Neighbourhood 11 FEBRUARY 2018
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Adventurous We bring you a couple of local camping spots that will rekindle your natural love of the outdoors, page 2
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SUBURB FOCUS: GAUTENG CAMPSITES
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BUSINESS Q&A
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PROPERTY NEWS
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PROPERTY NEWS
11 FEBRUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
Suburb focus
Camping and caravanning in Gauteng We bring you a few options to help you explore the area's beautiful natural surroundings WORDS: BETSIE LOOCK-VAN DER MERWE
IMAGES: SUPPLIED & ISTOCK
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he Gauteng countryside offers a wealth of pleasant camping and caravan spots less than an hour’s drive from Pretoria and Johannesburg. Nowhere is a sunset as beautiful and peaceful as it is in the bushveld. No sound quite beats the rhythm of the awakening bush, and have you ever smelled the fragrance of a flowering thorn tree? Does anything taste better than coffee brewed on a campfire? Camping in Gauteng, whether you prefer it rough or a tad more glamorous, will leave you feeling closer to nature, rested and rejuvenated to take on the city’s challenges again. Here are a few venues to consider.
Glamping
B’sorah Luxury Tented Camp in the Magaliesberg Mountains near the Hartbeespoort Dam boasts a luxury safari tented camp perfect for those who enjoy the finer things in life and
the beauty of nature. Experience the sights and sounds of the bush, open grassland, trickling streams, roaming antelope, small game and rich birdlife. You can simply relax and unwind in this nature lovers’ paradise or explore what Hartbeespoort and the Magaliesberg Mountains have on offer and then return to the comfort of your own luxurious safari tent at sunset.
Family-friendly Set up camp on one of the spacious shady stands on the green grass in the superbly maintained Almega Caravan Park and Camp (just 45km north of Pretoria near Rust de Winter). Each stand has its own modern ablution block, washing-up space, braai area and power point. The area is home to more than 250 bird species and plenty of game. Remember your hiking shoes and/or mountain bike to explore the 15km of dirt roads on
KOHANDÉ
Once every two months, we take a Friday off and head for the bush. There’s an abundance of great camping sites within 30km– 50km of Pretoria. These are virtually on our doorstep, but once you're there, it feels like you’re a thousand miles away from the city. The short distances save valuable time that we would rather spend camping than driving. RIEKIE POTGIETER, CAMPER
THORN TREE BUSH CAMP
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11 FEBRUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
PROPERTY NEWS
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the farm. Enjoy quality family time close to nature but near facilities like a shop, a bottle store, Rust de Winter Dam, Dinokeng Game Reserve (home to the Big Five) and Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wildlife Park.
Couples’ retreat
STARTER CAMPING TOOLKIT:
Kohandé, situated in the Leeuwkloof Valley Conservancy, 20km from Cullinan and close to the Dinokeng Game Reserve, has three luxury tents with en-suite bathrooms and fully equipped kitchenette, providing private accommodation for two adults. Each tent has its own braai facility and a little patio with a view of the bushveld. This enchanting venue is enjoyed by nature-loving couples who need a break from the city. Owner Dirk Botes is rated by visitors as outstanding. In a review of Kohandé, Prinita Alexander said, “Kohandé was
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Sturdy, waterproof tent Shovel Bedding – the best you can afford Fold-up table Fold-up comfortable camping chairs A headlamp for each camper Cooking device Quality, tight-sealing cooler box Washing-up basin and cleaning products • First-aid kit, sunscreen and mosquito repellent Don’t forget these: • Toilet paper • Firewood • Ice • Plastic containers for leftovers • Shoes suitable for walking in the bush
B’SORAH LUXURY TENTED CAMP
the perfect destination, close enough to Johannesburg… We thoroughly enjoyed the pool overlooking the valley, watching the sunset from our private patio and listening to the lions roaring in the distance. Absolutely magical!”
Hidden gem
ALMEGA CARAVAN PARK AND CAMP
Thorn Tree Bush Camp, nestled in the bushveld overlooking the Dinokeng Game Reserve, caters for two to 30 people in a variety of tented bush camps. Each camp is fully equipped for the number of people it accommodates. The venue offers a comfortable experience in the wild, but also has a number of campsites where guests can pitch their own tents. Thorn Tree offers guided game drives with a qualified game ranger on a modern open safari vehicle. Bush walks can also be arranged. Ablution facilities vary from an indoor bathroom to the popular open-air bathroom and shower with enclosure set under a tree.
USEFUL SITES: Dinokeng Game Reserve dinokengreserve.co.za Camping and caravanning in the Magalies Meander magaliesmeander.co.za/things-to-do/ campingcaravaning Caravan and Outdoor Life caravansa.co.za Southern Africa’s Caravan and Camping Tourism Network caravanparks.com CampSA campsa.co.za Love Camping lovecamping.co.za SANParks sanparks.org
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PROPERTY NEWS
11 FEBRUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
My business neighbourhood Beetroot Inc in Menlyn Maine Central Square sells a range of furniture, homeware, personal attire, novelties and gifts to clients who enjoy the lighter and brighter side of life WORDS: ZENA LE ROUX IMAGE: SUPPLIED
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he funky Beetroot product range includes couches, chairs, coffee tables, ecofriendly utility furniture (like TV stands, patio tables and trolleys made from reclaimed wood), uniquely designed scatter cushions, placemats, runners, tablecloths, aprons, pochettes (colourful envelope-shaped utility bags), novelties and gifts. Owner and CEO, Elize van der Berg, tells us more. Q: How did your business start? A: It started as a job creation project. We initially supplied soft furnishings to corporates and
subsequently moved into retail. Our first retail stores were pop-ups in the Pretoria area. These stores evolved into a permanent retail model. The first permanent Beetroot outlet opened its doors at Menlyn Maine Central Square in April last year and subsequently became the flagship store in Pretoria. Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop? A: Menlyn Maine Central Square is right in the middle of a stunning new leisure, residential, office and gaming development in Pretoria East. It’s home to a solid mix of retail and specialisation stores, as well as some of the best restaurants in town. In short, it’s the right address to be. Q: How did you find your premises? A: T he developers contacted us. We were looking for premises in the east of the city and were delighted to find them at such a great location. In addition, the development was brand new and had a boutique feel to it. It suited our needs perfectly. Q: Why are premises ideally suited to your business? A: T he combination of gaming and leisure activities in the immediate vicinity of Menlyn Maine Central Square leads to a steady inflow of new customers. Menlyn Maine is also easily accessible from the N1 and the East, where a lot of our potential customers come from.
Q: Who are your neighbours? A: Lorna Jane and a Superspar. Q: What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area? A: I’d say fair. Q: How many people visit your business each day? A: We attract quite a lot of customers from outlying areas, especially over weekends. The customer flow varies. Q: Do you have any expansion plans? A: Beetroot has seven retail outlets at the moment. We’ve just opened two new stores in Cape Town and will probably expand to other areas over the next year. Q: Do you operate online as well? A: Yes, our online business (beetrootinc.co.za) is slowly picking up. Q: What’s your most popular item and service? A: People love our furniture and the fact that we customise our pieces. Our re-upholstery service is also growing in popularity.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: Beetroot Inc 012 940 3987 beetrootinc.co.za
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11 FEBRUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
Front door appeal Create a beautiful and welcoming entrance to your home with these handy tips WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER
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reating an enticing front door area isn’t complicated or necessarily expensive – it’s up to you and your budget. There isn’t an estate agent around who won’t confirm the value of a welcoming or arresting front door area. Pam Mullany, Pam Golding Properties, says, “Putting kerb appeal aside, front door appeal is just as important. You may have a very quiet, unassuming streetside view, but there’s something powerful about a front door with a punch. It’s the first and last thing you see, which stays on a client’s mind.”
front door, but take care. If you have a formal-looking home, consider something equally formal like black, white, grey or charcoal. Greens always work well, particularly if you’re planning to decorate the area with plants.
Hardware
remains a great choice – it not only looks good, but it’s also an excellent insulator, has an impressively low carbon footprint, boasts an incredibly long lifespan and, if sourced from a sustainably managed forest, is also a renewable building resource.” Oversized front doors have a presence, and installing a large or tall door can look sensational. This is also true for a double door. Consider a plain, slatted wooden double door, flanked by planter boxes mimicking the door’s look.
Cobus Lourens, from window and door manufacturer, Swartland, says, “Research has shown that replacing the front door is a home improvement with one of the biggest payoffs – it’s affordable, relatively easy to do and it makes one of the most visually noticeable impacts.”
New locks, handles, house numbers, door knockers and light fittings can all make a contemporary difference, particularly if your existing ones are dated or corroded. Rid your door of old fittings and consider adding pewter or stainless steel versions, or having no fittings at all. Cobus says, “Just like fashion accessories can make or break an entire outfit, so can these seemingly minor features give your front door that ‘wow’ factor. You can choose from ornate knockers, door handles or hinges, through to pediment sets, door pilasters, door mantels and overlays, keystones and dentil strips.”
Colour
Pots and plants
Torbjorn Hanssen, architect, U2DesignLab, says, “Today, the front door trend is pivot design, and a bamboo veneer is increasingly popular.”
One of the easiest, least expensive and often most charming ways to freshen up your entrance is with colour. The front door is often neglected – we see it just as a way to enter the home – but for others, it’s the quality of the hello and goodbye. If your home is grey or white, choose any of the gorgeous colours available today. If it’s painted a bright colour, consider something complementary (look for a colour chart online and see complementary colours). There’s something memorable and cheerful about a brightly coloured
If you have the space, large, coloured ceramic pots standing sentry can work well, as can concrete planters. The naked concrete colour of formal, tall urns or stark minimalist options complements all other colours. You can also choose plants from the graphic range of sculptural deserttype flora for a contemporary look.
Wood
Cobus says, “As general home improvement trends head towards more eco-friendly solutions, timber
“More designers and architects are choosing front doors with added width and height in order to give their designs a more dramatic aesthetic,” Cobus says. “Bigger doors are not only used to make an impactful visual statement, but also tend to create an illusion of increased interior space.”
Glass
“Whether you choose an aluminium or a wooden front door, glass panelling is becoming increasingly sought-after,” says Cobus. “Front doors with oversized glass inserts, surrounding panels, decorative glass inserts, sidelights and transoms are increasingly popular due to the extra light they let into the home.”
PROPERTY NEWS
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Cities for our Future Challenge
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he Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has launched the Cities for our Future Challenge, calling on young people to come up with ideas to help tackle the most pressing problems affecting cities in Africa and around the world. “The growth of the world’s cities is one of the biggest challenges facing society today. Three million people move to cities every week, placing increasing strain on urban infrastructure and services. Many city dwellers live in slums or poor-quality housing, and many put up with poor air quality and transport links,” said TC Chetty, country manager, Rics South Africa. Those entering the competition have been asked to propose solutions to
issues affecting 24 global cities, including Durban, Lagos and Nairobi. With a prize of £50,000 (about R844,000) for the global winner, entrants will need to provide practical, innovative solutions to address some of these challenges. Sean Tompkins, CEO, Rics, says, “The world’s cities are growing all the time, creating a range of challenges that will need to be addressed if they are to become safe, clean and comfortable places to live. Throughout the Royal Institution’s 150 years, built environment professionals have been crucial to urban development all over the globe, and we’re proud to be running this competition to find innovative and practical ideas to improve our cities.”
If you think buying property under a trust is the right option for your situation, start the process long before you start looking for property. If you’re the sole trustee, you run the risk of Sars deciding that the trust’s assets are your own and taxing you or your estate accordingly. So you’ll also have to first choose and appoint trustees. PAUL STEVENS, CEO, JUST PROPERTY
Property boom in Parklands
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arklands is fast becoming Cape Town’s most racially and culturally integrated suburb. “Parklands is characterised by a mix of races and cultures living in harmony in this ideal location close to the city and the coast and featuring all the necessary amenities nearby,” said Toni Enderli, CEO, Realtor of Excellence, the country’s first cloud-based real estate company. Enderli said Parklands property agents were battling to keep up with entrylevel demand, thanks to developers such as International Housing Solutions (IHS), a global private equity fund focused on affordable housing in subSaharan Africa, which is developing four gated estates in Parklands.
Rob Wesselo, MD, IHS South Africa, said the company’s energy efficient developments in communities such as Parklands had easy access to schools, shops and working opportunities. He added that IHS properties were certified by the Green Building Council’s “EDGE” (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) rating system, which strives for more eco-friendly designs and systems. Enderli said the first phase of one of IHS’s newly launched Parklands developments, The Courtyard – a secure, eco-friendly residential estate offering two-bedroom apartments from R729,000 – had sold out within 24 hours.
The Villas, Waterfall
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entury Property Developments has announced the launch of The Villas, Waterfall – the final residential phase of the Waterfall Estates development, consisting of 182 houses. All of these homes will be available as rental units, with maintenance included. These homes come in a variety of different designs, with a typical unit approximately 360m² to 401m² and consisting of four en-suite bedrooms. Each home also has staff accommodation as well as a swimming pool and a private garden. The Villas, Waterfall, is located on the apex of Waterfall Estates and the buildings are positioned to maximise energy efficiencies and capitalise
on spectacular views. Other “green design” specifications include doubleglazed windows and low-E glass. Fittings and features include slowcombustion fireplaces and energyefficient cooking through gas hobs. As a standard, raised ceilings and large windows allow for the maximisation of airflow and cross ventilation. Tenants in this precinct will automatically get full use of the award-winning lifestyle facilities of Waterfall Estates, such as the clubhouse with a double-storey gym and restaurant. Numerous walking trails meander through this sought-after property and connect several picnic spots, play parks and riverside paths. The first units will be occupied from 1 March 2018 onwards.