Neighbourhood 8 APRIL 2018
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Neck & neck
Discover what puts game reserves near Pretoria and Joburg up there with the best in the country, page 2
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SUBURB FOCUS: GAME RESERVES
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PROPERTY NEWS
8 APRIL 2018
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Game reserves in and around Pretoria and Joburg Enjoy a wilderness experience like no other WORDS: BETSIE LOOCK-VAN DER MERWE IMAGES: GERHARD VAN DER MERWE, GORDON ARONS & SHUTTERSTOCK
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iving in one of Gauteng’s big cities doesn’t mean you can’t get up close and personal with the Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion). There are a variety of game reserves located well within comfortable driving distance from Pretoria and Joburg.
Big Five
Set in a crater of a long extinct volcano, the Pilanesberg National Park is the country’s fourth-largest national park and covers 55,000ha of bushveld plains. The park is about 180km northwest of Pretoria and Joburg and is close to the Sun City resort. This reserve is home to the celebrated Big Five. With a huge number of other species – such as cheetah, brown hyena, giraffe, zebra, springbok, hippo, crocodile and various bird
species – this game reserve is pure bliss for the wildlife enthusiast. With breathtaking scenery, including the Pilanesberg, Mankwe Dam, rocky outcrops, waving grasslands and big camel thorn trees, it also offers great photographic opportunities. Pilanesberg National Park offers self-drive or guided game drives and overnight accommodation ranging from self-catering to luxury lodges.
Child-friendly
Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve is located about an hour’s drive from Pretoria and Joburg in Gauteng’s northwestern countryside and falls within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. While the focus is on wildlife, the park offers a fun-filled outing suitable for every member of the family.
A day pass to the reserve, which is home to about 650 head of game, includes a self- drive route and allows visitors access to a wealth of activities and amenities at no additional cost. These include access to the braai and picnic area, children’s play park, swimming pool, the African garden, predator camp, vulture hide, reptile park, hippo pools, the animal crèche, a live snake display and an informative cheetah talk, as well as a lion, cheetah and wild dog feeding session. Guided walks and game drives can be booked for an additional fee. Cub interaction, giraffe feeding, abseiling, a visit to the Wonder Cave and the use of the popular bike park are also available at an additional cost. Overnight accommodation is available and visitors have a choice of five restaurants.
Visiting the Rhino & Lion Game Reserve or spending a weekend in Dinokeng Game Reserve feels like being whisked away to a remote destination far from city’s daily troubles and worries. Returning home without feeling the exhaustion of driving hundreds of kilometres is an added bonus. CORNE OSCH, HOLIDAY-MAKER
RHINO & LION GAME RESERVE
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BEFORE YOU GO: • Familiarise yourself with the times and availability of specific activities offered. • Keep in mind that a conservation fee is charged over and above entrance fees. • Acquaint yourself with the conditions of roads and tracks in reserves.
EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF: WHAT TO PACK: • Binoculars • A hat and sunblock • Warm clothing (even in summer) for early morning game drives • A good bird book (even if you’re not a bird-watcher) • Comfortable shoes for exploring • Swimming kit
Pilanesberg National Park pilanesbergnationalpark.org/ Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve rhinolion.co.za Dinokeng Game Reserve dinokengreserve.co.za Askari Game Lodge & Spa askarilodge.co.za
ASKARI GAME LODGE & SPA
Hidden gems
Wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers who have not yet discovered the pleasures of Gauteng North’s Dinokeng region should add this destination to their bucket lists. One of the area’s main treasures is the Dinokeng Game Reserve, which is located in dense bushveld about 50km north of Pretoria and east of the N1 highway to Limpopo. The reserve is about an hour’s drive from the greater Joburg metropole.
PILANESBERG NATIONAL PARK
Plans for this private/public initiative came to fruition in 2011 when the fences between private game farms came down and the Big Five was
introduced to the area. Cheetah, brown hyena, giraffe and a range of small game can also be seen in the reserve via well-maintained selfdrive routes or guided game drives. Although day permits are available, this piece of bushveld, with its leafy picnic spots, rich birdlife and an abundance of privately owned game lodges, varying from camping and caravanning destinations to fully catered luxury accommodation, will definitely inspire you to linger longer. Dinokeng offers a leisurely and relaxed experience away from the crowds and closer to home.
Luxury getaway Askari Game Lodge & Spa on Plumari Africa Game Reserve is situated in the Magaliesberg close to Gauteng’s border with North West province and spoils visitors with a delightfully luxurious wilderness experience. A visit to Askari is centred on guided Big Five game drives within pristine bushveld. At least two game drives, about two-and-a-half hours each, and an elephant interaction experience are scheduled daily. Other outdoor activities include petroglyph hikes and exploring the abundance of flora, fauna and birdlife in the mountains.
DINOKENG GAME RESERVE
You can also put your feet up for a rejuvenating spa experience at the award-winning four-star lodge. The restaurant serves Sunday lunch buffets, as well as daily breakfast buffets. Askari also has a large private collection of beautiful decor pieces dating back to the 17th century, including ox wagons and artefacts as well as unique African pieces. Askari is just over an hour’s drive away from Joburg and Pretoria.
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PROPERTY NEWS
8 APRIL 2018
Neighbourhood
My business neighbourhood Modiwall in Centurion creates unique and attractive vertical gardens WORDS: ZENA LE ROUX IMAGE: SUPPLIED
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odiwall provides durable and sustainable vertical gardening solutions. The company caters for the growing demand for green and environmentally friendly spaces inside and outside, which is driven by a rising culture to bring more natural beauty into the spaces where people live and work. Owner Charl Baker tells us more. Q: How did your business start? A: My friend, Paul Smit, and I came up with the idea to design a vertical gardening system that improved on the technology at that time. We spent many nights in our garages designing, 3-D printing and building a working prototype. With this prototype and a business plan, we approached investors. We eventually got two investors, a landscaper and owners of an injection moulding factory. They are now the ones producing our product. Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop? A: Gauteng is the business hub of South Africa, so we naturally want to be accessible to our clients. However, our factory is in Cape Town, where we ship our product nationally and internationally. We specifically chose Centurion mainly because I live here. I hate sitting in traffic.
Mountain Crest PAARL
I want to get to my office easily and quickly, especially if there’s a walk-in and I’m not there. I also believe Centurion to be very central between Pretoria and Joburg, where most of our clients come from. Q: How did you find your premises? A: We looked for premises for many months in commercial areas and shopping villages in Pretoria, Centurion and Midrand. The right type of setup was important. We need to offload large pallets from trucks and need a beautiful space to showcase our product. In the end, a friend saw an advert on Facebook for a home in Rooihuiskraal which had been converted into an office. It suited our needs and budget perfectly. We’ve been here for two and a half years. Q: Why are the premises ideally suited to your business? A: The premises are ideal as they’re easily accessible from the N1 and conveniently situated between Pretoria and Joburg. Q: Who are your neighbours? A: We have residential properties as neighbours. Q: What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area? A: Commercial properties go for around R120/m2 to R250/m2, but most were too big for our needs and thus over our budget. The property in Rooihuiskraal was spacious and cost less than most commercial properties, with water, electricity and garden services included.
Q: Do you have any expansion plans? A: Yes, we’re trying to get into the international market. We sell all over South Africa. We have a sales representative in England and have sent a test system to a landscaper in Dubai. We’ve also sent a large Modiwall system to be constructed in the Maldives. Our main goal is to get a partner in the US. Q: Do you operate online as well? A: Yes, we operate largely online. We had an online store but switched over to a regular website that showcases the product and encourages customers to contact Modiwall for a quotation. Q: What’s your most popular item? A: Our system is the most popular, as it was designed to be modular. The panels are 500mm x 500mm, so you can build a vertical garden of any size in those increments.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: Modiwall 076 874 0299 / 012 661 0538 modiwall.com
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Q: How many people visit your business each day? A: We do business mostly online. Clients don’t often visit the shop, but they do come in to see a living vertical garden and to get training on how to install the system.
Each office independently owned and operated
Exclusive signature estate in Paarl 24 Hour security Architecturally designed masterbuild Plot and plan options available Blue chip investment opportunity No transfer duties & fees Panoramic mountain views Close to Paarl Mall and amenities Close to feeder routes: N1 & Airport Fibre connectivity From Cape Town N1 take R301/ Jan van Riebeeck off ramp, right into Carolina follow the signs. CONTACT US ROY HEMANS 083 342 9860 roy@remaxoaktree.co.za HEIN WAGNER 072 183 8623 hein@remaxoaktree.co.za www.remaxoaktree.co.za
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RETIREMENT FOCUS
8 APRIL 2018
Neighbourhood
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A new generation of retirees Today’s active retirees want financial and physical security, comprehensive health care and a carefree lifestyle WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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ixty is the new 40. We’re living much longer, we’re healthier and more active later in life. Retirement is not synonymous with old age – it’s just another phase of life with its own joys and freedoms.
What do retirees want?
Worldwide, retirees are being asked, not told, what they want. They want to be an integral part of the greater community, as participants not spectators. Val de Vie picked up on this trend and included a retirement lifestyle village on its estate. “Including Val de Vie Evergreen in Val de Vie Estate’s diverse range of products and amenities on offer gives families the option of remaining in the Valley of Life in any stage of their lives and being part of a growing community,” says Ryk Neethling, marketing director, Val de Vie Estate. Retirees want to live independently, but want to know that they will have access to quality care when they need it. They also want to feel secure, so living within a gated community with world-class security systems provides that all-important carefree lifestyle.
VILLAGE
“At Val de Vie Evergreen, the ultimate carefree retirement lifestyle is ensured by providing retirees the option of living on an established residential development with an existing focus
on an active, outdoor lifestyle in a secure environment. A team of dedicated on-site professionals will furthermore take care of all day-today aspects of estate living and allow for residents to retire in comfort with complete peace of mind,” says Ryk.
Health care
that owns the residence and are issued a share certificate.
Quality health care is a priority, and there are different care models countrywide. Increasingly, though, there’s a strong move towards an active ageing philosophy, supported by personalised home-based and primary health care. Staying at home for as long as possible is what everybody wants. Many retirement estates also offer specialised treatment, 24-hour nursing as well as recuperative and palliative care.
Internationally, the life rights model is the most popular, particularly in the US. “It’s a relatively new concept for South Africans,” says Arthur Case, CEO, Evergreen Lifestyle, “but it’s gaining traction swiftly because of its undoubted benefits for retirees. Retirees want to leave behind the maintenance and responsibilities of a house, and this model is tailormade for that. Evergreen Lifestyle Villages offer a great quality of life.”
With life rights, you don’t purchase a unit, but you and your spouse have a legal right to occupy the property for a lifetime.
Inclusive and exclusive
Retirees want to be part of a broader community, but also want to live independently in their own homes. Increasingly, a village within a village – where facilities are open to all residents and interaction between young and not so young is the natural order of the day – is proving to be the desired way of living.
Purchase models
Retirement homes worldwide offer different purchase models: sectional title, share block and life rights. With the sectional title model, the purchaser obtains ownership of a unit or residence by means of a title deed registered with the Deeds Registry. The developer carries no responsibility for the ongoing maintenance once the development has been built – that rests with the residents. In a share block retirement scheme, owners get shares in the company
TRANS-50 OFFERS IT ALL Trans-50 is an independent, non-profit, Section 21 company, which owns and manages residential villages for the over-50s, throughout South Africa. For over 40 years, we have specialised in meeting the needs and expectations of our senior population, in all its diversity.
RETIREMENT, A NEW PHASE IN LIFE Retirement heralds a new phase in life, presenting unique challenges to each individual. We understand that buying into a retirement village is a major decision that will affect your life in many ways. The Trans-50 lifestyle offers its residents maximum independence, security, privacy and freedom of choice. Whether you are still working or retired and highly independent, or in need of assisted living or frail care, Trans-50 provides a range of tailormade care, aimed at the evolving needs of the senior population. Our cottages and villas are sold on a life-rights basis, with flats and studio apartments occasionally available for rental. Our frail care facilities are subject to a month-by-month fee. The Trans-50 retirement lifestyle ensures peace of mind through our commitment to our values, financial stability, properly maintained premises and a professional management team.
WHY DO PEOPLE FEEL AT HOME WITH US? At our retirement villages you will immediately sense an atmosphere of peace, tranquillity and care. Our employees are professional, experienced and committed to the Trans-50 values. All our villages offer beautifully kept gardens and neat buildings with clean and comfortable interiors. We offer a wide range of services and facilities which makes for the perfect retirement choice.
A life enriched by choice. Our goal is to assist our residents to live their lives to the fullest and to embrace new opportunities with enthusiasm and joy. Freedom of choice and protection of individualism are amongst our prime goals. In our quest to deliver world-class services, we consult with multi-disciplinary teams who are able to advise us on, and assist in the development of unique lifestyle enrichment programmes. We count among our advisors, one of the world’s leading gerontologists, Pat Lindgren, currently Chairperson for the Gerontology Society for Africa, and ombudsman for our residents.
Please visit our website at www.trans50.co.za and discover how you or your loved one can enjoy a retirement lifestyle that offers peace of mind. Don’t hesitate—come and meet us today!
www.trans50.co.za | admin@trans50.org.za | Tel: 011 823 2651 ACACIA PARK | FICHARDT PARK | JAKARANDA PARK | PANORAMA PALMS | WITFIELD PARK Kimberley
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