South Africa is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous destinations in the world. Easy access to the country’s pristine beaches, majestic mountains, verdant forests, and magnificent parks is just one of the main selling points for anyone looking to relocate abroad or claim a piece of holiday paradise away from home.
Many of South Africa’s upmarket neighborhoods have taken full advantage of this scenery, offering property owners a front seat to the city’s most dramatic showpieces, in addition to a well-designed lifestyle. Created in collaboration with Pam Golding Properties, here’s a look at the communities that are enviable pockets of ultra-prime property opportunity.
Sandhurst
Sandhurst, north of Johannesburg’s city center, is a secluded urban playground for the city’s elite property shoppers. This neighborhood is full of great details: streets hidden beneath a canopy of trees; large, sophisticated iron gates; sprawling green lawns; and architectural masterpieces designed with no expenses spared. Sandhurst is home to the most expensive street in the Gauteng province – Killarney Road – where the average home has a price tag of R26 million (about $1.8 million).
Camps Bay
Located on the foothills of the Twelve Apostles mountain range in Cape Town and overlooking the ocean to the west, Camps Bay treats residents to a backdrop of towering cliffs and amazing sunsets. This suburb made headlines in 2015 when it became the location of South Africa’s most expensive home, The Casablanca Mansion, which was on the market for R450 million ($35 million) at the time. The title was previously held by The Enigma Mansion, listed at R300 million ($21 million) in the neighboring suburb, Fresnaye.
Clifton
Clifton is regarded as the crowning jewel of Cape Town’s luxury property market. Spilling into the glittering Atlantic Seaboard from the base of Lion’s Head, Clifton features a distinctive display of architecture and style, boasting world-class amenities. Along with Camps Bay, Clifton is just around the corner from downtown Cape Town and the iconic V&A Waterfront.
Plettenberg Bay
If you’re searching for a more relaxed way of life, away from the bustle of the city, Plettenberg Bay has one of the biggest investment potentials in the county. The town is located on the Garden Route – a stretch of the south coast that is known for its unspoiled beauty. Beachy Head Drive, dotted with mansions running parallel to the shoreline of the Indian Ocean, is the most sought-after address for shoppers at the upper end of the town’s residential market. A landmark for Plettenberg Bay’s luxury property bracket, in price and geography, is Castle on the Cliff; this villa, perched atop a cliff with views that sprawl long into the ocean horizon, is modeled after a castle and was listed for R75 million in 2016 ($5.5 million back then).
Umhlanga
This resort town, just north of Durban on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, will make you feel like you’re living life on vacation. If you’re looking for pleasant weather for most of the year; warm, golden beaches; and a wealth (pun intended) of leisure activities, you simply cannot ask for a better location than Umhlanga to buy real estate. Market stock here varies from mansions, to seaside apartments, to luxury estates.
While these suburbs are some of the most expensive places to live for South Africans, estate agents agree that they offer excellent value to international buyers. Cape Town, in particular, continues to be the biggest drawing card for foreign investors due to the city’s cosmopolitan ambiance and outdoor lifestyle.
All images © Pam Golding Properties
