Picture this: Expansive lots, large luxury family homes and gracious oak tree-lined avenues encompassed by an air of prestige and the magnificent backdrop of Table Mountain in the Constantia Valley.
This is what bountiful living looks like in Bishopscourt – one of Cape Town’s oldest and most sought-after suburbs.
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Coveted by many but lived in only by an elite few, Bishopscourt is an upmarket suburb that covers over 3 000 square metres of land but houses just 350 residences, including several distinguished local and international personalities, multi-millionaires, as well as foreign embassies and consulates.
It is also home to the official residence of Anglican Bishops and Archbishops of Cape Town.
Not just a pretty face:
In addition to its lush greenery and top-tier property finishes, the roots of Bishopscourt tell stories of Cape Town’s past. The suburb garnered its name from Robert Gray, the first Bishop of the Church of England of South Africa, when he bought the land in 1851 and anointed it as the Anglican Bishop’s headquarters, according to Greef Christie’s International Real Estate.
It is here, reported Seeff, that Nelson Mandela spent his first night of freedom after his 27-year imprisonment, hosted by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, and held a press conference at the estate’s garden. Mandela subsequently acquired his own home in the exclusive suburb years later.
Prior to this, the area formed the wine farm known as Bosheuwel, part of the farm Wijnberg, which was granted to Jan Van Riebeeck in 1658. The hedge he planted to protect the cattle of the Cape colonists still stands in Kirstenbosch today.
Today, Bishopscourt offers a curated collection of properties that range from older, more traditional-styled homes to newly built, contemporary villas ranging from 2 000 to 9 000 square metres, making it an idyllic location for property investors seeking the perfect balance of opulence, convenience and tranquillity.
All about connections:
In the world of the elite, it’s all about having the right connections in the right places. Likewise, Bishopscourt provides an easy 13-kilometre link to Cape Town’s CBD, thanks to its close proximity to Rhodes Drive and the M3, and a 20-minute drive to both Cape Town International Airport and False Bay beaches.
Additionally, the suburb opens nearby pathways to a number of Cape Town’s top schools, including Western Province Junior Primary School, Wynberg Boys, Herschel Girls School, SACS, and the International School of Cape Town, as well as the distinguished tertiary institutions of the University of Cape Town and The Sports Science Institute of SA.
For family-friendly convenience, shopping centres like Cavendish Square, Kenilworth Centre, Constantia Village and Palmyra Junction are a stone’s throw away, amid several quaint free-standing restaurants and cafés. The private Life Kingsbury Hospital and specialised Life Peninsula Eye Hospital are also located nearby, as well as the public Victoria Hospital.
And for those seeking access to the finer things in life, the Constantia Wine Route, Norval Foundation (art museum and sculpture garden) and Steenberg Golf Club are a short drive away, amid world-class hotels such as the Vineyard Hotel and the Cellars Hohenort Hotel.
Embraced by Mother Nature:
Tucked away against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain National Park, Bishopscourt is sheltered from the notorious south-easterly winds that grip the Mother City in summer while still maintaining a great deal of sunlight due to it being a north-facing enclave.
The hillside garden and nature reserve of Rhodes Drive, a road bordering Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, make up its western side, while Kirstenbosch Drive makes up its northern edge.
Beyond ample green space ideal for spending sunny afternoons and a multitude of hiking trails, Kirstenbosch is also renowned for its Summer Sunset concerts and Galileo Open Air Cinema experiences during the summer months.
A section of the Upper Liesbeek River that borders the suburb forms the historical heart of Bishopscourt, running through a tranquil riverine garden housing over 100 indigenous trees and complete with a boardwalk and thoughtfully placed tree stumps, perfect for meandering and family picnics in the shade.
Also read:
Constantia: Where vineyards meet luxury living and natural beauty
Picture: sono bono / Unsplash