It’s not just the cooler temperatures that attract residents to Kloof, this Upper Highway area has many other appealing qualities too.
Historically, Kloof was the little village favoured by those well-to-do who wanted to escape the humidity of Durban. The area is elevated above the sea and, hence, noticeable degrees cooler. Today, there are many more reasons why Kloof in the Upper Highway is one of Durban’s most popular suburbs.
The perception of Kloof as a quaint little village at the top of Fields Hill, is long gone, with “quaint” having given way to a community with all the commercial and retail bells and whistles which makes it entirely self-contained.
Kloof is an old established suburb in the most favoured “Country Club” environs of the lengthy Haygarth and Abrey Roads, where tall, established trees and greenery give it a wonderfully lush look and feel. The cooler climate helps the growth, and for avid gardeners, Kloof is paradise.
This suburb, in the mist belt, has a wonderful array of top-notch gardens and gardeners. One of the major drawcards is the quality and variety of schooling. In Kloof itself, there are strong government schools and a range of private schools, co-educational like Thomas More College and girls-only like St Mary’s DSG. But within 10 to 15¬minutes’ drive west, are Winston Park, Gillits, Hillcrest and Botha’s Hill, all with esteemed private and boarding schools such as Kearsney College, Highbury Preparatory School and more recently, Curro Hillcrest.
The area is literally spoilt for choice, and for families, the Kloof village lifestyle and schooling is a major plus. For Kloof, the most significant change over the years has been the rezoning of selected residential areas into commercial and retail, particularly along the Old Main Road node, where elderly homes obtained business rights and now hold all manner of enterprises.
Those who used to work in Durban, or even Umhlanga, now have the opportunity to work close to home, either in Kloof or Hillcrest. The legendary Fields Hill, a somewhat perilous, winding, heavily congested road leading down to Pinetown, can be avoided. Essentially, Kloof is contained by its topography, so it can’t become much more than a large village. Expansion has therefore taken place in the more western suburbs of Hillcrest, providing Kloof residents with the only real thing which was lacking: movies at the new, massive Watercrest Mall in the adjacent suburb of Waterfall.
Traditionally, Kloof properties have been large, often grand, freestanding homes on big stands – particularly on the Kloof Country Club side of the M4, where the quirky “Kloof acre” is the minimum allowable land size. On the other side of the freeway, half acres are permissible. Townhouses and small gated estates do exist, and currently there are a number on various drawing boards. Property-wise, Kloof, and indeed, the entire Upper Highway, is considered excellent value for money when compared with the glam of the north coast. Kloof has a very green, open and fresh-air type of feel, and it’s that outdoor lifestyle which – together with superb schooling – draws families from far and wide.
My husband’s a golfer, I’m a birder, and my two daughters are tennis mad – Kloof has a ‘happy place’ for each of us. I wouldn’t swop Kloof for anywhere else.
-Mal Plumany, resident.
Schools:
- St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls – private, primary to high school
- Thomas More College – private, primary to high school
- Kloof Junior Primary, Junior and High School
Nature nearby:
- Krantzkloof nature Reserve – Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife: comprising Molweni and Nkutu River gorges
- Kloof Conservancy: very active management of numerous nature reserves and trails (about 13), within a 15 kilometre radius of the heart of Kloof. Professional guides are available in certain areas.
- Kloof Conservancy’s annual Indigenous Open Gardens Show
- Glenholme Nature Reserve
Dine out:
- 1904: for classic American dishes
- La Pizza Pazza: for delicious wood-fired pizza
- Stokers Arms: for tasty pub grub
- Sprigs: for wonderful pastries and cakes
- Bellevue Cafe: for a great meal out with the family
- The Hussar Grill: for incredible steaks
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
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