Forest Town, Johannesburg

About the suburb of Forest Town

Forest Town is situated between Jan Smuts Avenue and Oxford Road, two main arterial roads running through some of the northern suburbs into the Johannesburg city center. On one side, Forest Town borders the Johannesburg Zoo along Upper Park Drive and is close to Wits University, making this suburb an ideal residence for many academics.

Just like the name suggests, Forest Town is a leafy, upmarket, small northern suburb with wide streets, mostly made up of larger homes but still managing to retain its village atmosphere. This suburb has 334 freehold houses and 41 sectional title units.

Interesting facts about the history of Forest Town

The small suburb of Forest Town was first surveyed on land known as Sachsenwald, now called Saxonwold, in 1908. The suburb's name was derived from the Sachsenwald plantation, where a small forest was created as trees were planted between the late 1800s to the 1920s to provide timber for the mining industry.

Labourers working in the affluent areas of Parktown and Westcliff started living in small homes in the forest to be closer to their places of employment. Over time, as these dwellings increased, the area became known as the town in the forest or "forest town."  

Schools in the area

Forest Town offers many popular established schools catering to all educational requirements. One of which is Forest Town School, which is a special needs school situated in the middle of the suburb. They cater to children with Cerebral Palsy, providing quality education as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapy for the children.

There is also Grantley College in nearby Parktown, which provides small classes allowing students to have more individual attention so as to reach their full potential.

A variety of schools also provide more mainstream education, such as the Deutsche International Schule in Parktown, where the students write both German and South African final exams. There is also The Ridge Prep School in the neighbouring suburb of Westcliff, as well as Parktown Boys High and Parktown High School for Girls. Roedean School for Girls is also within a convenient distance.

Medical facilities in the area

Forest Town is close to the Netcare Park Lane Clinic, renowned for its obstetric, neonatal, and pediatric care, as well as the Milpark Hospital, known for its trauma and cardiology divisions, and the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

Shopping centers and malls in the area

Killarney Mall caters to the needs of Forest Town residents, with restaurants, cinemas, banking facilities, and many clothing, grocery, and service providers. 44 Stanley in Milpark offers a unique experience for residents with its boutique store, eateries, and open courtyards. It allows shoppers to wander between stores filled with numerous items ranging from unique home décor, second-hand books, clothing, and furniture to modern technology items. Rosebank is also a popular shopping destination for those living in Forest Town.

Restaurants to visit in Forest Town

The neighbouring suburbs near Forest Town offer various dining options, such as the Westcliff Four Seasons Hotel with its lovely views, Flames Restaurant, or Mike's Heritage House family restaurant in St. Andrews Road, Parktown. Moyo at Zoo Lake is also very popular with its African cuisine, authentic African atmosphere, and indoor and outdoor dining settings.

Things to do near Forest Town

1. Johannesburg Zoo: It is situated in the Herman Eckstein Park, sits on 54 hectares of land, and is home to numerous animals, including gorillas, big cats, and various species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. There are also night safari programs so visitors can see the nocturnal animals and a fun walk or run of 5 to 10 kilometers every second Saturday.

2. Zoo Lake: It is very popular with walkers, joggers, and families enjoying the outdoors and is situated next to the zoo, on the opposite side of Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkview. Rowboats and a restaurant are also available.

3. The South African National Museum of Military History offers an extensive range of exhibits, from military conflicts involving South Africans, from World War I and II to local warfare and the liberation struggle. History buffs also experience displays of medals, weapons, and uniforms, as well as tanks and planes used by the armed forces.

4. Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Foundation Tours: includes walking and bus tours arranged for people to view the historic houses and gardens in the area, which are not usually open to the public. Tour Information.

5. Westcliff Stairs, Wexford Avenue, Parkview: This gated area is popular with groups of runners and hikers in training and opens on Saturday mornings. The 210 stone steps were built in 3 sections on various levels in 1922, leading to the summit of Westcliff Ridge. The summit is surrounded by overhanging trees with plenty of birdlife and offers amazing views of the area - especially in October and November when the Jacaranda trees are in bloom.

Distance to airports, main roads, and the CBD

Lanseria Airport is farthest from Forest Town, 44.9 kilometers away, while the main international airport in Johannesburg, OR Tambo International Airport, is 32.9 kilometers away. The Oxford Road bus stop for Gautrain is just 3.7 kilometers away for the daily commute.

From Forest Town, it is 9 kilometers into the Sandton CBD and 8.5 kilometers to the inner-city Johannesburg business district.

Weather in Forest Town

The climate in Forest Town is ideal, with long and hot summers, which cool down when the rain falls. The winters are brief, and although the temperatures can fall to the single digits (Celsius), it does not snow in Forest Town.

Make Forest Town your home, your story

Our specialist agent at Seeff for the area is resident agent Rose Rolfe. She is best placed to advise Forest Town clients about current market trends and pricing, and she looks forward to hearing from you. Contact Rose here and start your next chapter. 

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