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Living in Potchefstroom, South Africa:
Tips for Moving and Visiting

Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa — Source

If you've been wondering what it's like to live in or visit Potchefstroom, the Crowdsourced Explorer community can help. We asked 17 people living in Potchefstroom what someone who is considering moving to or visiting there should know. Here are their pros and cons, tips, and advice:

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Recent advice...Muhammad on Potchefstroom, South Africa: xThe party culture is great! The town itself is not as loud – rather quiet, however, when it comes to the students occupying most of the town, it is always… Read more ›

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17 comments on “Potchefstroom”

The party culture is great! The town itself is not as loud – rather quiet, however, when it comes to the students occupying most of the town, it is always a never-ending party. If you are an adventure-seeker, this place is definitely for you. Enjoy the vibrancy of student life!

We have well preserved parks that are great for picnics, dog walks and family day out. Most of the shops are within a walking distance which is helpful when trying to save up on car fuel money. We have less crime that occurs. The police ar easily accessible. We currently have libraries in each community.

Potchefstroom is a vibrant town here you can experience fun and warmth of people. Although there may not be much to do around but the aura and people around is just magnificent. It is a place where you can enjoy your biltong and take walks around the parks just to see its culture.

My city is small, it has a lot of historical sites and we are a city that has all kinds of races. It is also one of the safest places in my country. It is a city perfect for students, we have an amazing University that is suitable for local and international students.

Potchefstroom is quite a small town. There is a lot of youth about as this is a university town. The adults here are mainly professional’s ranging from doctors, nurses, lecturers and teachers. It is a well maintained town with a considerably lower crime rate than your typical South African town.

Potchefstroom is a small town in the North-West. Life in Potchefstroom is very laid back, the majority of the people who live here are students. It is two hours away from a major city, which is Johannesburg. There are plenty of restaurants around the area, all of which are within walking distance too.

It’s known for its fertile land as they are many farms and they are a lot of mining reserves there. The place is very quiet and subtle. Its refreshing for anyone looking to start a family or wanting new beginnings. They are not a lot of entertainment resources. It’s the place you would go to if you are tired of city life.

With the university in town it’s quite an energetic town. There’s much to do in the town, there are lots of places to go to and lots to do. On the Bult there’s a lot of restaurants and hangouts to choose from. It is an active town with active people.

Potchefstroom is a big town but a small city. The town has a university which is the main attraction and if it wasn’t for the university, the town would be a lot smaller (population wise). The town is quite modern and you would almost never have traffic. The town’s mall is built over a river called the Mooirivier and therefore that is also the name of the mall. And if you translate Mooirivier to English it would mean ‘pretty river’.

Potchefstroom has a very high rate of crime, it is highly advisable that you close the windows of your car at stop signs and T-junctions. Assure that you have a pepper spray on you all the time just last year a friend of mine had all his Car windows vandalised and the car radio was stolen.

Potchefstroom is a small city with a multicultural environment, it adds to a rich history of the South African story. The people in Potchefstroom are friendly and family oriented. The main languages spoken are Setswana, Afrikaans, Sotho, and English. Potch, as it’s famously called is home to the North West University, which is among the best in the country. This small town also has a few historical sites, like game reserves and the famous Potch Dam, where families and tourists like.

It is a student town, so be aware of the students, but other than that it is a beautiful town with a lot of history and great scenery. It’s a few hours drive from Gauteng, one of South Africa’s main provinces. Potchefstroom is a closely knitted community, there are always someone willing to help in our time of need.

Potchefstroom is a neighboring city to the Gauteng province, the first North-west town just after remote areas of Gauteng hence the beauty. Potchefstroom is a cold place to stay in as there are many dams and rivers surrounding it. overall my city is the city where competition is for development, hence its rapid development.

A person the moves here should consider that there are many university students in this area. The countryside is wonderful, filled with many places to explore and visit. Most people enjoy the fresh air that is not as polluted as it is in the city. The people are friendly and would try and help a foreigner in finding places they are trying to get to.

I would not advise someone to leave a life behind for my forgotten little town. The once-proud roads of Potchefstroom have become alarmingly dilapidated. At twilight the unpleasant smell of sewage drifts through the neighborhood. Frantic dogs pollute the eardrums. It’s not all a complete disaster, however – it is a small place; everything is within walking distance. I can reach the opposite side of town without breaking a sweat.

Potchefstroom is full of lively students who love to party at night. The city’s atmosphere is energetic and restless. If you are a student moving here it is a great choice. We have one of the best universities in the country. The city is full of vibrant life and will never disappoint party seekers.

If moving to Potchefstroom, you must be willing to accept that the town revolves around the North-West University. The town has, and always will be, a student-oriented community.

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Living in Potchefstroom, South Africa: Tips for Moving and Visiting

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17 comments on “Potchefstroom”

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Living in Potchefstroom, South Africa:
Tips for Moving and Visiting