Banking executive Jenitha John doesn't battle traffic in the mornings: she pops her two daughters on to a golf cart and they chug down a paved path to their lessons, safe within the confines of the fancy residential golf estate they call home. John is among a growing number of wealthy property owners who live, play, shop, work and learn behind high walls - the preferred trend in plush estate living, for those who can afford it.Top-notch estates, where properties range from R2-million up to R50-million, offer amenities such as gyms, private schools, vineyards, polo fields, shopping complexes, world-class golf courses and even medical care.According to Lightstone Property, which provides information, valuations and market intelligence on all properties in South Africa, the country's 340,289 estates have a collective value of more than R700-billion.story_article_left1After Johannesburg wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth last week revealed the top 10 residential estates in South Africa, property experts said the trend towards "one-stop" living was rising among those with cash to splash.Val de Vie, with its vineyards, polo fields, equestrian centre, parks and lakes, tops the list, followed by Zimbali, Fancourt, Steyn City and Pezula."The desirability of living on a secure estate continues to increase exponentially," said Andrew Golding, head of the Pam Golding Property group."Living on an estate is about far more than security. The new trend is towards so-called lifestyle estates which encompass 'work, live, play, shop' - all within a secure environment which provides a sense of community as well as easy access to schooling."Steyn City in Gauteng - the 900ha estate deemed the largest in the country - offers a deli, restaurant, skate parks, playgrounds, golf course, equestrian centre and 250ha of landscaped parkland.A private school, convenience shopping and a private health facility are on the cards.Paul-Roux de Kock, Lightstone's analytics director, said: "It should come as no surprise that estate living is on the rise as more South Africans are seeking properties that offer a heightened level of security and provide better investment opportunities."These, however, are not the only factors adding to the appeal of estate property buying. The fact that more developers are including lifestyle elements into their estates [such as golfing, fishing, schools and hospitals] ensures that those looking to purchase property within an estate receive maximum value for their investment."The safety and lifestyle aspects of Dainfern Golf Estate in Johannesburg sealed the deal for John five years ago.block_quotes_start The trend among home buyers towards acquiring homes on secure lifestyle estates is driven by a number of factors, of which security is but one block_quotes_end"The school - foundation to high school - is within the estate. We don't need to drive the kids far and endure the risk of being on the roads. They use the golf cart under strict security measures."John and her family also enjoy the variety of facilities and activities the estate offers - a restaurant; golf course complete with a pro shop, members' bar and halfway house; Pilates and ballet classes; extra maths classes; karate; tennis and squash courts; two swimming pools; a multipurpose pavilion; and a conference venue."There is no need to travel distances because of the variety available within the estate. Privacy is not an issue as land sizes range between 800 and 1,500m²."Olympic gold medallist Ryk Neethling said living in Val de Vie estate in Paarl was "amazing". Security was the biggest drawcard for him, after his Pretoria home was broken into seven times.He is the estate's marketing director and has established a swimming academy there.Neethling said the 40km of running and bike paths, polo fields, gyms, pools, picnic and play areas offered residents the opportunity to "pursue a healthy lifestyle" in a secure environment.Property expert Annien Borg said: "The trend among home buyers towards acquiring homes on secure lifestyle estates is driven by a number of factors, of which security is but one."These estates tend to be conveniently well positioned within easy reach of centres or hubs and good schooling, presenting further drawcards for home buyers, and they also often include a number of leisure facilities and sport amenities."govendersu@sundaytimes.co.za..