Neighbourhood 11 NOVEMBER 2018
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Island getaway We bring you the lowdown on some of the top holiday resorts in Mauritius, one of South Africans’ most popular tropical destinations, page 2
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SUBURB FOCUS: MAURITIUS
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PROPERTY NEWS
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Mauritius resorts The lowdown on a few of the many holiday destinations on this nearby tropical island WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK
IMAGES: SUPPLIED & SHUTTERSTOCK
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or the ultimate tropical island getaway, Mauritius has it all: beautiful beaches, swaying palms, coral reefs, hospitable islanders and a diverse and fascinating culture. “Mauritius is about spending time at your resort sipping cocktails on the beach, spa treatments, water sports...” says John Le Riche, Travelstart. “But Mauritius has lots more to offer; there really is something for everyone.” From rum distillery tours to botanical gardens, abseiling through mountain waterfalls, pristine island nature reserves, world-class golf courses, plus Hindu temples, churches and colonial plantation houses, there’s so much to explore, if you can tear yourself away from the beach bliss of your resort, that is. With so many superb luxury resorts and hotels to choose from all around the island, perhaps the hardest decision is where to base yourself.
North The vibrant small town of GrandBaie on the north-west coast with its restaurants, shops, local markets and night life, as well as beautiful swimming beach and water sports, is lively with a laid-back island feel. It’s within easy reach of Port Louis for a dash of local city life and the SSR Botanical Gardens at Pamplemousses to revel in nature. Nearby Beachcomber Trou aux Biches offers spectacular sunsets, a 2km sandy beach, spa, a plethora of water sports, and excellent golf facilities at the nearby Mont Choisy 18-hole golf course. One of the largest five-star resorts on the island, it’s also family-friendly with a kids’ club and family villas. Zilwa Attitude is a four-star, rusticchic resort 20 minutes on shallow lagoon waters east of Grand-Baie. It gives guests a taste of the real Mauritius with a range of local experiences and two small private islands, one home to its spa. PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING 1st Floor, Block H, Sable Square cnr Bosmansdam and Ratanga roads Milnerton, Cape Town
East For pure beach bliss and luxury the East Coast is home to some of the island’s top resorts. While it’s windier than the West Coast (the prevailing trade wind blows from the southeast), the best resorts take advantage of sheltered bays and coves, and are close to the stunning Île aux Cerfs, a popular boat-trip destination, where the Bernhard Lange championship golf course is another attraction. Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok offers refined island luxury in a tranquil tropical garden setting with a Givenchy spa and personal butler service. Its water sports centre is based a short boat ride away at Île aux Cerfs. The lagoon by the resort beach is tranquil with no motorised water sports close to shore. Salt of Palmar is a brand-new resort from the Lux Collective, pioneering a sustainable travel approach that connects guests with the local community with a wealth of shared experiences and helps them explore local hidden gems as well as its beach and spa offering. Anahita Golf and Spa Resort includes unlimited golf on an excellent Ernie Elsdesigned course, a full range of water sports, and shuttles to Île aux Cerfs. Its luxurious villas and residences ensure home-from-home privacy with the option of self-catering or a private chef.
South The South Coast is the least developed and backed by spectacular mountains and forests. Le Morne on the south-western tip is a prime spot for wind-surfing and a favourite destination for those who enjoy a quieter feel with easy access to the Black River Gorges National Park for its waterfalls, hiking, birdlife, and the Chamarel seven-coloured earth.
Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa on the Le Morne peninsula combines excellent water sports including kitesurfing, with an 18-hole golf course, and has both kids club and teens programmes. It shares the facilities of next-door sister hotel Dinarobin, also a five-star. Heritage Le Telfair at Domaine de Bel Ombre is a sophisticated beach destination on the tranquil South Coast, ideally located for the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Peter Matkovich at Heritage Golf Club, extensive water sports, and a 2km sandy beach.
West Sheltered from the wind, Flic en Flac is a fishing village growing into a vibey resort town on a long sandy beach with calm waters ideal for snorkelling, diving and romantic sunsets. Nearby Tamarin Bay is known for its dolphins seen from boat cruises, and then it’s a short hop to the natural beauty of the Black River Gorges or the urban centre of Port Louis. Sugar Beach is a classic plantationstyle resort on a long sandy beach looking into the sunset. This is five-star luxury with excellent kids’ clubs, varied water sports and even horse riding on the beach. Tamarina Boutique Hotel looks out over the island’s only surf beach to open Tamarin bay where dolphins can often be seen. As part of the Tamarina Golf Estate and Beach Club, the four-star hotel has free access to the 18-hole championship golf course and shuttles to Casela nature park. There are many more excellent resorts, boutique hotels and selfcatering options, so start exploring for a memorable island holiday that ticks several boxes on your bucket list.
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11 NOVEMBER 2018
Neighbourhood
SHANGRI-LA’S LE TOUESSROK
• The vibrant markets of Port Louis for street food, spices and souvenirs • Rum distilleries • Grand Bassin Hindu Temple and sacred lake • Bois Cheri tea plantation and museum • L’Adventure du Sucre sugar cane tour • Horse racing at Champs de Mare Racecourse on Saturdays
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Mauritius is like stepping into a postcard for an idyllic island paradise. The beaches are breathtaking, as is the scenery on the rest of the island. MICHAEL ADAMS, HOLIDAY-MAKER
ADVENTURE: • Kite-surfing in Le Morne • Hike Les 7 Cascades and Black River Gorges National Park • Abseil from the Chamarel waterfall • Scuba scooter experience underwater to view marine life in Trou aux Biches • Quad biking in Frederica Nature Reserve
A HOLIDAY VISITOR, CAPE TOWN
PROPERTY NEWS
SALT OF PALMAR
CULTURE:
Being a guest at a Mauritian resort is the ultimate relaxing island getaway, where you leave the stress and rush of everyday life at the airport, and can take the time to breathe, walk along the seashore, wallow (and snorkel) in the warm ocean and not worry about anything – other than making it to meals on time and getting a well-positioned lounger next to the pool
NATURE: • • • •
Dolphin watching boat trip Blue Bay Marine Park for snorkelling Chamerel seven-coloured earth Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens at Pamplemousses • Île aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve protected coral island wildlife reserve • Casela Nature and Adventure Park
SHANGRI-LA’S LE TOUESSROK
11 NOVEMBER 2018
Neighbourhood
PROPERTY NEWS
My business neighbourhood B Tattoos are seen as modern-day social branding, but for many people it’s also a symbol of artistic self-expression or a declaration of love WORDS: TIVANIA MOODLEY
IMAGE: SUPPLIED
ronwyn Hoffman had an inherent passion for art and chose to open the Trinity Tattoos brand as a way to fulfill her creative dream. Q: How did your business start? A: I’ve always been a lover of art in any form, but tattooing has been a passion. Creating masterpieces on people, allowing them to walk away feeling proud, is my greatest fulfillment. The business began eight years ago as a home-based and mobile business and has now grown into a flourishing, professional tattoo studio. I have recently opened a branch in bustling Florida Road. Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop? A: Florida Road is a hive of activity attracting crowds of people which leads to great exposure as it’s renowned for all things happening and stylish. Q: How did you find your premises? A: My current artist heard about the studio space being up for rental, so we enquired about it. I was fortunate enough to get it and the rest is history. Q: Why are they ideally suited to your business? A: The location is great for exposure as the area is always busy and vibrant. Florida Road is a prime business hub.
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Q: Who are your neighbours? A: There is an African hair salon, a pizzeria, and a booming bar and restaurant directly below us. Q: What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area? A: The rental is competitive for the area. Q: How many people go through your store each day? A: I’m very fortunate to attract about 30 people per day, considering the studio has just opened. Q: Do you have any expansion plans? A: I would love to have a little stall at the Stables Lifestyle Market. I love the atmosphere and the vibe there. Q: Do you operate online as well? A: I’m in the process of rebuilding my website but have an active Facebook page. Q: What’s your most popular item? A: The custom-designed tattoos and piercings in general. There’s also a range of tattoo T-shirts and other tattoo memorabilia which clients find interesting.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: Trinity Tattoos 073 584 1206 bit.ly/2SQyx4j
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Neighbourhood
11 NOVEMBER 2018
RETIREMENT FOCUS
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What do retirees want?
Neighbourhood
Responding to the increased demand and different needs of the new retiree, new-look villages and developments are either coming out the ground or are at an advanced planning stage, both as precincts within existing residential estates or entirely freestanding WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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iving longer and living stronger, that’s what’s happening globally to retirees. The repercussions for this are extensive, and it’s not only about having underestimated the length of time you’ll need a pension. Given inflation and cost of living in South Africa, it’s also about those funds meeting tomorrow’s expenses. Living longer in a good state of health means that for many, retirement doesn’t have to happen at 63 or 65 – for those who’re able to, it’s healthier for mind and pocket to continue working. Even if it’s not possible or allowable to continue in your current role, many are opening small enterprises to supplement a pension or to keep active. That often means a demand for a retirement village with easy accessibility to commercial and retail hubs.
What do retirees want?
With the rise in the number and longevity of retirees – or rather, over 50s, as many of these villages now prescribe – it’s no longer around bingo nights. Today’s retirees aren’t ready for the age-old old age home scenario – they’re young in mind, fit in body, and have entirely different needs. Some, if not almost all of those needs, are pretty much what non-retirees in South Africa are looking for.
It’s a gated estate scenario, but with a few tweaks like health care and perhaps, company, to cope with the future. Rainmaker Marketing has had an ongoing Facebook survey – Retire KZN – which they conducted on behalf of KwaZulu-Natal’s massive landholders, Tongaat-Hulett Developments. The survey has just topped 10,000 respondents, each of whom were given a list of most desirable elements and invited to tick those boxes they considered important. The latest statistics from August puts security at the top of the list – 78% of respondents chose that as their number one priority, not too different from ordinary South Africans. The other elements and percentages were: on-site care centre – 50% prioritised this; pet-friendly – 43%; home-based care – 38%; clubhouse – 21%; storage space – 21%; and swimming pool – 17%. Over 50% of the Retire KZN community are looking for freehold, freestanding opportunities… which means, of course, that the other half isn’t, which opens the door for the life-rights model as much as the sectional-title one.
New drawcards for retirees Many, if not most, retirees move
into a retirement setting to reduce overheads or rid themselves of onerous household responsibilities… but not so they can slump into an armchair but rather that they can enjoy the freedom to travel, explore new hobbies or revisit old ones, spend time with grandchildren, and so on. Nearly all retirees express an interest in a natural setting, or at least, to have easy access to that… whether it’s the sea, coastal vegetation, wetlands, you name it. As humanity becomes more keenly aware of the healing and calming properties which a connection to nature holds, so does the demand for this increase. Whether it’s mountain biking, bird-watching, hiking or ambling along boardwalks through forests, this is an increasingly important factor for retirees. No longer do they want to be tucked away – they want to be out there, ideally among a wide age range, and participating in healthy outdoor activities. One of the most interesting factors to emerge from Rainmaker Marketing’s research, is 43% of respondents wanting pets. It’s long been a thorn in the side of retirees, and many of the new developments are putting up their petfriendly banners, to the delight of all.
35163 LDGB Advert-V5 conv.indd 1
2018/11/05 10:52
Yu’reInie
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ROB ROY LUXURY RETIREMENT BOTHA’S HILL
10 years ago, the ROB ROY HOTEL was transformed into the finest retirement lifestyle village in South Africa. ROB ROY CONSISTS OF: • • • •
Apartments Freestanding houses 24 hour established Care Centre Assisted living
These are situated in magnificently landscaped gardens within a highly secure estate. Additional units are currently being built in the new Inverness Wing to meet the increasing demand for luxury, yet affordable, retirement. All apartments are finished to the highest standards, fitting for the finest lifestyle village in KZN. With a choice of a wide range of facilities, security, medical care and various services, you and your family will have peace of mind. Enjoy a sundowner in the MacGregor Bar or take a casual stroll to the spectacular Community Centre for a glass of wine on the deck whilst taking in the beauty of glorious sunsets over the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
Retirement at the ROB ROY is the time to and enjoy ever� moment!
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www.robroylifestylevillages.co.za
3417ST
CONTACT: Anne Peddle 082 568 6331 OR Lynne Hannah 073 210 0577 | EMAIL: robroy@robroylife.co.za VIEW: Monday to Friday and Sundays 10am to 3.00pm | Saturday by appointment