About University Estate

The mainly residential suburb of University Estate is located at the foot of Devil’s Peak to the east of the Cape Town City Centre. It is bounded by De Waal Drive to the south, Mountain Road the west and the Eastern Boulevard to the north. Nearby suburbs include Woodstock and Salt River, which are reachable from two pedestrian bridges across Eastern Boulevard. University Estate has beautiful large homes on big properties, with many properties offering spectacular views of the mountain and harbor.

Under the Apartheid Group Areas Act, University Estate was classed as an exclusively “white” and a large number of residents were from the Portuguese immigrant community. After the fall of apartheid the suburb became popular among wealthier families from previously excluded racial groups. University Estate is zoned almost exclusively for residential use and there only a few businesses in the area which are mainly guest lodges and low-impact home businesses.

There are a number of open spaces in University Estate which are popular among parents and dog owners. There is a play park for younger children at the intersection of Rhodes Avenue and Haig Road, which features swings, a merry-go-round, a slide and a jungle gym. Dog owners usually prefer the undeveloped “quarry” field or the field at the eastern end of University Estate for walking their pets.

University Estate has excellent access to Cape Town’s city centre, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital and various freeways. The suburb is also close to the Gardens Shopping Centre and not far from the V&A Waterfront.

Other Cities in the Cape City Bowl: Bo-Kaap, Cape Town City Centre, Century City, De Waterkant, Foreshore, Gardens, Higgovale, Oranjezicht, Salt River, Tamboerskloof, Vredehoek, Woodstock