Glenferness, Midrand

Glenferness is a perfect place to lay your hat if it’s quick access to Midrand, Pretoria and central Johannesburg you’re after. The suburb is ideally situated to reach Midrand in moments, whilst the Woodmead interchange that gives you immediate access to the N1, M1 and N3, is closer to Glenferness than the setting suggests.

You are also really near Sandton and Rivonia business districts and numerous shopping malls that give you access to theatres, restaurants and entertainment for the evenings and over weekends. There is plenty to do in this part of Johannesburg, despite the country feel to the suburb. One doesn’t expect to find a suburb with a name that brings to mind the Scottish highlands right in the midst of highly urbanized Midrand, nevertheless, you could be mistaken if you take into account that many of the large estates here lie on former farms in virtual countryside - the closest thing to rural living within a city. The added element of stallions set out to pasture is provided by the proximity of the Equestrian Park, home of the Lipizzaners, just nearby. Scotland it may not be, but the rural setting and sense of calm does offer comparable sentiment.

Pretoria is but 30 minutes away as is the Magaliesberg Mountain range, offering abundant opportunity to get away from city life for a day or longer - the rugged gullies, plunging kloofs and crystal clear mountain streams of the Magaliesberg make hiking more than pleasant. Birding is a regular pastime here or if you favour a more sedate adventure, there is always the Crocodile Ramble or a visit to the Cradle of Humankind and Hartebeespoort Dam.