Kenilworth Upper, Cape Town

Nestled between the popular Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and the lush Constantia Winelands, bordering Claremont Upper and Wynberg Upper, lies the centrally-located, enchanted suburb of Upper Kenilworth. With spacious homes and well-manicured gardens, Upper Kenilworth is certainly an area to consider making your home. The area is a veritable hub of activity, brimming with abundant industry, retail shopping, office blocks and numerous residential properties. Kenilworth Upper is also home to the magnificent Kenilworth Racecourse and Conservation Area, highlighting the suburb as a pinnacle of natural beauty. Upper Kenilworth offers respectable yet remarkably affordable properties. 

Brief History of the Area: 

The story of Upper Kenilworth can be traced back to Lord Charles Somerset, Governor of the Cape Colony from 1814 to 1824, who resided on a farm in the upper region of Kenilworth. Following the development of the racecourse and train station in 1882, a large part of the area's natural landscape, numbering a total of 52 hectares of wetland was protected and conserved, owing to it being one of the largest stretches of natural vegetation in Cape Town's Southern Suburbs; Considered to be the finest example of Sand Fynbos in the Cape Peninsula, the conservation area was then recognized as one of 35 core botanical sites in the whole of South Africa. The Kenilworth Racecourse is the oldest in South Africa and is also home to the renowned Sun Met (formerly known as the J&B Met) a popular annual horse racing event that dates back to 1883. In 1989 the conservation status of the racecourse was emphasized by Dr Clive McDowell, who highlighted the significant importance of the environmental value of the site's present natural vegetation. Between 1991 and 2005, CapeNature took over the management role of the conservation area and by 2006, a management agreement was reached between the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Management Branch, Gold Circle and CapeNature, with the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area (KRCA) being formed as a result. Since then, the majority of alien vegetation has been forcibly removed, with controlled fires being routinely scheduled to promote the growth and propagation of fynbos; ultimately rehabilitating the entire area to its former glory.

Schools in the Area:

Kenilworth Upper has a few respected public and private schools in the area:

Public schools in the area include:

• Wynberg Boys High School

Wynberg Boys High School is one of the oldest and most respected traditional schools in the country for young men. The school celebrates community and diversity in an accepting environment while promoting the achievement of excellence in all spheres of school life. By using staff that are committed to growth and working closely with various universities (local and international), Wynberg Boys High School produces learners that are capable of meaningful success.

• Greenfield Girls Primary School

Located at number 3 Gwalia Road, lies the gorgeous campus of Greenfield Girls Primary School. With a mission to provide pupils with a holistic, quality education, Greenfield Girls Primary seeks to develop compassionate, creative young women with resilience, integrity, and confidence in their individuality, who are able to make positive contributions to modern society.

Private schools in the area include:

• Cedar House High School

Situated along Rosmead Avenue, lies the prestigious Cedar House High School, which offers an advanced, IEB-structured curriculum in a diverse, accepting learning environment, while focussing  on the development and growth of its pupils. With many additional extracurricular activities on offer and a compulsory social action programme, Cedar House students are fully-equipped to confront the trials of modern day life with an optimistic vigour. 

• Michael Oak Waldorf School

Located at number 4 Marlow Road, lies the Michael Oak Waldorf School, which delivers quality education, while also paying close attention to the emotional well-being and needs of its students. Michael Oak Waldorf School is a multicultural, co-educational school that seeks to awaken its pupils into being confident, creatively responsible and balanced individuals.

Shopping Centres:

Kenilworth Upper is conveniently positioned in close vicinity of a newly opened Woolworths food store as well as a Pick N Pay, both of which run along Kenilworth main road, together with a wine merchant, a Vida e Café and even a speciality butcher where you can browse from a delectable selection of fresh meats. Kenilworth Upper is also in nearby to Cavendish Square, the award-winning regional shopping centre, neatly settled in the Southern Suburbs, and known as being a premier fashion destination, encompassing a total of 180 stores. Cavendish Square boasts a premium selection of local and international brands, alongside some of South Africa's most sought after anchor tenants and also offers a wide selection of restaurants, stores, 5 forex banks and 8 cinemas all situated in a secure, safe shopping environment. Cavendish Square has an average intake of around 1.2 million shoppers per month, with stores covering leisure, fashion and select services tailored to every consumer need. Residing in Kenilworth Upper also offers a short drive to the Constantia Village Shopping Centre only 5km away for those looking for a premium shopping experience.

Distance from Key Points: 

Kenilworth Upper is yet another gateway location that gives visitors and residents easy access to several key locations, being a quick drive (or Uber ride) to the Cape Town International Airport only 17km away. Kenilworth train station is also in relative walking distance for those looking to travel to Cape Town's CBD via public transport.