Erasmusrand, Pretoria

Lying close to the suburbs of Waterkloof Ridge, Waterkloof Heights and Constantia Park, in the south east of the city, it goes without saying that Erasmusrand follows a similar theme of leafy, well established suburb with wide jacaranda-lined avenues. Positioned on the same side of the N1 as Waterkloof Ridge, in a niche bounded by Rigel Avenue and Hans Strijdom Drive, Erasmusrand is in a fairly wealthy part of Pretoria and homes here range from fairly modest face brick renditions to considerable mansions.

Aside from being well located - access to the N1 is excellent, and the intersection with the R21, which takes one easily to OR Tambo Airport, is just south of Erasmusrand -, the suburb is also just up the road from both Brooklyn and Menlyn malls. The Pretoria Country Club, Wingate Park Country Club and Woodhill Country Club are also all within easy reach.

Despite the effortlessness with which one can get around when staying in Erasmusrand, a necessity when travelling fast is a high priority, this part of Pretoria is by no means all about city living. The Groenkloof Nature Reserve in the Fountains Valley, a beautiful green lung in the heart of Pretoria’s eastern suburbs, gives those who stay in the vicinity access to hiking and mountain bike trails; whilst the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, just east of Irene, is one of the world’s largest urban nature reserves. The Rietvlei and Marais Dams provide wonderful open water and wetland areas where sightings of the over 80 species of birds in the area is a favourite pastime, as are the hiking trails through the reserve and picnic sites.