Words: Carla Gailey
Driving through the estate on a golf cart, the sun shining brightly overhead, the smell of freshly manicured grass and the sounds of sweet birds chirping, this estate truly feels like a tropical paradise that offers you everything and more.
Imagine having the best of every world right at your doorstep? Lush, dense tropical vegetation and pristine warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Add a challenging 18-hole golf course, luxurious villas, a world-class hotel and an award-winning spa and a never-ending variety of amenities, you have the perfect Estate to make your home, or even for a luxe getaway. Celebrating their 40th Birthday this year, San Lameer Estate has made its mark on the Hibiscus Coast as one of the most sought-after establishments in KwaZulu-Natal. The Estate is located on a 200-hectare nature conservancy surrounded by gorgeous vegetation. It was developed on land that has a rich history dating back to 1938 when the state grated the land to Colonel GH Langeler who was a keen environmentalist who introduced indigenous flora into the grounds while always keeping the sensitive balance of the ecosystem in mind. In 1974, Sanlam purchased the land and after numerous conservation studies, they decided that any development on the property had to take place on only 40% of the Estate, preserving 60%, dedicated to keeping its natural state. In 1977 San Lameer was a declared a private township. Since the inception of the concept of an exclusive Mediterranean type of holiday resort for the more affluent South Africa, Sanlam complied and developed the township in line with the original philosophy and wishes of Col Langeler.
At this time San Lameer Estate was the very first golfing estate to be developed in South Africa and is one of the first residential estates in the country. The Estate is fully development in terms of the number of stands, infrastructure and amenities on the Estate. There are only a few stands left, that have been sold to private individuals, that are still undergoing or need to undergo development. San Lameer's management has spent a great deal of time upgrading the facilities and amenities of the estate. The Golf Clubhouse underwent a R9m renovation in 2014 and presently the HOA pool is undergoing a R2.2m. The levies that residents pay include all operational costs, from security, administration, maintenance in and around the estate, amenities and of course most importantly, their golf membership.
The Mediterranean styled villas either overlook the immaculate golf course, the greenery of the Estate or the Indian Ocean. The sizes range from bachelor villa's to luxury five bedroom villas which are all available for rental in and out of season throughout the year, with all access to the estates facilities. The villas have been styled to blend into the tropical paradise environment. "The emphasis in the interior of all the villas is on comfortable living with spaciousness created through open plan designs and flow to outdoor areas", Mr Pienaar tells me. The large sheltered terraces and built in braais make for the perfect entertainment areas for those warm sunny, summer evenings for sundowners or even their mild-winter nights around the fire with a glass of wine. The natural indigenous foliage creates subtle but sufficient privacy for the resident without feeling like they are surrounded by brick walls. Mr Pienaar explains, "San Lameer's natural wonderland extends beyond your wildest dreams, the climate is pleasantly sub-tropical with cool breezes from the Indian Ocean."
Over 195 different bird species including the Knysna loerie and the endangered crown eagles reside on the Estate, residents can spot impala, red, blue and grey duiker, reedbuck and bushbucks. Ducks, geese and gannets roam freely on the Estate, as well as vervet monkeys, tree hyrax and leguaans. The facilities at San Lameer Estate are endless, amongst many of the fantastic features, you will find an 18-hole Matkovich & Hayes Designed Golf Course that has been sculptured around one of the last remaining wetland forests on the South Coast. The course has hosted several world-class golf tournaments making it truly a golfers paradise. The Pro-Shop which stocks the latest golf clothing ranges and accessories & half-way house complete the spectacular golf course. For the keen fisherman or woman, there are catch and release fishing dams on the estate, for your added leisure, two floodlit tennis courts, two squash courts, bowling greens and two swimming pools are at your disposal, as well as conference facilities, a fully licensed bar, a relaxing lounge and terrace that overlooks the 9th and 18th holes.
The 5-star Camelot Spa offers a wide-range of treatments and also contains a fully equipped gym. If all of that isn't enough, the Estate has direct access to their two immaculate Blue Flag status beaches with lifeguards and shark nets, golf cart hires and their own interactive app for your smart phone. San Lameer's mountain bike trail is an exciting new addition to the Estate, it was built entirely by the Estate through J.A. Landscapes. The main route is made up of seven inter-leading trails with a total distance of 7km and takes approximately 30-50 minutes per lap to complete. The trail will take you on a spectacular ride through the Estate to view the fantastic scenery and wild-life. "San Lameer encompasses the most favourable attributes for both permanent and seasonal living. Its location and surrounding environment are unrivalled by many; its facilities are endless and the investment growth notable", says Mr Pienaar.
