Melkbosstrand Area Profile

Melkbosstrand at a glance

Melkbosstrand is widely considered to be one of the towns which connect Cape Town to the desolate yet undeniably beautiful West Coast of the Western Cape of South Africa. The town is dominated by a love for surf, sand, and nature and its name is derived from the Afrikaans word Melkbos, which translates to milk bush and strand which translates to beach. Hence if directly translated from Afrikaans to English it reads as Milk Bush Beach. A huge deciding factor for people wishing to move to Melkbosstrand is that one enjoys the best of both worlds. As its close to the glitz of Cape Town, whilst retaining all of that West Coast country charm. It's within close proximity to some of the locations where Portuguese explorers arrived when they came to South Africa. And apart of the world that has captured the imagination of many historians with its rich and diverse story. 

A brief history of the area

Just like much of the mother city or towns near its epicentre, Melkbosstrand has had a huge role to play in the history of the area. The town was originally called Losperd’s Bay which stems from an older dialect of Dutch, the main language for which Afrikaans is derived, it means The Bay of Lost Horses. It was also the battleground for the highly remembered Battle of Blaauwberg which is an event that resulted in this particular geographical location becoming a colony of British rule. Its treacherous oceans have also set the ghastly scene for various shipwrecks which are believed to be the remnants of ships from Portuguese explorers. However, these are only recent historical events and archaeologists have found research that has led them to believe that the region has a direct link to the Khoi-San people of Southern Africa. 

Infrastructure

Melkbosstrand is a well-established town where infrastructure is generally of a high standard. Some of the roads that connect, Cape Town, the Western Cape and Melkbosstrand with the province and much talked of West Coast include Otto du Plessis Drive, Charles Hoffe Avenue, West Coast Road, Robben Road, Birkenhead Drive, Atlantic Beach Road and Cord Grass Way.  There is also a direct MyCiti bus that operates from the civic centre of Cape Town and runs directly to the main areas of the town with the last bus stop ending at Atlantic. 

Schools in the area

There are numerous well-known schools based in Melkbosstrand which is great news for residents as people don’t need to travel far to ensure that their children are educated in adequate schooling facilities. Some of these include Melkbosstrand High School, Melkbos Pre-Primary School, Melkbosstrand Private School, Melkbos Swim School, Van Riebeeckstrand Primary School, Atlantic Beach College, Generation Schools Melkbos, Babbel En Krabbel Skool as well as Melkbos Care Centre. 

Hospitals nearby

There are a number of credible hospitals in Melkbosstrand and the West Coast, however, the town's proximity to the mother city means that there is never any shortage of medical facilities for the whole family. Some of these include yet are not limited to the Melkbos Clinic, Dr. S Dlangamandla, Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital, Wesfleur Hospital, Weskus Dierekliniek - Melkbosstrand, Groote Schuur Hospital, Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital and the Intercare Parklands. 

Distance from key points (Airport/CBD)

Melkbosstrand is fairly well situated to the central areas of Cape Town and if one wishes to travel there it is roughly 47.4 km and will take about 42 minutes depending on which route is chosen. Melkbosstrand is also closely situated to the Cape Town International Airport. If one wishes to travel to the airport it will take roughly 41 minutes and is just under 50 km depending on what route is chosen. Melkbosstrand is also within close proximity to other worthwhile areas nearby including Table View and Milnerton. 

Malls/Shopping

The West Coast and Cape Town are world renown for their shopping. Although Melkbosstrand isn’t as extensive in this area it still has a lot of variety to choose from. Some of the more regarded places in which to shop in and around the town include Melkbos to Morocco Boutique, Seaside Village Shopping Centre, Table Bay Mall, The Farm Yard, Birkenhead Centre, Gone Surfing and the Belzac Centre.  

Restaurants

Melkbosstrand also has no shortage of great places in which to eat. Some of the more popular eateries include Castella Amare Restaurant, Damhuis Restaurant, Cafe Ocra, Trattoria Maranello, Silver Bay Spur, The Hart, Restaurant - De Melkbosskerm, Seafood Lapa, I love Melkies and Melkbos Fisheries. 

Special Attractions

Another exciting attribute about deciding to live in Melkbosstrand is that there is never a shortage of great activities waiting around every corner. From surfing to road tripping, the West Coast of the Western Cape is a world of wonder for all who decide to visit its areas. Here are three worthwhile activities that happen on a regular basis in this region.  

Go on a West Coast road trip

The whole of the West Coast is a great place for anyone wishing to get out on the open road and get away for a bit. Every little town has something unique, that is typical of the Western Cape. Whether it's visiting Darling for their wonderful flowers or going further up the coast to the sleepy but breathtakingly beautiful fishing villages such as Paternoster. The West Coast has a charm and essence unlike anywhere on the planet and Melkbosstrand is widely considered a gateway to these places. 

Hike the Koeberg Nature Reserve

This is one for the hiking and birding enthusiasts, the area has various trails to suit anyone’s nature tastes. Some of them include The Dikkop Trail and The Grysbok Trail. The location also features a visiting centre which has maps on all the best places to see fauna and flora and wildlife. One can really get to know the terrain of the West Coast as well as various animals and plant life present in this part of The Western Cape. 

Melkbosch Food Fair

A monthly event for food enthusiasts is The Melkbosch Food Fair which occurs every first Saturday. Be transformed to a time long gone at the old farm barn at Melkboschplaas which the location of this artisan food event. Besides great food designed for any food lover, young and old. The market also promises a lot of other child-friendly activities for the whole family. Also sporting fans are treated to the game of the day on a big screen. 

Time to invest

Melkbosstrand is a highly favourable residential location for so many reasons. There really is a world to explore on the West Coast of the Western Cape and this particular town is definitely regarded as a gateway to this magical kingdom. Why not experience some of this mystique and invest today? Get in contact with a highly regarded and experienced property broker from one of the world’s leading property brands Century 21 and start your next dream home in Melkbosstrand on the West Coast. There are currently 11 houses for sale through the leading property group and all of them range in size and price. Make sure you make the best decision possible by going with the best in the business.