Situated away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Valhalla offers residents a more relaxed life.
About the area
The suburb of Valhalla lies in a triangular shape in the north of Centurion between the Swartkop Air Force Base and Zwartkop Nature Reserve and remains largely unaffected by development in the rest of the expanding Centurion.
Although pleasantly isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city, the neighbourhood’s location offers quick and easy access to main arterials in the area. Valhalla is bordered by the Old Johannesburg Road (R101) on the east and the M24 in the north. Both these roads join up with the Ben Schoeman freeway. Zwartkop Nature Reserve forms the western border. The most southern corner links up with Wierda Road (M10) connecting Valhalla to other Centurion and Pretoria East suburbs.
The area is traditionally very popular with military personnel because of its proximity to military bases in Pretoria, but many other citizens also buy property in this reasonably priced suburb.
The suburb consists of approximately 200 apartments and townhouses and just over 2,000 freestanding middle-income family homes. Properties date back to the 1950s and 1960s, offering lots of space for money – inside and outside. The area boasts many established trees and parks and creates a neat impression. Valhalla has its own library, a number of churches, nurseries and primary schools. Secondary schools in neighbouring suburbs are a short distance away. The Wierdabrug Police Station in Valhalla serves the area.
Resident Jaco Meintjies says Valhalla is rich in history and he loves being part of the variety of cultures assembled in the area today. “The area is very quiet and one does not have to go out of Valhalla for anything, except maybe for a sit-down dinner. We have a very well stocked hardware shop, a Spar, Shoprite, smaller supermarkets, take away shops, Absa, butchery with the best droëwors and a DVD rental shop.”
My house is less than 400 metres from a nature reserve, which makes for beautiful sunsets, interesting animal sounds at night, stargazing, and for the avid birdwatcher there is an abundance of birds
Jaco Meintjies, resident
Top schools nearby:
- Valhalla Primary School
- Vhalliespark Primary School
- Laerskool Swartkop
- Sutherland High School
- Hoërskool Zwartkop
- Hoërskool Voortrekkerhoogte / Voortrekkerhoogte High School
Top attractions nearby:
- Spend a day at the Voortrekker Monument
- Visit the historical South African Air Force Museum at Swartkop Air Force Base
- For the adventurous Zwartkops Raceway is a stone’s throw away
- Enjoy golf at Zwartkop Country Club
- Relax at Leriba Hotel and Spa
Nearby medical facilities:
- Netcare Unitas Hospital
- Centurion Day Hospital
- 1 Military Hospital
- Life Groenkloof Hospital
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
Take a journey through Centurion here:
