Winter versus Summer in the Bush

"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring." George Santayana.

As time passes and we move into Winter, the bush changes all around us. Mornings are chilly and we add a blanket to our beds at night. The trees have lost their leaves and the landscape has turned from a beautiful green to brown. The roads are dusty and you can't seem to keep your car clean!

It is the quiet season. Properties look bare and are more difficult to sell. Our pretty town isn't showing it's best side!

Here are some photos showing the difference between Summer and Winter. The contrast is amazing and something to bear in mind when considering buying a property in Hoedspruit in Winter!

For a selection of properties for sale, check out our website, or contact Rob Severin. We'd love to introduce you to the beautiful town of Hoedspruit.

New wave of explorers moving to the Hoedspruit

We explore “downshifting” and compare it to the early explorers.

Why should a man who could earn a steady £200 a year (which was satisfactory money in 1890) in the more civilized districts of the “Transvaal” want to risk death from malaria or blackwater fever in an area where the climate was almost unbearably hot in summer and where there were no amenities whatever?

The early settlers who moved to the Lowveld, “below the berg” were men who were tough and adventurous with stout-hearted wives. Most of those who answered the call were sturdy individuals, many of them what we would call “characters”. They took the hardships of their lives, the frequent illnesses and the encounters with wild animals as part of the price they had to pay for a measure of independence.

Had these men been content to sit at desks earning a monthly salary? Not on your life! They had taken their courage in both hands and gone into the wilds, braved all sorts of hardships in order to achieve wealth and a better life, following in the footsteps of people like Cecil Rhodes, Herman Eckstein, J.B Philips, Lionel Phillips and Carl Hanau. Some came for gold, others for a farm, a wagon and a gun – this was what all the young men needed to live a care-free life. They could combine the growing of cash crops with hunting and prospecting and call no man their master. Well, at least that’s what most of them thought.

Because of their comparative isolation and the real hardships they had to endure they had become almost a race apart, a band of pioneers whose courage has never been questioned. It is true to say of those who had come there with the intention of making their homes below the berg that, once they had settled down, they learnt to love the Lowveld. Few of them were ever to leave it in later years.

Today we find a new round of explorers coming to live “in the bush”. Conditions are somewhat easier. Malaria and Blackwater Fever are the exception and not the norm. Roads, shops, airports and air-cons have made life easier. However these explorers are still courageous, giving up corporate careers behind an office desk to follow a dream. They have the challenge of making a living and unlike the early explorers when land was cheap, large tracks of land are expensive. For some it means running a game lodge, for others it’s photography, film-making or art. The early band of explorers were tough and physical, while the new band is intelligent, educated and entrepreneurial. For a lucky few they have made their fortunes and are looking for a better lifestyle. Once here they see opportunities where others have overlooked them. For many others coming to the Lowveld, that are looking to make a living, Hoedspruit has grown quickly over ten years and the signs are good that it will continue. This band of modern explorers are bringing with them new ideas and knowledge and that is being translated into new economic opportunities. The internet has opened up many new opportunities that means people can live in the bush and earn an income. Others commute between places of work and their homes, like those who work in oil & gas or airline pilots.

As estate agents of the area we get to meet a lot of people coming into the area. Many people are looking to move to Hoedspruit. So what makes it so desirable?

Well the weather is warm. There is nothing better than sitting and enjoying an ice cold beer in a pair of shorts on your private deck under a large Marula tree, listening to the shriek of a woodlands kingfisher in the late afternoon. You can meet friends when you feel social and find peace and quiet when you want to. There is no traffic. With three stop streets on the main road you could almost miss the town if you blink. The nearest township is 30km away, crime is almost non existent. Most home owners on Raptors View (where I live) don’t even lock their doors when they go to town. Sometimes when I phone a property seller in order to set up a viewing, a response that is not uncommon is, “the front door is open” and when it’s a farm, “the key is under a rock at the front gate”.

To live in the bush with all its wildlife is an absolute privilege. Two nights ago, my family and I witnessed wild dogs on a hunt around the house. In the mornings you can awake to a giraffe eating acacia leaves next to the house. There are good schools and Southern Cross Schools located on a Wildlife Estate is the only one of its kind, teaching children respect for the environment, sustainability and with an added emphasis on nature.

So why do I liken the early explorers to the people moving into the town today? Well, the new “immigrants” are here because they want to be here. Many of them could be anywhere in the world, but they have chosen to live here. Things may be tough to start off. Some have started businesses, some have bought businesses. Some have changed careers and some have gone back to old past careers. We have foreigners and locals alike who have moved for a better life. While the early explorers were intrepid the new wave of explores are often down-shifters looking for a better life.
Downshifting is a social behaviour or trend in which individuals live simpler lives to escape from the rat race of obsessive materialism and to reduce the “stress, overtime, and psychological expense that may accompany it.” It emphasizes finding an improved balance between leisure and work and focusing life goals on personal fulfillment and relationship building instead of the all-consuming pursuit of economic success.
Downshifting, as a concept, shares many characteristics with Simple living, but is distinguished, as an alternative form, by its focus on moderate change and concentration on an individual comfort level, a “dip your toes in gently” approach. In the 1990's this new form of Simple living began appearing in the mainstream media and has continually grown in popularity among populations living in industrial societies especially the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.
In Hoedspruit terms, these “down shifters” have the benefit of being closer to nature by living on a wildlife estate, a game reserve or farm with wild animals. We get to enjoy the natural beauty of the area and explore some of its wonders such as the KrugerNatationalPark, BlydeCanyon ,Mariepskop, Olifants and BlydeRiver. We are a day trip away from the forests of Tzaneen and Hazyview, or the Pot Holes of Bourkes Luck. There are lots of hiking trails and outdoor activities that can be enjoyed. These include interactions with animals, hot air ballooning, elephant back safaris, and birding. While the major food retailers are here, we still buy our meat from the Butcher, cut on request and hand pick our vegetables at the grocer, which are grown in the Lowveld. Since we are living in game country and there are less predators across the area than historically, there is a regular supply of sustainable venison. We don’t use the words “organic” as would be regarded as redundancy. The fertile, moist foothills around Tzaneen bring with it a wide array of fresh fruit and vegetables all within an hours drive, that are delivered to our grocer.

The physical dangers and sweat energy needed by the early explorers to the Lowveld, may be thing of the past. This has been replaced by those that have the courage to earn a living in the Lowveld and break away for the modern traps of city living. But despite these challenges more and more people are willing to make these changes. This has resulted in a town that is diverse with people from across South Africa and indeed across the world. However, despite these differences, there runs a common thread. It is the desire to be in better surroundings, build more meaningful relationships and bring more meaning to ones life. And like the early explorers the rewards will be for the brave, the adventurous and those that are able to seize the opportunities.

So, if you think you have the potential to be an explorer or Down Shifter come to Hoedspruit and lets have a chat. Tell us your story. We may be able to put you in contact with the right person, know about an opportunity or be able to find you your dream home!

WILD DOG HUNT ON RAPTORS VIEW WILDLIFE ESTATE - TUESDAY 12 MAY 2015

One of the most amazing advantages to living in Hoedspruit; which is a small town in the Limpopo province close to the Kruger national park;  is that you get to experience pure African nature at its finest. Day or night wildlife is your constant companion, and the thrill of living in the bush never wanes.

Take this morning for example; driving through the beautiful Raptors view wildlife estate;  which is just on the outskirts of Hoedspruit and the place which I’m lucky enough to call home;   I’m taking my boys to school, when suddenly we are alerted to 5 wild dogs chasing a young kudu female into one of the dams on the estate.  Filled with excitement, my boys and I go chasing after the hunt, and in total awe we watch as the kudu swims to the safety of the dam island.  She then flees to the western side to escape, but unfortunately she lets out a scream as she is caught by the wild dogs.  At the same time all of this is happening we watch in total amazement as a waterbuck; which had been watching the commotion from the island; tries to help the kudu by diving towards the wild dogs, aiming his horns for battle, but sadly hits and wounds the kudu with a fatal blow instead.  The wild dogs, now confused at the disappearance of the kudu, and too hesitant to go into the water, hang around for a while before deciding to try their luck out on some other prey.

This was such an awesome start to the day, and considering that Wild dogs are the rarest carnivore in South Africa with an estimated population of less than 450, we were so lucky to get a sighting as special and as unexpected as this. Although the entire Blue Canyon Game conservancy is home to the Wild dogs, they frequent other areas of the conservancy more often than they do Raptors view wild life estate, so to witness a wild dog hunt right before your very eyes is something only very few people get to experience, and I feel privileged to be one of them.  This is what I love about living on Raptors wildlife estate; it offers me and my family exceptional wildlife experiences such as this, as well as secure bush living at its best.  The 1000 hectare bush estate is stocked with a wide variety of plains game, which allows us to take walks, jog, and cycle among the animals as well as safely explore the estate, the dams and all of the natural surroundings.

It is situated close to the town of Hoedspruit, and is only 45 minutes drive to Orpen gate, making it convenient for easy living and great for day trips to Kruger Park.

Simon Espley of Africa Geographic shares some interesting information about the movements of the wild dog pack, and below is a rough representation of their preferred habits from 20 July 2014 to past Sunday 3 May 2015.

The map below illustrates that the wild dogs spend most of their time between Zandspruit, Welverdiend and Leadwood, and it seems that the fences have some influence over their movements, although not too much.  Fortunately it appears that they respect the R40 fence – as there was an unfortunate accident  a few years back , where  up to 7 dogs we killed by a truck on the R40 road.

What’s also interesting to note is that the wild dogs tend to avoid the area favoured by the lions, despite what some Kwa-Zulu Natal research has indicated. 

 So many people dream of owning their own paradise in the bush as a weekend ‘getaway’ or as their permanent home, but up to now only a small minority has been able to afford this. Raptor’s View Wildlife Estate now makes it possible to own your own piece of African bush in the Blue Canyon Game conservancy by offering affordable one-hectare stands in a pristine and secure wildlife environment.  One of the highlights of this estate is that it is a low density bush property development, consisting of spaciously sized 1 hectare plots in the,  all separated by game tracks and natural woodland, making these bush properties both private and tranquil for residents and visitors alike.

Purchasing in the Estate is ideal for young couples, families, retired folk and those looking for a vacation getaway, and the unique home designs can be adapted to suit your exact needs.  Whether it is a rustic holiday house or a family home that you require, the choice is yours and available to you at Raptors wildlife estate. Own the lifestyle and make your dream real.  You and your loved ones can have an unparalleled experience of African bush living in the Blue Canyon Game conservancy today!

Leopard Capture on Raptors

A successful re-location ! - Excerpt from 'The Raptor : May 2015'

As many residents know, over the past few months a very chilled young female leopard has been observed on the estate, particularly around the causeway and more so in the school grounds. Excited learners were able to find tracks and scat on various occasions close to the classrooms, and on a few occasions the animal was even seen walking casually past the College classrooms. 

Due to concern by many parents that one day a young child might get too close and be injured, it was decided that the leopard should be captured and removed from the area around the school. Fred Berrange of the Leopard Conservation Project together with Byron Wright set up a trap in the school grounds and after a few nights the leopard was caught and removed to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre for several days before coming back to be collared and finally released at the opposite end of the estate.

On Wednesday 29 April all the children were given  a remarkable learning opportunity to observe  the tranquilizing and collaring of the leopard in the Earth  Circle. Dr. Peter Rogers and Fred Berrange talked the learners through the whole process  from start to finish providing them with a phenomenal opportunity to learn about leopard behavior and anatomy. After placing the satellite collar on the animal she was placed back into the crate and taken to the release site. The feeling among the experts is that due to the capture and subsequent handling over several days, that the leopard would prefer to avoid human contact and will keep well away from the school. Byron and his team will continue to monitor the situation.

Zuma’s comments with regards to property at the State of the Nation 2015

Don’t Panic

Here is something to think about with regards to land ownership by foreigners as muted by President Zuma at SONA2015:

Learned and legal minds have been writing about this for some time now in South Africa and I thought I’d share some of their thoughts concerning this.

·         No reversals are possible – the administrative and logistics, costs and legal ramifications makes it impossible to reverse any transactions already done with foreigners. Property ownership is held in personal names, companies, trusts, partnerships, shareholdings etc and just to do Deed Searches on all these and then to determine/define whether the owner of the property is strictly a foreigner (without permanent residence, work permits, business interests in the country or a majority shareholder in the property owning company) and then after this to force reversal of ownership is a task that is simply impossible.

·         There is no law promulgated and adopted yet so deals can still occur to foreigners – to enact some type of law in this regard will probably take many, many years to achieve (if ever) and between now and then (if ever) the above would apply.

·         Belief is that if ever a law like this is passed, it would be constrained to agricultural land only or agricultural land up to a certain size but even then, the above two points still apply. Sectional titles, residential properties and commercial properties in all likelihood would be excluded. For commercial properties, this is no more apparent than the R80 billion Chinese developments in Johannesburg (label the 2^ndSandton) where construction has already began with the approval of government just recently – again the point that this can never be reversed.

·         In many countries around the world and including western countries, foreigners are also not allowed to own land unless they become citizens as well so it’s not that “whacked”. In fact in Europe now, many countries offer foreigners automatic citizenship if they acquire property or establish businesses there. The same could happen here to attract investors and in fact was said as such by the president this morning he implied that foreigners are welcome to buy here but they must also invest in businesses at the same time or become citizens and invest in businesses and not just own property to be used for vacations once a year and not add value – mmmm? you can debate this for yourself

·         As muted, if no ownership is given then long leases will be given to foreigners – again nothing new here and it happens all over the world and including western countries (99 year leases up to 999 year leases). These leases can be mortgaged by banks, are tradable, renewable in perpetuity, are transferrable to surviving spouses upon death and can be used as collateral (jokingly though, do we as humans ever own a property? – we merely exclusively occupy properties while we are alive and the properties will always still be there even after many generations have come and gone)

Look, the bottom line is there has to be some form of land ownership correction in South Africa and we must all accept that. Most commentators though believe that political rhetoric is the order of the day with this current government in order to appease the majority but at the end of the day concessions will be made mainly for agricultural and rural land reform.

 Sure this form of rhetoric does not help the situation so we must just manage it until all is made clear.

Managing it means continue as normal as nothing has legally changed and if sentiment is a problem right now, perhaps the above will help you communicate this to your foreign clients.

My take to clients would be BUY NOW before the law changes!!

All info provided by Rob Severin. For any other info, contact him.

How will the new transfer costs affect you?

TRANSFER DUTY ON PROPERTY IN 2015/16- Finance minister announces that the new transfer costs are intended to bring relief for middle-income households.

Finance minister Nhlanhla Nene’s major announcement in his 2015 national budget speech, held on 25 February, declared that the rates and brackets for transfer duties on the sale of property will be adjusted from 1 March 2015,  “to provide relief to middle-income households.
This has stirred up a flurry of mixed reactions among the public, and with good reason, as the implications for buying property in the future are as follows :
Firstly, it is good news for entry-level buyers, as the Treasury's new rules mean that there will be no transfer duties on all property acquired for less than R750 000, as compared with a threshold of R600 000 since 2011/12;  and Secondly, buyers who purchase property up to approximately R2.3 million will also stand to gain with the new decreased transfer duties payable.
However, for those buyers acquiring property to the value of more than R2.3 million, the Treasury’s new rules are not so welcoming.  From 1 March this year transfer duties are set to increase to R85,000, plus 11% of the property value above R2.25 million, which equates to a large chunks of cash having to be forked out now for transfer duties.  This means for example, that in the future you can expect to pay as much as R277, 500 for transfer costs for a R4 million rand home.
These new transfer duties are expected to have a diverse effect on the property market, but overtime however, property experts believe that this effect will relax and gradually disappear, as the market adjusts to the new property transfer costs dispensation.  Tabled below are the new rates proposed for 2015/2016.

A closer look at living on a wildlife estate

We find out about the pleasures, pitfalls and profit potential of living on or investing in a wildlife estate.

Wildlife estates are synonymous with the bushveld town of Hoedspruit. This small town has grown rapidly over the last few years. Admittedly it’s grown off a small base and in relative terms the town is still small. There is no Woolies or McDonalds, no movies or night clubs. This growth has largely been a result of a number of Wildlife Estate developments that have taken place in the area. The better known estates are

• Raptors View,
• Blyde Wildlife Estate,
• Hoedspruit Wildlife estate
• Canyon Game Reserve

More recently a few newer estates have started to come online, such as Moditlo, Welverdiend and Zandspruit.

But let’s look at the concept of wildlife estates, the role they play, the profit potential, the pitfalls and pleasures of owning there.

What is a wildlife estate?

The very meaning of an Housing Estate probably changes from place to place. In Hoedspruit a Wildlife Estate means owning either a 5,000m² or 10 000m² (half a Hectare or 1 Hectare) stand on which you can build a thatch house or lodge as it’s commonly known, to predetermined architectural guidelines. Each house is surrounded by bushveld and most houses do not have gardens (although, indigenous plants are allowed). There are no fences or walls around the properties and game moves freely between the properties. It’s not uncommon for animals such as nyala, porcupine or warthog to make themselves resident around your home.

One of the biggest perks to living on a wildlife estate is that you have usage of the farm and facilities. This could be anything from hiking trails, cycling trails, picnic spots, game drive areas through to restaurants, gyms, horse stables and sports facilities. In most estates this portion of the property is the common land and for the pleasure of home owners. What makes a wildlife estate special is that it gives owners the freedom to enjoy the bush beyond just the one hectare of ownership.

The running of the reserve which includes fencing, security, roads, water holes, pumps and game is often managed by a warden or outsourced to a suitable organization and the only responsibility of the home owner is towards the levies. The levies not only include the running of the reserve but also the necessary rates and taxes. The costs are divided by the home owners and are in most cases less than one would expect to pay in a residential area.

Each wildlife estate differs and the differences are characterised by things such as the type of vegetation, the type or roads, architectural design of the lodges, the shared facilities, activities, animal and bird types.

The Role Wildlife Estates play

There have been several positive spin offs created by wildlife estates. The first would be the growth of Hoedspruit as a town. Twelve years ago Hoedspruit was a tiny town with little to offer tourists and farmers alike. Now the town has a number of shops supplying numerous items that are needed by the farming and lodge industry. There are a number of restaurants, pubs, curio shops and tourism activities that have been developed as the town has grown. This has created employment and made the town a destination on its own. A nature based school, Southern Cross Schools has started up and is the first in the world to incorporate environmental education into it’s curriculum and has students not only from Hoedspruit but also caters for students from across the globe in the boarding school.

With the growth of wildlife estates, there has been a move away from traditional farming such as cattle and agriculture, towards properties that will in future be protected as conservation areas. This has meant game numbers in the area have increased and wildlife estates allow safe areas for these animals to live. Examples have been African Wild Dog successfully breeding on Moditlo, protection of Hippo on Blyde Wildlife Estate and Rhino protection within the Blue Canyon Conservancy. While some of the wildlife estates are stand alone and have been fenced in, others have become part of a larger conservation area, allowing for greater movement of game and an overriding conservation principle and constitution.  The benefits are not only for fauna alone but also benefit the flora. Leadwood trees for example live for hundreds of years and in the past have been too easily harvested off farming land despite legal protection by law.

On a qualitative side there are benefits to property owners who enjoy the pleasure of living and being in nature not only as a witness but as a part of nature, being an actor in the play and not just sitting in the audience. People who have moved from the cities to live on a wildlife estate have experienced a new way to live in which traffic jams and the fear of crime does not exist. Children are free to ride their bikes and walk to friends without fear. Being close to nature and the ability to explore it has enhanced the appreciation of many people, young and old. 

The investment potential

Property has always been used as a cornerstone for investment. A long term view should always be taken when considering the investment potential of any property, but it certainly helps when wildlife living offers tangible lifestyle benefits from day one. Wildlife Estates like secure villages and golf course developments have showed an above investment return. There are a number of factors which add to an estates potential to appreciate in value. These include security features, estate maintenance and management, as well as aspects that increase the property’s future asking price such as large stands, master designed architecture (yes even in the bush) and of course location, location, location. Similar to coastal and golf course estates, properties with superior views within a wildlife estate command a premium over those homes without. Thus stand selection for a prospective build is one of the most important decisions a purchaser can make. Views in a wildlife estate mean different things for different people; some like large trees, others enjoy rivers and dams, some mountains, others open plains and some people are happy with just plain bush.

Wildlife estates given their exclusivity are exceptionally well serviced. They have strict access control, constant guard patrols, and surveillance systems, anti poaching, game and environmental management, infrastructure maintenance such as roads, fencing and water.

The maintenance of a property will also influence its potential value. Some wildlife estates have the advantage of an estate manager while others are managed by the home owners, who know the area and have local knowledge of service providers.

Pitfalls of living on a wildlife estate

Living on a wildlife estate comes with responsibility. With multiple owners owning a wildlife estate there needs to be rules which will protect the lifestyle of all and ensure property and property values are protected. The rules are also often there to protect the environment. One such rule that can be quite controversial is the “no pets” rule. There are multiple reasons why this makes sense on a wildlife estate yet understandably this can be a sad reality for someone who wants to bring a long standing family pet.

Architectural guidelines and building regulations are common place within up market developments and in the wildlife estates these generally take on the form of the roof type (being thatch), the size and location of a lodge and the colours and height of a building. With little exception the rules are common sense and provide clarity to property owners as to what they are and aren’t allowed to do. A purchaser considering purchasing a property should familiarize themselves with the estate rules upon purchasing. Other examples of common rules are to not feed the animals, no swimming with crocodiles and hippos, no motorbikes or quad bikes, noise restrictions, fire prevention, and commercialization of private property.

Conclusion

On the surface of it, living on a wildlife estate has many of the characteristics of other property investments. However there is also something about it that makes it very different. Unlike an investment return, there is a quality of life that cannot be measured. There is the protection of the environment that is often spoken about but always not implemented. There is the enjoyment of utilizing the whole property, at the cost of owning a portion. And finally a purchaser does not have the hassle and cost of managing the whole game farm.

Directions to Hoedspruit: How to get there

For More information contact Rob Severin at rob@century21wildlife.co.za or 083 469 3820