Life on Oak Avenue at Oasis Life Constantia

Oasis Life Constantia is the newest retirement address from Rabie, the developer behind the Oasis Life portfolio of senior lifestyle villages, which operates on the Life Right model. Set in the heart of the Constantia Valley, the estate offers modern retirement homes in Cape Town—both houses and apartments—top-tier security and lifestyle amenities, and a focus on community with resident-centric living.

Among the new residents are three couples with longstanding ties to the property and development world. John, who serves on Rabie’s board, has known Robin—former owner of Eagle Lighting—for years. Rob, whose past work includes several Rabie projects and earlier Oasis Life villages, is also part of this circle. What began as professional ties grew into lasting friendships. Today, long-time friends are now neighbours. Together with their partners, they all live on the same street.

We met with these residents at their brand-new homes to talk about their decision to move, what convinced them to choose Oasis Life, and how retirement living—done right—is less about slowing down and more about choosing wisely to keep living life to the fullest. All three couples chose a free-standing house on Oak Avenue.

John, a board member and director at Rabie, Oasis Life’s developer, played an active role in creating the Oasis Life vision, and knew exactly what they were investing in. Caron, John’s partner, reflects: “I knew it would be special, but I still never imagined a retirement village could feel like this.”

For all six individuals, this move wasn’t about downsizing. It was about rightsizing their lifestyles to bring security, ease and joy.

New residents at Oasis Life cheer to community, friendship and the good life.

Security & Sanctuary at Oasis Life Constantia

When Adele and Robin moved into Oasis Life Constantia, Adele was pleasantly surprised by how little they had to adjust their independent lifestyle. “We haven’t stopped entertaining since we arrived,” she smiles. “It’s been effortless. It just works.”

Coming from a large home in Steenberg Estate, the couple knew it was time for a change—but not a compromise. “We had three lounges, and two dining rooms… but we didn’t need all that space,” Adele reflects.

Adele took great pleasure in redesigning their new space, ensuring it felt both familiar and fresh. “I worked with Nick at Restorabilia for custom-made cabinetry and to refit cabinetry to the dimensions of our new home,” she says. “He also resized our old solid oak dining table so we could keep it—it’s full of memories. Here, we’ve got everything we need. No excess. Just the best parts of living.”

Having previously managed a retirement village for her parents, Adele knew the traditional model. This, she says, is different. “I’m sure we were the talk of the town when people learned we were moving to a retirement estate! But what’s surprised me the most is seeing my friends’ reactions. They’ve walked in, eyes wide, saying, ‘Wow, this is not what we expected. We need to rethink how we’re living.’” Many of those friends have now joined the waiting list, which has grown to over 150 names.

“John said to me when we moved in, ‘This isn’t a retirement village—it’s a lifestyle.’ And that stuck with me. I told him, ‘I’m going to carry on living fully,’ and he said, ‘Exactly.’ And that’s what we’ve done.”

The layout and landscaping at Oasis Life Constantia stood out immediately. “Although the houses are right next to one another, the property layouts are cleverly designed. We don’t feel on top of each other. Here, homes feel modern, open, and light. You can feel the difference the moment you walk in. Oasis Life’s landscaping is incredible. It creates a peaceful, lush setting that lifts the whole experience.” 

Their home reflects their love for entertaining, their need for privacy, and their appreciation for thoughtful design. “This interior section was originally outside. We enclosed it, created an indoor braai space, and decided on a smaller garden. We’ve designed and decorated our space for how we live now.”

While the decision to move was emotional, it was also empowering. “We let go of so much—but gained more than we imagined. I love knowing I’ll never have to sell again. This is home. That sense of permanence is liberating.”

“We don’t have to maintain a pool. We don’t have to manage a garden—I asked for hydrangeas and that’s all I have to worry about,” she laughs.

“There’s no admin. I used to run the household and when something went wrong, it was my problem. Now, it’s not.It’s beautiful, and it’s not my responsibility anymore. That’s the gift.”

On Oak Avenue, at Oasis Life Constantia, neighbours are friends by design.

Building Community & Safeguarding Peace of Mind

Monique and Rob knew they were ready for a retirement village—they just needed to find the right one. “We decided early on that we wanted to make the move sooner rather than later,” says Monique. “It’s important to us to build a community while we’re still active and can enjoy it together.”

They wanted to ensure they had a shared identity in the place they’d retire. “That way, when one of us is gone, people will say, ‘I remember you and Rob together,’ instead of hearing about a partner they never knew.” Their search began during the pandemic but yielded little—until they discovered Oasis Life Constantia. 

Rob, having worked with Rabie on several projects, knew they could trust the development. “That gave everyone a huge amount of confidence when making the decision to invest.”

Understanding the Life Right model helped solidify their decision. “People say you’re mad because there’s no capital growth, but there’s more to it than that. There’s a trade-off: You’re swapping capital appreciation for an investment in lifestyle security and peace of mind.”

They also wanted to stay close to their roots—Rotary Club, hiking routes, and their southern suburbs community. Moving in during Phase 1 gave them time to settle in peacefully. Now, the dogs are happy, the garden’s thriving, and life feels right.

Rob, now fully retired, continues to stay involved in Rotary. He serves as a trustee for the Cape Town Cycle Tour and Claremont Rotary Welfare Trust and is treasurer of Rotary Claremont. “I’m busy, but only to the extent that I want to be—which is nice.”

Monique has her own Rotary passions. She runs a mentorship programme with Life Choices and raises funds for animal sterilisation.“Volunteering uplifts others and is also deeply rewarding on a personal level.” 

Here, every day can begin with a walk, and a wave

Their home, they say, feels open, practical and surprisingly spacious. “Rabie designed the homes to sit next to one another in a way that still gives you breathing room. We can’t even tell if our neighbours are having a braai next door. It’s private, even though we’re close together. So we have our privacy—and then the community is on tap when we step outside our front door.”

“I like that our double garage is so large and clean, with a tiled floor,” adds Rob. “The property is bigger than it looks, as it’s so open. It really surprises people. Everyone we know wishes they’d done it 10 years earlier. A lot of people leave it too late, and that brings so much strain to them and their families. They’ve lost the benefit of having a stress-free retirement like this.” 

While they haven’t needed to lean on the clubhouse or greater community yet, they know they will. “If you need community, it’s on your doorstep. Nothing is forced on you, but if you need it, it’s there—and that’s what it’s all about,” says Monique. 

They’re both excited about the clubhouse taking shape. “They’re incorporating elements that reflect the Constantia winelands—wood panelling, beautiful timber floors. It’s going to be upmarket and stylish.”

Physical security was another key factor in their decision. “We were impressed with the security,” says Monique. “Here, we don’t have to worry about alarms going off. It might sound small, but it’s not. Not having burglar bars—it feels like freedom.”

Rob concludes, “The only disadvantage that I can find about retirement is that you don’t benefit from weekends or public holidays!” 

Quick Links to Ripple Magazine

Interested in reading more stories from across our retirement estates in Cape Town such as Constantia, Burgundy Estate and Clara Anna Fontein? You can download the digital versions of Oasis Life Ripple Magazine, our quarterly magazine for seniors, including feature articles on residents along with lifestyle and wellness inspiration.

Winter 2025 – The Chill Issue 

Autumn 2025 – The Tech Issue

Summer 2024 – The Adventure Issue

Spring 2024 – The Trends Issue 

Winter 2024 – The Hygge Issue

Autumn 2024 – The Health Issue

Register Your Interest

To register your interest in Oasis Life Constantia or any of our retirement estates, click this contact form link or email us at  info@oasislife.co.za. 

Popular FAQs

Q: What is the Life Right model at Oasis Life Constantia?
A: The Life Right model offers lifetime security of tenure without the burdens of property ownership. It’s a smart, future-focused way to retire with freedom and peace of mind.

Q: Are the homes at Oasis Life Constantia pet-friendly?
A: Yes! Oasis Life Constantia allows pets, subject to estate guidelines, making it ideal for animal lovers.

Explore more frequently asked questions.