Mountain, winelands and sea – Welcome to Helderberg Village

5 min read

Tucked up neatly against the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains, in the heart of Somerset West, is a little piece of retirement paradise. With breathtaking views of the Stellenbosch Winelands, framed by majestic mountains and with the silky beaches of Strand just around the corner, Helderberg Village offers exemplary living in a magical setting.

Originally the brainchild of a visionary entrepreneur who purchased the wine farm with the intention of developing a unique and exclusive retirement estate, Helderberg Village has shown growth over the last 30 years that has been phenomenal, with additional land being purchased in order to meet increasing demand. Today, an exciting mix of just under 800 luxury sectional title homes and upmarket apartments grace this thoroughly developed estate, comprising modern homes encompassing an aesthetic charm resplendent of the traditional Cape cottage. Having topped the Worldwide Best Retirement Village list and been proud winners of The International Property Award for Africa in 2013, it is little wonder that Helderberg Village remains the preferred choice for those wanting to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

 

Residents of the Village come from all walks of life and all parts of the world – ex-captains of industry successfully mix with retired judges and doctors in an idyllic community environment. Fully intent on upholding its reputation as the award-winning industry frontrunner, Helderberg Village is built on a firm foundation of four essential estate pillars: an enriched lifestyle, superb healthcare, formidable security and financial sustainability. Villagers enjoy a wealth of sporting and recreational pursuits catering specifically for those who enjoy the finer things in life, including tennis, bowls and croquet.

An extremely well-maintained nine-hole golf course and on-site Pro shop welcome both resident players and members of the public, whilst a fully furnished gym and four large swimming pools, one heated, provide an ample variety of activities. The estate is spread over 84 hectares of scenic landscape, including over nine kilometres of exquisitely manicured walking paths, and Villagers are free to fish in any one of the seven dams, picnic next to the meandering river or simply relax outside and breathe the refreshing air.

The centrally located, modern and tastefully furnished clubhouse boasts a well-stocked ladies’ bar and billiards room and is where Villagers can obtain information about the countless social societies on offer – from weekly bird, fishing and walking clubs to yoga and weekly movie screenings. Art is a chief aspect of life at Helderberg Village, and Villagers are able to partake in organised crafts workshops such as woodwork, painting, knitting and pottery, and monthly exhibitions are held to showcase Villagers’ work. There is something for everyone.

With a well-stocked library, music room, in-house choir and organised day trips to theatres, wine farms, shopping malls and local attractions, it easy to see why Helderberg Village has swiftly established itself as the perfect secure living environment for those wanting to acquire a new skill, or refine an existing one at leisure, spend quality time with the family and connect with nature.  Stunning views of the golf course, vineyards and neighbouring mountains make the restaurant and function facilities at Helderberg Village the perfect location to host beautiful events. Serving up delicious plates of food made with fresh and locally sourced produce, the restaurant comfortably sits 120 people for birthday parties, anniversaries, corporate events, family dinners and intimate wedding receptions.

In order to enhance the quality of life at the Village, Villagers can take advantage of the excellent on-site laundry service that includes washing and ironing, as well as collection and delivery. Housekeeping and gardening services are included in the levies, and there is even an internal postal service, allowing Villagers to send and receive both internal and external mail.

A super-fast fibre to the home optic network connected to every house provides free telephony on the estate, customised internet services, and DStv piped to all houses.

Although currently not operating due to the severe drought being experienced in the Western Cape, an excellent irrigation system ensures the surrounding terrain remains lusciously nurtured. An on-site hair salon and ATM make ordinary services easily accessible, whilst the daily shuttle service to nearby Somerset Mall means that Villagers are never short of anything.  A recent R 8 million rand upgrade to the 74-bed on-site healthcare facility provides professional sub-acute, frail care and dementia units, containing therapeutic music and fish tanks, and a qualified general practitioner and full medical team are always available on site to attend to emergencies. Once completed, the upgraded facility will extend the healthcare offering even further, with Villagers able to make use of an inclusive home-based care service, providing holistic and medical support in the comfort of their own home.

With approximately 1 200 residents at any given time, together with external contractors, staff and visitors, access control is definitely a high priority, especially when approximately 3 000 people visit the village over holiday periods. The state-of-the-art security system means that each property is fitted with a panic and intruder alarm as well as a smoke detector.

A modern, interactive control room screens real-time footage from more than 130 high-definition and thermal analytic intelligent sensor cameras, and on-site armed response officers provide around-the-clock on-the-ground monitoring, whilst an additional five kilometres of electric wiring offers Villagers ample peace of mind. Every staff member and external contractor is fingerprinted and only after examining their criminal history are they cleared for entry.

Helderberg Village remains an extremely viable investment option. Apartments of R 1.2 million in value and 39 square metres in size showcase breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, and the 240 square metre freestanding homes provide spacious accommodation for the extended family and are valued at anything up to R 14 million.

This piece of paradise called Helderberg Village is managed by a professional management team and approximately 300 staff who subscribe fully to the motto: ‘Your Retirement – our Passion’!

Ownership is not limited to a domestic clientele, with the 800 houses being inhabited by a lovely combination of locals and international investors who have chosen to make Helderberg Village their home. With only four properties currently available on the market, taking, on average, less than a month to sell, it is obvious that Helderberg Village has effortlessly retained its premium address. The unique retirement lifestyle of Helderberg Village is unrivalled and near perfect, and most definitely raises the bar in retirement living. Offering a heavenly retirement lifestyle in a secure and tranquil setting, the Village is a place of serenity, visual stimulation and sensual pleasure.

From excellent healthcare facilities to the imposing Helderberg mountain peaks, from the state-of-the-art security systems to an incredible choice of pastimes, Helderberg Village has everything needed to live a leisurely yet active retired lifestyle.