Mention Pretoria east and a multitude of areas come to mind. Alphen Park, Arcadia, Clydesdale, Constantia Park, Eastwood, Faerie Glen, Garsfontein, Hazeldean and Equestria are but a few of the suburbs that form Pretoria east’s burgeoning patchwork.
According to Cynthia Mackenzie of Century 21 which services the area, Pretoria East is really beginning to come into its own with many suburbs giving rise to upmarket mixed-use estates. The Glades, Willow Acres Estate, Silverwoods Country Estate, Silverstream Estate, Newmark Estate, Lombardy Estate, Six Fountains Residential Estate, Olympus Country Estate, Bateleur Bastion Nature Reserve and Wapadrand Security Village have all taken root in the area over the years with a view to offering secure, upmarket living.
Village people
Wapadrand Security Village is arguably one of the oldest estates in the area. Established in the 1970s, the village occupies land that originally played host to an dairy and a pecan farm – and many nutty trees can still be seen interspersed amongst the quaint homes today.
Large freehold homes are the mainstay of the village with prices ranging from R1.3-million to R3.5-million. According to Mackenzie, buyers approach the village in anticipation of bargains this it offers, given its age, but usually find that the owners have upgraded their properties so that they can achieve their asking prices.
Although the village doesn’t feature its own in-house schools, shopping centre and fitness centre like its more modern counterparts, it is known for offering an enviable family life says Mackenzie. Families walk and cycle throughout the village, children play freely in the streets and gardens, the community is close knit and the village enjoys birdlife second to none, due in large part to the many established trees and gardens within its boundaries.
And with so many surrounding amenities, facilities and development going on, Wapadrand Village residents aren’t exactly left wanting says Mackenzie.
“Residents can enrol their children at numerous nearby private and public schools such as Tyger Valley College and Curro College, a bevy of offices lies within close reach, and they have their pick of retail outlets, medical facilities, restaurants, spas, gyms and golf courses. Indeed, so well serviced is Pretoria East that many residents rarely venture out of the area.”
Going on safari
And, it seems, visitors to the area are as cosseted. Comments posted by visitors to Pretoria East’s suburbs on SafariNow, Africa’s largest booking site, lend credence to the area’s attractions.
Commenting on Garsfontein, Christa de Bruyn said: “Garsfontein is close to nice shopping malls, great golf courses and private hospitals. It’s a good place to stay if you make use of these facilities. It is a well looked-after area.”
Of Faerie Glen, Chris Vermeulen said: “Beautiful area – it’s close to hospitals and large shopping malls. It is also close to the major highways. It is an upmarket area but also has a country feel to it.”
Anel van der Schyff said the following about Hazeldean: “Wow, what an amazing area. I stayed in a brand-new guesthouse called Villa Amor. Hazeldean shopping centre was a stone’s throw away, with lovely romantic restaurants offering Indian curry, pasta and Chinese. This area has much to offer, from polo clubs, paint ball and driving ranges to being up close and personal with the lions from Farm Inn, action netball and cricket and good private schools. I will definitely recommend this area!”