Somerset West
Description
Somerset West is a town encircled by magnificent mountains and vineyards, with views of the nearby cobalt-blue ocean and sandy beaches. Located 50km from Cape Town in the Helderberg area, it is a paradise for those who appreciate scenic beauty, wine, decadent cuisine, and exciting tourist attractions like Blue Rock Adventure Park and Monkey Town. Browse our wonderful range of Somerset West accommodations.
The town was named Somerset in the 1800s after an English governor of the Cape Colony, Lord Charles Henry Somerset. The suffix was added in after 1825 to differentiate it from Somerset East, another South African town in the Eastern Cape. Somerset West is a town scattered with beautiful villas and abundant parks and gardens. The town boasts numerous old buildings, such as the police station, the former parsonage, and the Old Dutch Reformed Mission church (1820). Over the years, Somerset West has become a popular tourist destination for all these reasons and more.
Somerset West boasts an array of popular tourist attractions. Explore the Helderberg Wine Routeto enjoy wine cellar tours and tastings at 25 different wine estates, including the 18th century Cape Dutch farmhouse, Vergelegen Wine Estate (the oldest remaining vineyard in South Africa), Lourensford Wine Estate, Morgenster Wine Farm, and Waterkloof Wines.
Nature lovers will revel in a trip to Somerset West. The Hedlerberg Nature Reserve is a 407 hectare wildlife reserve that was opened in 1964. It contains a variety of smaller fauna such as buck, tortoise, and other reptiles, as well as beautiful flora like protea and fynbos.
Somerset West boasts an array of activities for adventure enthusiasts. Be sure to spend a day at Blue Rock Adventure Park where one can enjoy a range of activities such as water skiing, knee boarding, rock jumping, diving, paintball, volleyball, and foefie slides. Alternatively, play a game of golf at one of the nearby golf courses such as Erinvale Golf Course and Somerset West Golf Course.
Visitors tend to visit Somerset West during Christmas time, when strings of decorative display of Christmas lights are erected atop the street lights on the main road. This Helderberg Lights Festival (Strawberry Festival) also features a flea market and parade.
Somerset West features its own community radio station, Radio Helderberg, which broadcasts community notices and plays adult orientated pop music. Other places of interest in Somerset West include the Somerset Mall with over 204 stores, Triggerfish Brewery, the Playhouse Theatre, and Lwandle Migrant labour Museum. Don’t forget to visit Monkey Town Primate Centre with more than 230 animals and 28 exotic species including famous chimp sisters Tammy, Ruby, and Sunny, along with a range of birds and antelope.
Experience all that Somerset West has to offer by booking one of our accommodations.