A walk along Schoongezicht Street in Somerset West offers beautiful Helderberg mountain views, where ever-changing clouds create the area’s own tablecloth.
Cape Town may be famous for Table Mountain’s tablecloth, but I like to think the Helderberg has one of its own.
These photos are completely raw and unedited, captured from Schoongezicht Street, next to the Dutch Reformed Church Helderberg and The Crofts complex, overlooking the magnificent Helderberg mountains.
It’s a spot we return to often. Sometimes we park the car on a clear afternoon simply to take out the camera and admire the view. Other times we’re there for a family walk, letting our son run across the open grass, kick a ball around, or enjoy a game of tennis while we soak up the scenery around us.
It’s one of those quiet corners of Somerset West that never seems to disappoint.
A Different Mountain Every Day
The mountains themselves never really change, but the sky above them certainly does.
Some days the clouds cling tightly to the peaks. On others, they gently spill over the ridges before slowly disappearing into the valley. The shapes, textures and shades seem to transform every time I look up, making it feel as though the Helderberg mountains are putting on a completely new performance each day.
That’s one of the reasons I never tire of photographing this view. Even standing in exactly the same place, no two photos ever look alike.
One of Our Favourite Places to Pause
Over time, this little stretch of Schoongezicht Street has become one of our favourite local spots.
It’s close enough for an impromptu family outing, yet peaceful enough to make you forget how close you are to the rest of town. Whether we’re watching our son play on the grass, enjoying a leisurely walk, or simply spending a few quiet minutes with the camera, the Helderberg views always give us a reason to stop.
For me, that’s one of the greatest joys of living in Monte Sereno, Somerset West. Every visit offers a fresh perspective, every cloud formation tells a different story, and every day the Helderberg creates its own beautiful version of a tablecloth.
