Nestled among the hills, cliffs and ravines of the North West Province is Fort Buis, a 600 hectare portion of one of the region’s most historic farms.
Offering a 4-star game lodge surrounded by natural springs and dams as well as more than 20 species of game including lions, giraffes, gemsbok, nyalas and tsessebe, the farm is priced at R19.5 million through RealNet.
Offering a 4-star game lodge surrounded by natural springs and dams as well as more than 20 species of game including lions, giraffes, gemsbok, nyalas and tsessebe, the farm is on the market for R19.5 million.
Situated 20 kilometres north-west of Klerksdorp, on the Hartebeesfontein-Brakspruit road, Fort Buis was once part of the Buisfontein farm, where the notorious Coenraad de Buys, a fugitive from the British authorities, settled in 1815. Voortrekker Hendrik van der Merwe later settled on the farm where the foundations of the De Buys home and Van der Merwe grave are still to be seen.
Jaco Faurie from RealNet Klerksdorp says ownership of the farm was hotly contested in the 1830s with historical records describing the feud as ‘twist op twist’ (dispute upon dispute), but today, peace and tranquillity reign.
He says almost 600 herds of game have been settled on the farm and a large boma with a viewing deck that overlooks a watering hole is the ideal place to relax at sunset while you watch or photograph game coming to drink. He says CCTV cameras linked to the lodge capture images of animals at the watering hole around the clock and enable guests to watch the action from the comfort of an easy chair, if they prefer.
Fort Buis currently attracts game-viewing tourists, hikers, quad-bikers, 4x4 enthusiasts and keen hunters, including bow hunters, who can hone their marksmanship at shooting ranges before the hunt.
Fort Buis currently attracts game-viewing tourists, hikers, quad-bikers, 4x4 enthusiasts and keen hunters, including bow hunters, who can hone their marksmanship at shooting ranges before the hunt. Butchering facilities and a cool room are available for venison.
Guests stay in a 4-star lodge offering 18 beds. The lodge has been tastefully decorated in an eclectic style combining the comforts of an old farmhouse with the ambience of a contemporary safari lodge. Bedrooms are individually decorated and styles vary from colonial flair to African simplicity.
A spacious dining room with a fully fitted kitchen overlooks a pond, with picturesque rolling hills forming the backdrop. A fully-equipped bar, with big screen TV and games such as darts and pool, is one of the big attractions once the sun sets. A farm dam that has been converted into a swimming pool allows guests to cool off in the heat of the day or the more adventurous can head out to a secluded natural rock pool set in one of the ravines.
Faurie says the farm is versatile and offers buyers several choices. "It is ideal for game farming, either exotic game or buffalo, as well as cattle farming or as a lifestyle or irrigation farm. Lucerne fields have been established and a borehole and dam provide ample irrigation water.”
He says stables and training facilities for horses alongside the lodge make horse breeding feasible, while facilities are in place to offer a venue for weddings and other functions.
There is also a newly renovated three bedroom residence for a farm manager and several vacant workers' cottages could easily be turned into self-catering guest units, he says. Water and electricity have been installed at various points on the farm and there are neatly paved roadways along hillsides, so the infrastructure is in place for further development, he explains.
The property also offers excellent value, given that prices of up to R40 million have recently been paid at auction for a single buffalo, says Faurie.
The selling price also includes all farm vehicles, a game drive vehicle, implements, tools and furnishings.
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