debbie-hathway

Where There’s Hope, There’s Life

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:07:02 GMT

Taking up the challenge of the century, Hope Spots around the world – from Mauritius to the South African coastline – aim to focus on the dire need to keep our blue backyard clean and safe.

Words by Debbie Hathway

‘ONWARD AND DOWNWARD!’ For veteran marine biologist and oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle, it’s a motto for life, having dedicated an epic career to underwater exploration and raising awareness around ocean conservation. At 88, she’s a living legend, the first TIME magazine Hero for the Planet, a National Geographic explorer-in-residence and founder of Mission Blue, SEAlliance and DOER Marine (Deep Ocean Exploration and Research). She has led over 100 expeditions, logged over 7 000 hours underwater, authored numerous books and lectured worldwide – and she’s not stopping any time soon. What motivates her to keep going? ‘Reasons for hope.’

Mission Blue now has 156 of them and counting – Hope Spots covering an estimated 57 577 967km² of the ocean, singled out by local champions passionate about protecting places critical to the health of Earth’s blue heart. These are notable for their abundance or diversity of species, a particular habitat or ecosystem, or having significant cultural or economic value to a community. Rolex supports the project as part of its Perpetual Planet initiative, which is focused on those who go above and beyond to protect and preserve the ocean. ‘Hope Spots are often areas that need new protection, but they can also be existing marine protected areas (MPAs) where more action is needed. They can be large, they can be small, but they all provide hope,’ says Earle.

The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is critically endangered. Marine turtles are protected under Mauritian law. This one is foraging on a broken bubble coral reef.

Ask her why we should care about ocean conservation and she’ll quietly enquire if you like to breathe. As the so-called ‘lungs’ of the planet, the ocean generates most of our oxygen, acts as a carbon sink – limiting climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide – and hosts rich areas of biodiversity, often invisible to the naked eye. According to the United Nations, a ‘loose patchwork of weakly enforced rules governing international waters’ has enabled the exploitation of most of the planet’s oceans, whether through overfishing, acidification and pollution, or emerging threats such as deep-sea mining.

However, the United Nations High Seas Treaty, which was adopted on 19 June 2023, is another significant reason for hope. It’s a world-first legal framework that extends environmental protections to international waters and provides momentum to the drive to have 30 percent of our seas protected by 2030.

The Réunion Seahorse can be found as shallow as five metres and as deep as 60. It prefers sandy or seagrass areas and is not found on coral reefs. Meulepas and her buddy found this one while they were muck diving in a so-called shallow wasteland, away from a coral reef; There’s nothing quite like moving through the canopy of the Great African Sea Forest, and becoming part of it.

Meanwhile, on the small island of Mauritius (2 040 km² of land area), the location of one Mission Blue Hope Spot, the sea level rise measured in the capital of Port Louis is already almost one centimetre. This is according to Francois Gemenne, a researcher specialising in environmental and climate migration issues and climate change adaptation policies. The annual world average is significantly lower at 0,44mm. Beaches are getting smaller, and within those cerulean waters, coral reefs are dying, fish are disappearing, and cetaceans are running out of pristine habitats.

Reassuringly, sea temperatures have not risen above 29˚C. Mauritius resident Greet Meulepas, a biologist, marine and lacustrine scientist, cofounder of Beyond Scuba and awardwinning underwater photographer, is grimly aware of the human impact on this island her young family has called home since 2016. ‘Mauritius has the potential to be paradise on Earth: always balmy, tropical weather, beautiful mountains, temperate ocean, breathtaking nature, a rich culture, good-natured and creative people with a sense of humour and a talent for enjoying life – in short, an amazing place to raise a child,’she says.

But when she and her husband, award-winning videographer Olivier van den Broeck, both PADI-accredited divers, moved to the island, they noticed similar evidence of overfishing, pollution and climate change to what they had witnessed elsewhere. Runoff from agricultural activities (pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers) and construction works close to shore contribute to the decline of the coral reefs. In addition, grazers like parrotfish, which live off the algae on the reefs, are being caught. The resulting uninhibited algae growth causes the corals to suffocate. Meanwhile, big trawlers and longliners are scooping the oceans empty, and local fishermen who use simple fishing lines have no choice but to resort to fishing in lagoons where juveniles live with little chance of being able to reproduce.

Spotting a weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) is tricky – with their fleshy tentacles and atypical shape, they disappear into the seaweed and algae. They’re commonly associated with the Coral Triangle but, based on her sightings, Greet Meulepas is convinced that this species is encountered more frequently in Mauritian waters.

The Coastal Waters of the Black River District Hope Spot is home to spinner and bottlenose dolphins, a resident pod of sperm whales and other cetaceans. Humpback whales come here to nurse their young. The couple has spotted green turtles and hawkbills, pink whiprays, all kinds of scorpionfish, false stonefish, frogfish, ghost pipefish, moray eels and Mauritian anemonefish (endemic to the Mascarene Islands). They also believe they are the only ones to have footage of the rarely seen slow dragonet, endemic to Mauritius, in its natural habitat.

‘As an individual, you can feel powerless [to do anything about this]. But then I learnt about Mission Blue and I nominated the Coastal Waters of Black River District as a Hope Spot to connect with scientists and people passionate about protecting the oceans, share information and success stories, and reach out to local NGOs who already do a wonderful job and work hard to protect the oceans,’ says Meulepas.

Veranda Tamarin, under Rogers Hospitality, is one of the hotels in the area that takes sustainability seriously, educating staff, guests and the local community about protecting marine life and ecosystems and getting them involved in clean-up programmes in the village, along the beach and by the river. ‘Our engagement in marine conservation and protection includes a notable programme called the Coral Squad, developed by National Geographic, which aims to help educate local children about marine ecosystems, instil in them an explorer mindset and foster a sense of responsibility and care for the ocean,’ says Pooja Etwah, sustainable development executive for Rogers Hospitality.

Meulepas continues to rally support for the cause and find small ways to make a difference. She launched the Vetiver Project with local teacher Danielle Zélin and National Geographic Young Explorer Prashant Mohesh at Jardin d’Eveil in Albion, Black River. Vetiver is a ‘miracle grass’ that can purify water and control soil erosion with its metres-long roots. The idea is to plant vetiver around rivers, waterways, golf courses, cane fields and along the coastline to purify runoff water before it reaches the sea to give the coral reefs a fighting chance. This, together with expanding the mangroves (natural filters that maintain water quality and clarity as well as controlling nutrient distribution to seagrass beds and coral reefs), is an essential part of the solution to protect Mauritius from climate change.

‘It’s my way of giving back, for I am blessed to live on such a beautiful island,’ says Meulepas.

A very lonely Mauritian anemonefish gazes across a barren stretch of what used to be a thriving, colourful coral reef.

Meanwhile, in Cape Town, Mike Barron, a marine biologist, scientist and conservationist, PADI master scuba diving instructor and founder of Cape RADD (Research and Diver Development),

champions the False Bay Hope Spot. Home to more than 3 500 endemic marine species, including the star of Craig Foster’s award-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher, it forms part of the Great African Sea Forest, the only forest of giant bamboo kelp on our planet.

Fringing Cape Town shores and stretching north for more than 1 000km into Namibia, these are the ‘coral reefs’ of cold and temperate waters, as vulnerable to climate change and pollution as their tropical counterparts and as vital in their role as a carbon sink.

They sequester as much carbon as mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass meadows combined, reducing local ocean acidification, creating a refuge for marine life, protecting our coastline from storm surges and rising seas, and mitigating coastal erosion.

Incredibly, the Great African Sea Forest is growing, compared to elsewhere in the world where global warming is causing an annual global kelp forest loss of two percent. Its protection is vital.

Barron says there’s nothing quite like diving in the Great African Sea Forest. ‘You’re inside this three-dimensional ecosystem, not just floating over it but moving through the canopy. You become a part of it.’

The forest provides a home for a remarkable assortment of creatures, mainly invertebrates. The forest canopy attracts numerous schools of reef fish while a diverse range of sharks and rays depend on the sea forest for sustenance and shelter. Pyjama sharks can be found peacefully resting in small caves, often piled on one another, while gully sharks are abundant, gathering in groups of up to 70 individuals for mating purposes. Larger species like the bronze whaler, sevengill cow shark, smooth-hounds and even great whites gracefully glide past the scene. The short-tailed stingrays here reach lengths exceeding four metres.

The benefit of Cape RADD’s association with Mission Blue is communicating their efforts in monitoring biodiversity, which leads to funding opportunities that help them train the next generation of scientists and grow a community of conservation-minded ambassadors.

They work with thousands of people each year, teaching them about ocean conservation, shark conservation and the kelp forests – packaging recreational scuba diving and snorkelling excursions with a research component that might involve collecting data on shark populations or kelp diversity. This is the ‘eco-tourism citizen science side’ of the business where Barron and his team make it easy for everyone to access and engage with this environment. ‘It can be pretty overwhelming going into the kelp forest for the first time and not really knowing what you’re looking at. As specialists in the marine world, we can communicate what is going on and show them things they might otherwise have missed. They leave with a much better understanding and respect for the ocean and get a lot out of the fact that they contribute directly.’

The False Bay Hope Spot is one of six established along the coast of South Africa by Mission Blue in 2014, in partnership with the Sustainable Seas Trust. The others are Cape Whale Coast (from Rooi Els to Quoin Point, including offshore islands); Knysna (including the Knysna Estuary, marine coast and offshore waters), Plett (linking the Robberg Marine Protected Area to the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area), Algoa Bay and the islands (a sanctuary area hosting the principal breeding colonies of the African penguin) and Aliwal Shoal in KwaZulu-Natal.

Greet Meulepas’s greatest wish is for her daughter to be able to dive over pristine reefs and swim with dolphins and turtles. Hope Spots will ensure that when she is old enough to dive, the reefs and their inhabitants will be there in an immaculate blue paradise for all to share.

missionblue.org

Image credits: Greet Meulepas; Cape RADD

Published in Val de Vie magazine, 2023

*This story won a SADC Media Award in the National Print category for 2024.

Construction begins at Harmonie Golf and Beach Estate in Mauritius

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 00:16:18 GMT

If you’re looking ahead to living in the most exclusive enclave in the west of Mauritius,

Harmonie Golf and Beach Estate must be at the top of your list.

Words by Debbie Hathway

Construction begins on the new luxury development at Les Salines in Q1: 2024, and delivery is expected within three years. Work on the new 18-hole GEO-certified golf course is already underway, giving avid golfers another reason to seriously consider moving to Mauritius with its reputation for some of the most magnificent golfing facilities in the world.

“Les Salines is not just a road; it’s a lifestyle – marking the entrance to a modern town with many attractions and a wide range of residences from exclusive villas or beachfront apartments. It will all be right here. Tucked away in the heart of Black River in The West, this newly constructed cul de sac will provide access to luxurious new resorts and property developments with all their related five-star amenities. Thanks to its exclusivity, it will be the wealthiest area on the island in the next five years,” says Rinie Boshoff, Pam Golding Properties (Mauritius) Development Manager for the West Coast.She says the peaceful atmosphere that comes with the location of Harmonie Golf and Beach Estate is the epitome of “bushveld bliss”. There are 220 luxury villas and serviced plots dotted across 150 hectares around 54 metres above sea level. Homes look onto Le Morne and La Tourelle mountain from the other side of a horseshoe-shaped lagoon. Plots average 2,000 square metres, with a built area from 401 square metres. “You can buy a serviced plot, which, aside from exterior specifications, allows you to decide on the design and size of your villa. Or choose a plot-and-villa option, offering three villa concepts with flexible add-on extras. Whatever you decide, your home will reflect your lifestyle and decor preferences in a truly curated way,” says Rinie.

NATURAL WONDERS

Harmonie Golf and Beach Estate is a Property Development Scheme (PDS), approved for real estate sales to foreigners. It features bespoke, sustainable, passive design that works with the tropical climate for optimal temperature control. Bioclimatic architecture harnesses natural ventilation and light while each villa’s orientation limits its energy footprint. Renewable materials are used and endemic plant species feature in the landscape. Energy and water-saving equipment is provided, wastewater treatment and reuse facilitated, rainwater harvested and recyclables collected and sorted. Buyers can also opt for a 100% off-grid villa.

Villa N is designed for space and privacy, Villa S offers sweeping views and a central courtyard while Villa W boasts beautiful natural light as well as panoramic golf course and ocean vistas. General features include plenty of wood panelling, a rustic garden, swimming pool, and an ample patio. Property investment here promises strong capital growth and ensures permanent residency. Prices start from €490,000 for a plot and €1.61m for a villa.

ART OF LIVING

Meanwhile, residents on the estate get privileged access to Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa and Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa and their pristine beaches, while Harmonie Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa is under construction. Once completed, homeowners can enjoy the state-of-the-art Sports Club, rejuvenating Spa, and fun-filled Kid’s Club, all conveniently located just a short stroll from your home. Moreover, there will be a clubhouse, tennis courts and defined area for safe boat parking and launching.

When tomorrow never comes

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 08:06:16 GMT

Words by Debbie Hathway

November is a bittersweet time of year. I get the usual yearning to return to Mauritius (my body knows when it’s time to recharge), but it’s also a special time to experience paradise island when the sun coaxes inconceivable shades of blue from the ocean, and the “flamboyant” trees are full of brilliant red flowers.

16 November 2016 was the first time I visited Mauritius in the summer. It was a long weekend break made possible by sponsored flights through Air Mauritius. My mom had been fighting cancer for too long, having beaten it once before, and I needed a boost to get me through the next phase.

However, that weekend was the beginning of the end of my mother’s life. Had I known that was imminent, I would never have gone. I was in denial, firmly believing she would turn the corner. I returned to Cape Town that Sunday morning. She passed away that night. My father and I were with her.

So, when I get the social media reminders of my time there, those memories come flooding back and with them, the learning. I was at work the day after she passed, sending a magazine to print because there was nobody else to do it. I was retrenched a few weeks later.

Breaking old patterns

It took me years of soul-searching to accept that I could not look to others for praise, reward, or recognition for my effort, no matter how many times I burned out trying to prove I was worthy of the role or task at hand – a pattern I followed to my detriment for most of my career. I had to find that value for myself with help from peers, friends, and even strangers who connected with me and my work through social media. Seeing my writing through their eyes eventually changed my perception of myself and my skill. As a writer, one is constantly plagued with self-doubt, worrying about whether a story will be accepted and approved by an editor, and if the readers will like it. The thrill (and relief) of a figurative thumbs-up never gets old.

For me, Mauritius has always been a restorative space, which kick-started my healing long before I knew I needed help. My writings are not just another Mauritius travel story (I write about island property investment, medical tourism, and music, too) – each episode reveals something life-changing, and I’m grateful to all those editors who have encouraged me to write from the heart and been open to sharing those stories, as well as my hosts and their PR teams who have enabled me to alert others to the special people and places out there.

Opera under the stars

It started in earnest at One&Only Le Saint Géran where I had a very special introduction to Francesc Miralles and his Harmonia programme, and of course, “my band” – the Famous 9. There are many brilliant musicians on that island, but they got my attention the night we arrived, and I walked into that magnificent reception and heard opera – my mom’s favourite genre. They were singing something by The Three Tenors, and I’ve been a groupie ever since.

What is inextricably linked to my mother’s philosophy of life is LUX* Resorts and Hotels. Their mission is to help guests “celebrate life”, something my mom used to talk about ad nauseum. She was always on about wanting to “live” – long before she became ill – trying to break free of her challenges and limiting mindsets while teaching me how to do that for myself. She became the top-earning character model in Cape Town, after being discovered in her fifties.

Mauritius healing

I think the warmth, love, and appreciation of the locals, who delighted in my response to their world, changed me, as did the multitude of healing treatments I have enjoyed over the years at Shanti Maurice, Saint Géran, Shangri-La Le Touessrok, LUX* Belle Mare, LUX* Grand Gaube, SALT of Palmar, LUX* Le Morne, Beachcomber Dinarobin, Beachcomber Victoria, Anahita, Long Beach, and Ambre.

Life is all about balance. Learning never stops if you are open to introspection, awareness, and self-improvement, and I am forever grateful to my mom for introducing me to the healers on home soil who continue to help me navigate this path through life. I’m somewhere between my mom’s mantra: everything in moderation, and my dad’s Desiderata reference – “Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.”

What buyers want

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 23:35:42 GMT

Getting back to nature is still a thing, as is getting that highly coveted second passport.

Words by Debbie Hathway

Looking for Plan B

When foreign shores beckon, South Africans can get a very respectable bang for their buck, plus residency, in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta, and Mauritius, among others. But how does one choose? One thing is certain — it can’t be an emotional decision. If you’re after residency or citizenship in exchange for property investment, working out the pros and cons of each attractive destination can be daunting. To help buyers decide, Henley & Partners has developed a new analytical tool in partnership with Deep Knowledge Analytics, called the Best Investment Migration Real Estate Index. Potential investors can use this tool to analyse the reputation of and quality of life in the host country, GDP, the minimum property investment amount, potential rental income, associated property costs, application-processing efficiency, residency requirements, restrictions, saleability, and crypto-friendliness.

Follow the sun

Dubai tops the index’s rankings, scoring well for rental-income potential and lower price of property per square metre compared to other major international centres. Some fans also say the desert city has attracted loads of expats who appreciate its speedy modernisation that hasn’t compromised culture. Spain, Montenegro, and Turkey are listed next, with Portugal, Thailand, and Greece firm favourites for lifestyle. In Montenegro, property investors can choose between glamorous coastal resorts and new establishments servicing increasingly popular mountain and ski areas in the north. A lot of research is needed to make the right decision for you and your family. After all, a second passport could be the best legacy you leave them. Even though Portugal and Spain, for example, appear similar at face value you’ll discover more differences the deeper you dig.

Ocean frontage

Nick Whitten, Head of UK Residential and Living Research at JLL, credits the pandemic for bringing the best of town and country together. “Covid-19 triggered a boost in demand for the things we typically associate with rural living, causing strong house price growth outside towns and cities across most of the developed world. Demand has bounced back for cities, particularly in areas that offer a village feel.”

Mauritius is in with a shout at 14th place on the index, appealing to South Africans who want a better life in a safe, secure, well-governed regime, close to home. You can buy your dream home here for $375 000 and get permanent residency for three generations of family members. Property costs, fees, and duties are low and there is no capital gains tax.

Seychelles is another idyllic island destination that has seen strong capital growth and a buoyant rental market that has realised hard currency returns for investors. Eden Island, marketed by Pam Golding International, offers a unique opportunity for offshore investment and Seychelles residency in a proven successful development. It boasts world-class beaches, fishing, diving, and snorkelling, the most modern superyacht marina in the Indian Ocean islands, and easy accessibility with direct flights from all major destinations.

When it comes down to it, the beach lifestyle gets my vote every time.

An extract of this piece was published in the March edition of Wanted, 2022.

11 Wellness practices from Africa to Asia

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 08:27:43 GMT

Join in The Lux Collective’s wellness programme this Global Wellness Day. Follow one of the participating resort’s activities on their IGTV channel and join in if you can!

Words by Debbie Hathway

When people ask me “Why Mauritius?” I always say because of the way I feel when I’m there. Happy. Energised. And well. That sense of vitality, health and wellbeing sustains me for months between visits – except it’s been a very long 18 months to date, thanks to the pandemic.

It’s not even a romanticised view. I usually travel to Mauritius in the low season, about three times a year, when the weather is not perfect and I’m there to work, not play. My first visit to LUX* Belle Mare was during an anticyclone so most of the outdoor activities were curtailed. However, I was able to interview Mattias Rendefors, a former tennis pro who is also the resort’s wellness concierge, about the importance of sticking to a daily exercise regime.

At LUX* Belle Mare beach

Global Wellness Day

This year, friends of LUX* Resorts & Hotels, SALT Resorts and Tamassa Resorts will be able to get a little wellness inspiration online. The group will stream a 10-hour IGTV Wellness Festival in honour of Global Wellness Day on June 12. Would-be travellers can watch from their armchairs or join in at home, where possible. I’m up for yoga, stretching, relaxing and sega dancing. The bath ritual can happen later. Why not?

11 wellness practices

7am Sunrise yoga on the beach – SALT of Palmar, Mauritius
8am Wellness boot camp – LUX* North Male Atoll Resort & Villas, Maldives
9am Stretch and relax on the beach – LUX* Belle Mare Resort & Villas, Mauritius
10am Fitness tips for busy professionals – LUX* Le Morne Resort, Mauritius
11am Paddle yoga – LUX* Saint Gilles Resort, La Reunion
12pm Scenic tour of the village on bicycle – LUX* Chongzuo, Guangxi, China
1pm Nature walk and stretch – LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas, Maldives
2pm Bath rituals to try at home – LUX* Grand Baie Resort & Residences, Mauritius
3pm Nature trail with mascot, Mazaki – LUX* Tea Horse Road Benzilan, China
4pm Traditional sega fit dance – LUX* Grand Gaube Resort & Villas, Mauritius
5pm Burning sorrows ritual – Tamassa Bel Ombre, Mauritius

Collectable experience

Each resort will also launch a wellness-focused, one-of-a-kind experience that is designed to change the way we travel.

Luxury outback

Subi Mungroo is one of my favourite chefs at LUX* Belle Mare. He’s usually in the kitchen at Amari.

Start your day with a sunrise horse ride before cooling off with “home-grown” coconut water at the LUX* Belle Mare Resort & Villas’ onsite farm, Aubergine. Pick herbs and plants to prepare your own body scrub and indulge in a 75-minute spa experience at the Farm Shed. The resort chef serves a delicious health lunch there afterwards.

Mindfulness the SALT way

Detox with a plant-based lunch at SALT of Palmar before having a rejuvenating SALT facial. A hike in Bras D’eau National Park is highly recommended for a little “nature bathing”. The resort’s wellness coach will lead a guided tour that incorporates meditation and gentle stretching to prepare you for the transformative Brahma Kumaris experience.

Hug me honey

LUX* Grand Gaube Resort & Villas’ in-house honeybee apiary provides honey for the resort menus and LUX* Me Spa. Visit the eight hives, with their 240,000 bees, and learn more about the resort’s beekeeping efforts. Create your own honey scrub followed by a signature honey cocktail before enjoying a honey-paired dinner curated by the executive chef. Guests will be given a beekeeping kit to take home.

The spirit of island living

A LUX* Le Morne Resort team member will guide guests to a snorkelling experience on a traditional Mauritian pirogue. There is an option to take a garden-to-glass cocktail class in the resort’s herb garden, followed by a course on making vegan desserts. You can also go plogging (jogging and picking up litter along the trail) at the Black River Gorges National Park, which is home to more than 700 species of endemic flora and fauna as well as endangered wildlife.

**About LUX* Resorts & Hotels**

LUX* Resorts & Hotels helps people to celebrate life by delivering consistently on the promise of a different kind of luxury – hospitality that is Lighter. Brighter.

For more information or to make a reservation, email reservation@theluxcollective.com

What makes a winning residential estate?

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 23:25:19 GMT

New World Wealth reports that 40% of SA’s wealthiest citizens are buying property in luxury gated developments. HomeFront reveals how top-notch estates continually evolve to ensure they stay ahead of their game.

WORDS: DEBBIE HATHWAY PHOTOS: Supplied

Published in Business Day HomeFront 24 January 2020

Residential estates are becoming more and more popular internationally, and SA ranks second only to the US for the number of such developments. SA is a global pioneer in residential and developments, reports New World Wealth, with annual research revealing a move away from traditional golf estates towards lifestyle and retirement estates.

NEXT LEVEL

Multi-award-winning Val de Vie, between Paarl and Franschhoek, is rated the top estate in SA. It has positioned itself as a wellness estate in line with global health and wellbeing trends. “Just as in sport, it is much harder to stay on top than to get to the top,” says Val de Vie group marketing director Ryk Neethling. “We’ve managed to improve our offering every year over the past seven years. Our excellent security brings peace of mind, which is crucial for wellness, and our farms will produce food for our restaurants and residents. The sports and medical facilities are world class and our strong community is a key factor in pursuing a long, healthy life.”

After the recent drought, the estate now has its own water plant. “We use a fraction of what we used before,” says Neethling. “All our irrigation systems have been upgraded and we can pinpoint exactly when we lose water anywhere on the estate. These are large investments but they make a big difference.”

Security at Val de Vie is upgraded on an ongoing basis. “This is a daily focus for us. We have multiple layers of security and are very proud that there has never been a breach of the security perimeter,” he says.

Besides prestigious schools in Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch close by, one of the residents is bringing the Bali Green School concept to the estate. The school is being built right outside our gate and is set to open in January 2021. We are getting enquiries from all over the world from people who want to live here and have their kids attend. It’s very exciting,” says Neethling.

COMFORT ZONES

Local investors are leading the international trend towards buying in a secure estate that is linked to premium educational facilities. Sitari Country Estate near Somerset West has a Curro school that caters for children from the age of three months through to Grade 12.

“A new upmarket shopping centre also contributes to convenience,” says Claudius Combrinck, executive director of property sales for Sitari Country Estate.

Security remains the top consideration when choosing to live in an estate rather than in a traditional residential suburb, and Sitari keeps working at improving its standards in this regard.

Combrinck says the Amdec Group will develop more homes and communal facilities within Sitari this year, given that lifestyle and recreation also rank high among the draw cards of secure lifestyle estates.

URBAN PARK

At Steyn City near Broadacres in Midrand, Steyn City School offers world-class education to pupils from Grade 000 to high school. In addition, a beautiful commercial park as well as formal and casual dining facilities allow homeowners to enjoy the ultimate live/work/play lifestyle. Prices of homes and apartments range from R2m to R40m. Steyn City is the primary residence for most of its buyers but a handful of investors have bought their properties for older children who are studying in Gauteng while they live elsewhere in the country.

This development is positioned as an exceptional lifestyle resort incorporating nearly 810ha of landscaped parklands. The developers have considered every conceivable lifestyle amenity to accommodate a wide range of interests and pursuits. Everything from golf and horse riding to outdoor gyms and yoga mats are offered. There are also tennis courts, children’s play nodes, an indoor aquatic centre, a mountain-bike trail and more than 40km of promenade for walking, jogging and cycling.

SAFETY FIRST

The Arabella Country Estate near Hermanus is one of the most scenic lifestyle estates in the country. With homes priced from R3m to R15m, it spans 113ha with 1.6km lagoon frontage. The estate is also home to an award-winning spa and a Peter Matkovich-designed 18-hole golf course with a clubhouse.

“The state-of-the-art security system has just been upgraded,” adds Johann Larney of RE/MAX Town and Country. “With so much to offer, Arabella is seeing an increase in young professionals and families settling here permanently.”

Fibre optic cabling ensuring high-speed connectivity available to homeowners who subscribe to the service – a plus for those who work from home. “We are 110km from Cape Town. With mobile offices and home-based businesses on the rise, Arabella has become a nice alternative,” says estate manager Dirk Uys.

Residents and visitors now have access to the Bot River Lagoon for non-motorised boating activities and fishing, and a new lookout deck built at the water’s edge is the perfect spot for lunch and sundowners.

NEW ADDITIONS

Fancourt in George is set on 613ha – that’s three times the size of Monaco. The estate is divided into seven residential areas, each with their own architectural theme, and prices range from R3m to R50m.

“The most recent addition is Noem Noem, an area of 45 vacant stands with only nine opportunities left,” says Stephen Murray, Pam Golding Properties area manager in George. “Noem Noem is inspired by the country living character of Links Ridge and the modern style of Montagu Ridge.”

Fancourt is 7km away from George Airport, which offers flights to and from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. Hospitality facilities at the estate include the Manor House Boutique Hotel, Fancourt Luxury Hotel & Spa and a hair salon.

Golfers will relish the three championship courses designed by Gary Player, a branch of The Pro Shop and comprehensive practice facilities as well as qualified PGA specialists.

RESORT LIFE

On KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast, Zimbali boasts an impressive natural environment with beach frontage and forest surrounds. Prices range from R5m to R75m.

The development has evolved to incorporate residential lifestyle estate characteristics and create one of the most successful mixed-use resorts in SA. It is well established as a highly popular vacation destination and offers large homes as well as smaller, lock-up and go units.

“While the primary residence component has grown over the years, an element of ‘semigration’ persists, with the necessity for business-related travels requiring a level of comfort so that family left behind are assured of a safe estate lifestyle,” says Sascha Bausch, Pam Golding Properties sales specialist in Zimbali.

There has also been a shift in the age of buyers investing in Zimbali. According to a 2019 Lightstone report, 62% of them are below the age of 49.

Recent major refurbishments to facilities include heated pools, comprehensive children’s play areas, a putt-putt course, flood-lit tennis courts, squash courts and a state-of-the-art gym. In addition, the estate opened up some dams for catch-and-release fishing and improved its existing nature trails to promote walking, running and cycling.

New World Wealth notes ongoing countrywide trends among developers creating small neighbourhoods within estates. Parks, birdlife, walks and trails are rising in popularity, whereas many lifestyle and golf estates have started to add luxury apartments to their offerings.

Top 10 residential estates in SA for 2019

This is how New World Wealth ranks SA’s top estates (in alphabetical order):

Arabella Country Estate, near Hermanus in the Cape Overberg
Atlantic Beach Estate, in Melkbosstrand outside Cape Town
Fancourt, in George on the Garden Route
Pezula Private Estate, in Knysna on the Garden Route
Simbithi Eco-Estate, in Ballito near Durban
Steenberg, in Cape Town
Steyn City, in Midrand
Val de Vie, between Paarl and Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands
Whale Rock Ridge, in Plettenberg Bay
Zimbali, next to Ballito near Durban

The top estates per category include:

In SA: Val de Vie
In Gauteng: Steyn City
In the Western Cape: Val de Vie
On the Garden Route: Fancourt
In KwaZulu-Natal: Zimbali

Mauritius shapes up

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 18:30:38 GMT

Demand for residential property surges on this Indian Ocean island

The World Bank’s ranking of Mauritius as the top African country for doing business is the latest accolade boosting activity in the island’s commercial and residential property market.

WORDS: DEBBIE HATHWAY

Mauritius lies 25th out of 190 countries, ahead of SA in 82nd spot. Construction and real estate is the second fastest growing sector on the island, according to the Mauritius Board of Investment (BOI), with a gross domestic product contribution of 10.4% — just 1.6% behind the financial services sector. The trend is set to continue now that foreigners may buy apartments in condominium developments of at least two levels above ground, with BOI approval. The price? Not less than six million Mauritian rupees (about R2.1m), which does not offer the buyer permanent residency.

This option is in addition to the investment opportunities within an already approved Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) or Real Estate Scheme (RES), both of which have now been replaced by the Property Development Scheme (PDS). This has relieved developers of the obligation to sell at least 25% of residential units to Mauritian citizens or members of the Mauritian diaspora. A minimum investment of $500,000 (about R5.9m) in a PDS allows investors permanent residency.

“Mauritius is getting busier. People are relocating and setting up businesses,” says Pam Golding Properties Mauritius director Richard Haller, who moved there with his family last year. “What drives this is essentially the ease of doing business from Mauritius.

“The government offers several incentives, including a harmonized tax rate of 15%, tax-free dividends and no capital gains tax,” he says. “And the island is just a four-hour flight from Johannesburg.” Pam Golding Commercial is launching in Mauritius this month to help those wishing to establish a business on the island. “There is so much opportunity here it makes sense to offer a commercial solution,” says Haller. The major areas of residential development remain Grand Baie in the north and Black River or Tamarin in the west, which is home to Tamarina Golf and Beach Estate, La Balise Marina and other high-end developments.

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Top 10 residential estates in SA for 2019

Mauritius shapes up

Demand for residential property surges on this Indian Ocean island

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