A truly desirable Company owned property with an income generating lodge, wedding venue and sweetveld grazing.

This property has to be among a shortlist of the most panoramic views in Kwazulu Natal, it is really phenomenal, one gets a 360 degree view across toward the Karkloof range, east towards the coast, it overlooks the entire Albert falls lake and has the Otto’s bluff feature towering over the southern rear of the property .The atmosphere and ambiance is that of a really well established country estate .This homestead and farm was established by one of the early settlers in the area. The current owners have developed a great country style guesthouse with plenty of future potential. Fever trees and old shady Natal Mahogany trees with abundant birdlife are aplenty.  This property and business is enhanced by surrounding game establishments, trails and the lake, all within 25Kms of Pietermaritzburg, a realistic business possibility.

The property and business was purchased by the company, owned by the two shareholders for R5, 2m in 2018 with a loan from the shareholders. The 58 ha farming property consists of approximately 50Ha of really good sweetveld grazing land that has its own separate entrance from the Public Road and 8ha that is currently utilised as a Lodge/B&B.

The excellent sweetveld section of the farm is currently leased out for grazing. This income stream equates to a value of ten thousand Rand per month.Grazing rates are currently approx. R45 per weaner and up to R70 rand per cow per month. The 50 ha sweetveld grazing area is home to around 38 cows and small families of nyala, bushbuck, duiker and warthogs.  

The property has accommodation for up to 22 – 29 people with the owners still living in most of the main house.  The main house could sleep another six people if it is used completely for guest accommodation.

Average price per head is approximately R350- R500 per night. The converted cattle barn to wedding venue can seat up to a maximum of about 140 people which can be catered for in the commercial standard kitchen attached to the venue. There is also a calving shed which has been converted into a chapel for weddings. The bar area and kitchen/dining room area, can cater for 24 on a daily basis, but can seat up to 40 people for a function. The bar, kitchen and dining area has a jet master fireplace and sliding doors as well.  It has male & female toilets and a swimming pool shower.  The bar area also has a fire pit and the potential to put in a deck.  

Under roof, there is the main house with stunning views comprising two large living areas with two stone fire places and a pizza oven.  It has a large farmhouse kitchen, three Bed & Breakfast rooms and three stand-alone self-catering cottage units. The main house boasts yellow wood floors and ceilings as well. There are a few cracks in the main house due to ‘adding-on’ which took place before the current owners took occupation, which have been checked out by a reputable builder and deemed not a structural problem. Above the workshop offers another unique opportunity to remove the roof and put an awning or lean-to and you would have another lovely extra open area with a view. The large, self-catering, open plan Zebra Loft runs at R2800 per night and is popular with groups of ladies and families who don’t mind sharing a living space.

The Kudu Cottage sleeps up to 5 people and with a rate of R1650 per night. The Timor Cottage sleeps up to 3 with a rate of R1350 per night. Within the main house there are three B&B rooms (i.e. non-self-catering). The Rhino Room costs R1150 per night sleeping 2, the Buffalo Room is R1350 per night sleeping 4 and the Cheetah room is R800 per night sleeping 2. Behind Zebra Loft are two silos which can be renovated to form a further two accommodation units, however they would need either outside staircases to gain access from the outside bedrooms, or internal staircases.  The silos are currently home to barn owls. There are four staff quarters with a shower just outside the garden area.  There is a further two bed flatlet below the Zebra Loft with kitchen and bathroom currently used for female staff members.

Campsites have been cleared offering 2 to3 campsites in close proximity to the bar area where they would make use of the showers and toilets in the bar area .

Water to the property is supplied by borehole with a pumping delivery of approximately 2000l per hour.

The property is zoned agricultural therefore rates are approx. only R900 per month. Electricity supply is 3-phase direct form Eskom.

The business is currently running at 21% occupancy on average (i.e. full for about 1.5 days a week). However, with marketing and gaining the mid-week bookings needed to push the occupancy up to 40-50% would make it a viable and profitable business.

The workshop/stables could be converted into a further 3 bedrooms which would put six-nine extra heads on beds

What is needed is to properly fence the entire property which could cost between R150-250K, an estimated R100-R200K to develop further self-catering units with potentially another R100K on roof maintenance.  The owner’s estimate that potentially up to R1m may need to be spent to modernise and renovate the entire property creating more rentable space and make it a more sought-after wedding venue and small lifestyle game/cattle farm.  However, the business is currently a going concern and a working farm, so these amounts do not need to be spent immediately.  Key to immediate profitability would be to increase the current guest occupancy.

There are no Land claims and this is unlikely to be an issue in future due to the fact the title has been held privately since before 1912, unless the law changes.  Land claims have already been extinguished by the High Court.

A previous valuation of the buildings done by Absa in 2018 was approximately 1350 m² under roof and R10.5m replacement cost. The property of the company is currently insured for R11.8 million replacement cost. Only the owners’ personal things will be removed.  An inclusive Asset List is available on request.

On a walk in and walk out basis, this property is very well priced for the right entrepreneur that would also be wanting a great, added lifestyle.

Call the Agent to view today, don’t let this one slip.