Faerie Glen, Pretoria

The name of the suburb might conjure up images of faeries resting in mossy, tree-filled vales, but in reality Faerie Glen sits on the southern slopes of the Bronberg Mountain, a popular, fairly old, large and developed suburb, in between Lynwood and Garsfontein in Pretoria's eastern suburbs.

It's a popular suburb in which to live, although new developments have thankfully slowed. Access in and out of Pretoria is a quick 15 minute trip, whilst OR Tambo airport is only 30 minutes away. It helps too that the suburb is accessible from major highways - the N1 and the N4. Faerie Glen's leafy streets and well established gardens give it a rather sedate, pretty feel and life here functions as something of a village, with residents not having to travel far to shop or for recreation.

Weekend activities close at hand include the National Botanical Gardens - green lawns beneath spreading shade trees, pretty foot paths in amongst any number of medicinal plants, cycads, aloes, succulents and 198 species of bird - a perfect place to picnic or meet up with friends and the Faerie Glen Nature Reserve - popular for walks, a cuppa at the tea garden and sighting the extraordinary bird life that makes Pretoria so pretty.

Head a little further east from Pretoria out to Sammy Marks Museum, although museum-like it is not. This beautifully maintained old homestead of the former mining magnate is a wonderful place to come and have tea, to stroll around the gorgeous gardens or tour the Victorian house. The original farm dates back to the 1880s and the feeling of that time still graces the terraces and permeates the lawns where you can also enjoy a quick game of croquet.