According to a report by TheAfricanvestor, living in Stellenbosch is an idyllic experience, with magnificent winelands, a rich culture and a thriving community that make it an appealing destination to buy property.
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While the cost of living is slightly higher than the national average, property costs in Stellenbosch are 10% lower than in Cape Town.
The area offers a variety of properties, including attractive residential dwellings of all kinds and sizes, ranging from cosy flats and townhouses to huge single-family homes and luxury vineyard estates.
Expats frequently enjoy Stellenbosch’s small-town charm, with its cobblestone streets and quaint architecture, as well as its stunning vineyards and wineries.
Stellenbosch also has easy access to healthcare, with several public and private hospitals and clinics in the vicinity.
Most people know the town for its prominent university and its long history of winemaking.
Stellenbosch is home to more than 120 wineries, from historic estates to innovative winemakers, keeping the industry on its toes. Notable wine estates include Delaire Graff Estate, Glenelly Estate, Hidden Valley Wines and Cavalli Estate.
According to wine.co.za, the cabernet sauvignon produced here holds its own on wine lists across the world. Remarkably, the town’s wine industry is also known for inventing pinotage (a cross-over between pinot noir and cinsault), which dates back to 1924.
For visitors, weekends in Stellenbosch, and perhaps cheeky weekdays, consist of touring various wine farms while admiring the natural beauty or activities the area offers.
Stellenbosch, known among locals as ‘Stellies,’ is also home to Stellenbosch University, which falls within the top 350 universities in the world. The university offers a wide array of programmes for tertiary studies.
The real treasure it holds, however, is its open campus, which seamlessly blends into the town itself. Imagine museums and art galleries being a ten-minute walk away, the perfect break between classes.
Apart from its buzzing social scene, the university is also the custodian of South Africa’s oldest academic botanical garden. Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden (SUBG) features a diverse collection of species and has long been a beacon of conservation, education and academic support.
Festivals, street soirees and markets populate the town’s annual agenda alongside the daily bustle of the oak-lined streets’ cafés, restaurants, boutique stores and galleries.
What’s more? Perhaps worth mentioning is the fact that some of South Africa’s wealthiest families reside in this town. Four of the country’s six dollar billionaires, including Johann Rupert, Koos Bekker, Christo Wiese and Michiel Le Roux, attended Stellenbosch University.
Other than this, Stellenbosch is also the home base of many prestigious high schools, such as Paul Roos Gimnasium and Bloemhof Girls’ High School.
There are a number of noteworthy nature reserves that surround Stellenbosch, and each one offers hiking routes and trails for people of all ages and levels of physical fitness.
The Jonkershoek Mountains, which are located just south of the town, are a tranquil setting that provides gorgeous panoramas, opportunities for birdwatching and picnics, as well as exciting walking and cycling paths. Other popular hiking spots include the Boland Trail, the Botmaskop Mountain Trail and Swartboskloof Trail.
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Picture: Stellenbosch Tourism
