University Estate, City Bowl

University Estate lies off De Waal Drive, just above the familiar and consequently inefficient permanent speed trap, laid across the road in the region of the Walmer / University Estate off ramp, on the N2 coming out of Cape Town. Most Capetonians dutifully slow to remain within the 80km speed limit, and promptly accelerate once the trap is behind them - one has to smile at Cape Town’s little idiosyncrasies.

Lying on the upper slopes of Devils Peak, above Woodstock, University Estate has beautiful large homes on big properties. Although some aesthetic critics have passed judgement on the neighbourhood for its lack of inspirational design and the haphazard use of different styles of architecture, but what it lacks in historic charm, it makes up for with its views over the harbour and its proximity to the centre of Cape Town.

University Estate is close to Gardens Shopping Centre, Company Gardens, museums and galleries of Cape Town; and the Table Mountain cableway and the V&A Waterfront are just a few minutes’ drive. One’s access to Devil’s Peak Mountain for morning walks along mountain trails is what makes it so special to stay here, and the fact that the Atlantic beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton are only about 10 minutes’ away.