Bergvliet, Cape Town

Situated in the Constantia Valley beneath the shadow of the Constantiaberg Mountains, bordered by Tokai, Heathfield, Meadowridge and Retreat, lies the peaceful suburb of Bergvliet, known for its friendly community, affordable, family-sized homes and gracious gardens. The area is surrounded by the lush Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Constantia Wine Route and owing to quick access via the M3 highway, a short drive to Cape Town's CBD and the False Bay beaches. Not far from the Newlands Cricket Grounds and Rhodes Memorial, with its tea garden and magnificent views, the area has no shortage of enjoyable outings and activities with which to fill your time. Largely unaffected by tourism and the bustling hub of city life, Bergvliet is a prime example of the Cape Town suburban lifestyle and it is no surprise as to why residential properties in the area are sought-after by young and growing families.

Brief History of the Area:

The story of Bergvliet begins in 1685 when Governor Simon van der Stel was given a farm on a sizeable estate that he christened (Groot) Constantia; in 1716, a few years after his untimely death in 1712, the executors of the estate subdivided the property up into two separate farmlands - Bergvliet and Constantia. Between 1716 and 1769, the title deed changed hands several times, finally settling in the hands of Petrus Eksteen, who erected the Cape-Dutch homestead, Bergvliet Manor House, on the premises in 1769. In 1865 the estate was purchased by William Hertzog and when he passed away in 1902 it was handed down to his sisters, Mrs A. Jeffcoat and Mrs S. Purcell. The son of Mrs S. Purcell, Dr Purcell, took over the role of managing the estate, on behalf of his aunt and mother in the years between 1902 and 1919, simultaneously beginning to survey the abundant flora of Bergvliet populating the area at the time. After the death of Dr Purcell in 1919, Reverend W. Jeffcoat took over stewardship of the farm on behalf of the family. In 1930 the farm was again divided, the Purcell descendants acquiring the northern portion known as Kreupelbosch and the Bergvliet portion staying with the Jeffcoat descendants, marking the end of the rural history phase of the estate. In 1945, the Division Council of the Cape purchased Bergvliet to repurpose it into a housing estate for ex-servicemen, per Reverend Jeffcoat's wishes. Around this time, many portions of the farm were divided and sold off, this subdivision process has continued since then. In 1989, Bergvliet Manor House was declared to be a National Monument, and then in 2011, it was acknowledged as a Provincial Heritage Site.

Schools in the Area:

Bergvliet is home to several respected schools. Public Schools in the area include:

• Sweet Valley Primary School

Located at number 100 Dreyersdal Road, lies Sweet Valley Primary School, a community-centred, co-educational learning institution that aims to deliver a strong academic program with a wealth of enriching opportunities in music, drama and sport, Sweet Valley Primary School endeavours to motivate its students to achieve their absolute best in all spheres of school life, helping them to grow and develop into well-rounded individuals with honest values and moral integrity.

• Bergvliet High School

Located along Firgrove Way, lies Bergvliet High School, a community-centred school that offers its pupils a balanced, quality education. With a robust academic program that includes enriching extracurricular excursions, designed to foster a sense of unconditional acceptance of others. Bergvliet pupils are encouraged to strive for academic brilliance and fulfil their potential, becoming best versions of themselves, and significant, contributing members of modern society.

While there are no private schools near Bergvliet, there are, however, a few in the neighbouring suburbs, including:

• Reddam House Constantia

Situated only 7km away from the Bergvliet area, Reddam House Constantia offers a prestigious private education, with a concentration on excellence that permeates every sphere of daily school life; Reddam seeks to integrate enriching and challenging academic, sports and arts programs, leaving its students with confidence in themselves and their individuality, a thirst for learning and a sturdy system of values and integrity, equipping them to comfortably face the challenges of modern life.

• Constantia Waldorf School

As the first Waldorf school established in Africa, Constantia Waldorf is a co-educational private school that seeks to deliver a modern, comprehensive Waldorf Curriculum designed to cater to the physical, emotional and cognitive needs of its pupils. At Constantia Waldorf, the arts are given equal attention on par with humanities, technologies and sciences and a wide variety of extracurricular activities are offered throughout the year, including basketball, soccer and dancing among others. Constantia Waldorf endeavours to embrace the individuality of its pupils, preparing them to take their place as contributing members of a multicultural, modern society.

Shopping Centres:

Bergvliet is situated close to numerous shopping centres, including the stately Constantia Village, which houses a few beauty salons, travel agencies, antique dealers, interior décor emporiums, art galleries and chic fashion boutiques - as well an array of different restaurants delivering an appealing mix of European, African and Oriental cuisine and an assortment of lights snacks and fine coffee. Constantia Village is designed around the complete convenience of its customers, with many essential services available, including a foreign exchange bureau, a post office, a choice of banks and even a specialised liquor store which has the finest wines from across the Western Cape available for purchase. Another option, conveniently situated on the corner of Ladies Mile and the M3 lies the recently-established Constantia Emporium; With a balanced mix of 30 stores spread over two levels, anchored by well-known brands like Clicks, Woolworths, MTN and a large, premium Checkers Hyper, the Constantia Emporium offers the ultimate sophisticated shopping experience for anyone seeking retail therapy. For those looking to avoid the bustle of busy shopping centres there's the Engen Meadowridge (located along Ladies Mile) which offers its patrons a small but sufficient selection of available goods, that are sure to meet any basic shopping needs. Perfect for those looking to grab a few things on the way home.

Distance from Key Points:

Bergvliet is conveniently positioned providing visitors and residents easy access to a few key locations e.g. Heathfield train station is only 1.5km away. Bergvliet is also only 25km away from the Cape Town International Airport, making for an easy drive or Uber ride.

Restaurants/Entertainment:

Bergvliet offers a myriad of different restaurants and cafés in the surrounding area, including:

• Lime Tree Café

Located only a block away from Ladies Mile Road, at the Sherwood Centre (on the corner of Dreyersdal Road and Children's Way) lies the renowned Lime Tree Café. This contemporary, seasonal eatery has been in the area for a number of years serving up breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner meals to their customers. Not only do they provide excellent service but they also deliver food that exceeds expectations.

• Bistro Sixteen82

For those looking for a more extravagant option, the esteemed Bistro Sixteen82 offers up a delightful tapas and a bistro-style menu complete with a terraced dining area, reflective water features and beautiful views of the grand stone mountains leading into the extensive Winelands.

• Peddlars - Restaurant and Bar

If you are wanting to catch the game with some friends and grab a cold beer... Peddlars is the way to go. Combining excellent service and a vibrant atmosphere with hearty meals, a wide selection of wine, cocktails and beers, certainly there is no better place to spend the evening.

Special Attractions:

Die Oog (The Eye)

Located amidst the quiet of suburbia, lies Die Oog, a beautiful natural Conservation Area. Included in the City of Cape Town Nature Reserve Handbook, Die Oog offers up the perfect picnic spot for a warm summer's day, with a wide variety of birds, frogs and other wildlife that you could be lucky enough to catch a sighting of. A great spot for geocaching, owing to the shrubbery, fynbos, natural flora and the nearby dam, Die Oog is a remarkable bio-diverse zone, complete with gorgeous views and is an experience that is not to be missed out on.