Paulshof, Sandton

Lying slightly uphill from Sunninghill, on the other side of the N1 from Petervale and Rivonia, Paulshof is a fairly modern, upmarket suburb rich in townhouse complexes lying just above the Braamfontein Spruit. Paulshof is often described as the 'garden village of the north' and indeed, it isn't unusual for the family dog to have a run-in with a prickly procupine when out on a daily stroll!

Children of Paulshof celebrate halloween on the streets of the suburb, despite the roads being fairly busy and crime continually an added threat. The very fact that the neighbourhood make it happen, despite the odds, says a lot about the strength of the community in this part of northern Johannesburg.

Paulshof residents have taken it upon themselves to recycle and they make a concerted effort to maintain their section of the Braamfontein Spruit. Perhaps it is because they lie in a particularly green part of the major city, sandwiched as they are between the spruit and Rietfontein Ridge, or because the suburb lies on the edge of development, its northern quarters flanked by open land, which gives it a distinct country flavour, despite the number of complexes and modern developments.

In no way are you stuck on the edge of the city, however. Paulshof is great for getting about and for things to do over weekends. Access to the N1 and N3 is excellent, Fourways and Sandton are easily reached, infact many younger executivess and families make Paulshof their base because of this, whilst Midrand is also easy to reach from here.

Weekends one can amuse oneself at numerous large shopping malls, or head out to the 'country' - north west of here lie the Cradle of Humankind and the Magaliesberg.