History of the Helderberg
Full Circle: Vergelegen, Three Centuries Later
STORY 71 We began this book at Vergelegen. A corrupt governor. A land grab. Half …read more
Vergelegen
History of the Helderberg
STORY 34 — Vines, Fruit and the Farming Soul of the Helderberg
Featured image: Vergelegen 1931 (These trees, originally planted by Willem Adriaan van der Stel between …read more
History of the Helderberg
STORY 15— The Names on the Gates: The Early Farms of the Helderberg
A farm is a piece of land with a name. The name usually tells you …read more
History of the Helderberg
STORY 14 — The Shape of the Land: How the Valley Was Divided
Before Somerset West was a town, before the N2 was a road, before there were …read more
History of the Helderberg
STORY 6 — Flora, The Woman Vergelegen Forgot
In October 1990, archaeologists from the University of Cape Town were excavating the site of …read more
History of the Helderberg
Story 5 – Five Trees Older Than Somerset West
Somerset West was founded in 1822. The Helderberg Nature Reserve opened in 1960. The N2 …read more
History of the Helderberg
Story 4 – The Hands That Built It All
Every time you drive through the gates of Vergelegen today, past the manicured gardens, the …read more
Guides & Things to Do
A Rainy Day in The Helderberg – Your Complete Guide
Fourteen genuinely enriching ways to spend a wet Saturday in Somerset West, Strand and Gordon’s …read more
History of the Helderberg
Story 3 – Four Farms from One Scandal
Of all the consequences that flow from one man’s greed, few are as lasting as …read more
History of the Helderberg
Story 1 – The Governor Who Helped Himself
It is the year 1700. The Cape Colony is barely fifty years old and the …read more