Much loved by families, Rondebosch offers plenty to do and an easy commute to the city centre.
An old, established suburb within easy distance of the city centre, Rondebosch combines a sense of history with a love of open spaces. The vast grassy Common brings wide vistas and huge skies into the middle of the city sprawl, with Table Mountain providing a suitably iconic backdrop. And the imposing historic buildings of UCT’s Upper Campus adorn the mountain slopes below Devil’s Peak and overlook the city below.
Between the university and the common, there’s a contrasting mix: the bustling Main Street with shops, cafes, student accommodation and nightlife, and on the other side of the railway line near the common and parks there are quiet leafy streets lined with large Victorian family homes.
It’s very much a family suburb. With more than its fair share of excellent schools, both government and private. Family houses in Rondebosch are in high demand especially as selection criteria and catchment areas for many of the schools become more stringent. The school run is short and older kids can walk or cycle to school, to friends’ houses and to after-school activities giving them independence. Plus there are excellent sports facilities both at school and club level. With UCT on the doorstep, student accommodation is also in demand, whether it’s investing in a student apartment for your own kids or converting a cottage or granny flat into student accommodation as an extra income stream.
You’re never far from fresh air and green space in Rondebosch, whether cutting across the playing fields of Rondebosch Boys’ High School on a run or dog walk to adjoining Keurboom Park or hitting the forest mountain trails above UCT campus and around Rhodes Memorial. With a vibrant student population, Rondebosch is better known for affordable cafes and lively nightlife than fine dining, but there’s no lack of entertainment, with the Baxter Theatre offering cutting-edge performing arts, and international sport fixtures at the nearby Newlands Stadium.
Rondebosch has a great family feel and a close community. We know most of the people in our street and the kids play together, plus it’s great having the parks and common close by.
-Kristen Anthony, resident.
Top schools:
- Rondebosch Boys’ High School
- Westerford High School
- Bishops Diocesan College
- Rustenberg Girls’ High School
- St Joseph’s Marist College
- Micklefield
- Forres Preparatory School
Things to do:
- Fly kites on Rondebosch Common.
- Enjoy contemporary performing arts at the Baxter Theatre.
- Rondebosch Potters Market bi-annually in March and November
- Watch international cricket and rugby matches at Newlands Stadium.
- Play a golf at Rondebosch Golf Club.
Nature nearby:
- Rondebosch Common: for running and dog-walking.
- Rhodes Memorial: for mountain trails
- Keurboom Park: for family and play parks
- Rondebosch Park: for picnics and craft markets
- Rondebosch Golf Club on the river: for varied birdlife
Agent insight into the area:
What do you love about Rondebosch?
We love the strong sense of community that Rondebosch residents share. Children in the suburb tend to go to the same schools and as such, they enjoy a network of friends they can easily cycle to or visit. Rondebosch is a lovely leafy suburb with plenty of parks, school grounds and greenbelts. It’s centrally located near some of Cape’s top schools and UCT, making it a popular choice for families. It’s also easy to travel to town or to the Southern Peninsula via the M5 or M3. The area offers a range of amenities, including a library, sports clubs, restaurants and shops.
Robin Midgley and Lynne Wright: Pam Golding Properties
Best things about the Rondebosch area for families?
With leafy streets and sweeping views of UCT and the iconic Table Mountain, it’s not surprising that Rondebosch has become so sought-after by families. It’s home to some of the top schools in the city and country, often ranked as top performers countrywide. Less than 20 minutes from the CBD, the V&A Waterfront and Atlantic Seaboard attractions, and close to Constantia winelands. Rondebosch is also a mere 20 minutes from Cape Town International Airport. It’s also close to many leading hospitals and home to many medical professionals, as well as catering to all walks of life with property from cottages to mansions.
Charmaine Scott-Wilson: Seeff Rondebosch
How would you spend a free day in the Rondebosch area?
If I had one day to spend in Rondebosch then I would begin the day by spending the morning exploring the beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens. A person can spend hours in the gardens and still not see all that there is. After discovering as much as possible in the gardens, I would drive to Rhodes Memorial and have lunch at the tea garden while looking over the vista of Rondebosch and the surrounding areas. The day would be ended off with a culture fix by attending a show at the Baxter Theatre in the evening for the latest in cutting-edge South African theatre.
Candice Viljoen: Rawson Developers
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
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