South Africa’s top private school that charges R2.2 million and has its own private game reserve
Hilton College in KwaZulu-Natal is acclaimed for being one of the most prestigious (and most expensive) private schools in the country.
The school was founded in 1872 by Cambridge-educated teacher William Newnham and magistrate Gould Lucas, close to Pietermaritzburg.
In the beginning, the school consisted of two thatch-roofed buildings, before a two-storey building was erected.
In the years which followed, Hilton College added several fields and buildings to its grounds, and ownership of the school was passed to some of the school’s alumni.
To this day, the school is wholly owned by the Hiltonian Society, a non-profit company which holds Hilton College as its major asset.
Any of the school’s alumni can apply to join the society as a member, similar to being a shareholder in a company.
“This affords him the right to elect governors, attend the annual general meeting and to vote on any resolution tabled by the society,” the society describes on its website.
Under the ownership of past pupils, Hilton College has expanded from two thatch-roofed houses to a 1,600-hectare property bordering the Umgeni River.
Included in the school’s vast grounds is a 650-hectare nature reserve, named the Hilton College Nature Reserve.
Hilton College describes the nature reserve as a “defining asset” in its impressive list of facilities and amenities.
“More than anything, it is the estate that is the defining asset of Hilton College, providing generations of boys with the same space to roam and explore,” the school says on its website.
On this vast property, the school itself takes up approximately 150 hectares, with seven boarding houses spread across it.
A unique aspect of the school is that all learners must board on the property, which makes sense given the school’s remote location in the KZN Midlands.
South Africa’s most expensive school
Hilton College is acclaimed across sports, culture, and academics, but the school’s world-class education comes at a hefty cost.
Its 2026 school fees are R441,766 per year, totalling over R2.2 million across a learner’s five-year education from grade 8 to 12.
The school also charges a once-off entry fee of R110,441 when a learner is accepted – the equivalent of one term’s fees.
The high school fees for Hilton College mean it is regularly listed as the most expensive school in South Africa.
The high price is not for nothing though, as the school boasts an impressive academic standard and offers learners a choice between two curricula.
Pupils can opt for either the IEB curriculum, the standard for many of South Africa’s schools, or a British GCE programme through Cambridge and Pearson.
The school said on its website that the British curriculum allows “specialisation and in-depth study of fewer subjects, unlocking opportunities at top universities worldwide.”
In sports, Hilton College also excels, ranking among the top 20 schools for rugby in SA School Sports’ 2026 combined school rugby rankings.
Arts and culture are also a large part of the school’s identity, with the Hilton Arts Festival being held on its grounds annually.
This festival brings together many of South Africa’s best artists and performers and draws an average attendance of over 25,000 people annually.
For Hilton College learners, the school has several world-class facilities, including an impressive state-of-the-art theatre.
Its music and visual arts programmes are also overseen by world-renowned figures, including Dan Newell, who worked with artists such as Paul McCartney and Chris Martin.
The school’s extensive list of alumni includes several notable figures in the business world, such as Paul Maritz, a former senior executive at Microsoft.
Photos of Hilton College
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