Johannesburg

Although Johannesburg is well known for its sprawling mining areas and abundance of factories and places for commerce and business. It is also well known for picturesque places in which to live. Glenvista is one such suburb, which will transport you into a different mindset from the one in which this highly regarded city is famous for. 

Welcome to Glenvista, a place where one can unwind in a particular location of the city which is well regarded for being inspired by Europe. Although it has a formidable Portuguese community it still retains a distinctly universal charm. One of its leading attributes is that it retains certain natural elements that could only be found in Africa. The area falls within the mandate of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and has lots to offer in terms of entertainment and the outdoors. 

Even though Glenvista is an urban area located in one of South Africa’s biggest and most developed cities for industry and commerce, it's also a revered location in terms of wildlife. Residents have often commented that meerkats and guinea fowl can still be seen running free, strangely uninhibited by humanity and its progression and buildings. 

One can also view large families of dassies who have made various parts of the veld around Glenvista their home. Drivers are urged to look out for these cute but sometimes hazardous animals. Hooting owls can also be heard during certain times of the day and night, enabling the area to have a unique balance between, urbanity, wildlife, and nature.    

Glenvista is a suburb that promises the best of both worlds and its also easily accessible via various forms of transportation. Including different types of buses and minivan taxis that run throughout greater Johannesburg. 

Brief history of the area

Glenvista’s historical significance lies very much within its breathtaking flora which is unique and indigenous to this part of South Africa. Some of the the nature includes some highly regarded veld and thorn bushes. Aforementioned the area is also well known for various varieties of wildlife. 

Glenvista is a great place in which to learn about South Africa’s history. The Apartheid Museum is one such place which is highly regarded in terms of getting to understand the extent of the harrowing apartheid system which ended in 1994. Many people from all over South Africa and the world visit this location to visit the museum, this is one of the historical aspects that has made Glenvista popular for numerous reasons. Constitutional Hill is another location nearby which is dedicated to transformation and celebrating South Africa’s young and vibrant democracy. This is another location that many people from all over Africa and the world visit to get an overview of South Africa’s fascinating history.  

Infrastructure

Some of the roads that connect Glenvista with the rest of the sprawling urban expanse of Johannesburg include Bellairs Drive, Kliprivier Drive, Walsingham Road, Cathedral Peak Avenue, Mount Prospect Ave and Biggarsberg Street. Glenvista is a highly affluent and developed suburb which enjoys world class infrastructure and amenities. Buildings are generally well kept and maintained due to the location being a highly favourable location within Johannesburg.  

Schools in the area

Glenvista is well known for having numerous world class education facilities and schools. Some of the more prominent ones include Glenvista High School, Glenvista Primary, Little Owls Montessori Nursery School, Comaro Valley Nursery School, Glenanda Primary School, Mulbarton Primary School Fees and Harvest Christian School. 

Hospitals nearby

If one wishes to visit a medical facility or hospital in Glenvista for whatever reason it would seem the best options include Netcare Mulburton Hospital, 1 on Laubscher, Victor Dozetos Optometrists, South Rand Hospital, Netcare Union Hospital, Netcare Clinton Hospital and Rest-A-While Cancer Hospital.  

Distance from key points (Airport/CBD)

Glenvista is well situated to the OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park. If one wishes to travel to the airport from this particular suburb within Johannesburg it will take roughly 27 km via the N12 and will be 31.7km in distance. Via Francois Oberholzer Freeway it will be 36 minutes travel time and 35.6km in distance. Via the R24 it's believed to take 37 minutes and is 34.6km travel time.  

Malls/Shopping

The Glenvista area is also well known for their shopping centres and malls which include the Glenvista Shopping Centre, The Glen Shopping Mall, KG Mall, Glenanda Village Shopping Centre, Mulbarton Shopping Centre, Comaro Crossing Shopping Centre and Panorama Shop and Leisure Centre. 

Restaurants

Glenvista is well known for its wide selection of restaurants which include Little Italy, II Camino Italian Restaurant, Asia House Glenvista, Foo Wah Chinese Restaurant and Take Away, Turn and Tender Bassonia, Pizza Del Forro and Burger Perfect Glenvista.  

Special Attractions

There are many arguments around whether or not Johannesburg is the world’s largest man-made forest. Some say that this is highly debatable. However this doesn’t mean that Johannesburg in its entirety isn’t blessed with some fantastic natural areas and greenery.  Glenvista is no different, one such area which has become famous in this particular location for its abundance of natural beauty and fauna and flora is The Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve. Visitors are welcome to go on guided hikes within this popular nature reserve as well as learn more about the birds and wildlife who reside there. It would seem there is also more than meets the eye and and the area is hugely significant to the ancient history of South Africa, which goes back thousands of years.  

“Stone-age man must have had a presence in the area because artifacts relating to them have been found in the reserve and this seems to indicate that they used the reserve as a hunting ground. The Sotho speaking Tswana people lived and farmed in the area from 1400 and after they had abandoned their villages in 1750,  a “voortrekker” farmer named Sarel Marais occupied the land in 1850, when he and his family bought the western section of the farm Rietvlei”. - http://www.klipriviersberg.org.za/about.html

Other special attractions and activities available in the area include Paint in The Park. Nature Reserve in Kibler Park. Gold Reef City. Casino in Ormonde, The Globe Theatre. Theatre, Gallery or Museum in Ormonde and The Lyric Theatre. Glenvista really is a hive of entertainment, history, nature and excitement. 

Time to invest

Glenvista really has a lot going for it and it would seem that there really isn’t a better time to invest in this highly regarded residential area. Leading residential property company Century 21 has 4 listed properties for sale in the region. All are highly favourable and well priced. It would seem there really isn’t a better time to invest in this fantastic area. Urban living is great however it's also nice to be in touch with nature. This is what a location such as Glenvista is all about. With nature reserves nearby, world-class shopping and options to transport oneself into different natural landscapes even within the confines of a city. This is what sets Glenvista apart and is what's making so many people choose this part of the Gauteng province for their next residential home.