great bases to explore the southern peninsula, with the freeway that passes nearby both suburbs then running on down towards Muizenberg and the start of this dramatic stretch of coastline that runs all the way to Cape Point and the southern tip of Africa.

Although Constantia and Bishopscourt are close enough for easy access to all of central Cape Town’s shopping malls and other facilities, there is also an excellent large local shopping centre in the heart of Constantia called the “Constantia Village” with many popular restaurants, quaint coffee shops as well as the big brand store and supermarkets in an attractive and well planned “village” setting.

We have provide Constantia villa rental services to provide that extra bit of luxury for your Cape Town stay.