Farm for Sale in Port Elizabeth Rural

Location

This farm is located approximately 4km off the N2, and on the Port Elizabeth side (east) of Van Stadens Gorge/Thornhill, at the foot of the Lady Slipper Mountains and near to the entrance to Woodridge private school.

Size

Made up of a single title, the farm is approximately 19ha in extent.

Description

As a rural lifestyle experience, the Lady Slipper/Van Stadens/Thornhill area of the Eastern Cape is tough to beat. Within easy striking distance of both PE with its airport and other amenities, and a short hop to the resort town of Jeffreys Bay, yet just far enough to escape the rat race. The area boasts a high rainfall with some excellent grazing for horses and/or livestock. The house sits in the eastern corner of the property and it has magnificent mountain views over the length of the property.

Veld types

Vegetation types include mature alien tree species such as blue gum, black wattle and pine with healthy stands of fynbos in open areas where the elevation climbs. The gently sloping front portion of the farm displays 10ha of lush kikuyu pastures. The sustainable carrying capacity on these pastures is 1ha per LSU which equates to 10 cattle in drier times and then 15 cattle during better rainfall conditions.

Such is the density of the kikuyu grass covering that it fortunately does not permit the alien trees from germinating to a point where they become invasive. There is also a small but very interesting tree lined drainage line on the property that runs after heavy rains.

Rainfall / water

The farm falls in a transition rainfall area, with rain expected in most calendar months. Set a little back from the coast at the foot of the Lady Slipper mountain range which acts as an escarpment with the associated watershed effect, it would have a high annual average of approximately 800mm.

There are three boreholes on this property capable of delivering: 3000lts/hr, 2000lt/hr and 1200lt/hr with the submersible pumps for the first two being eskom powered and the latter being for standby and generator powered. There is also a 4th borehole (+- 600lt/hr) which is not equipped. The combined volume of the boreholes is enough to conduct 4ha of supplementary irrigation (6 sprinklers) on some of the lower lying pastures during drier times.

Game species

Currently the farm has a few bushbuck and duiker. I would almost guarantee that a patient and thorough investigation would yield grysbok as well.

Improvements

The main residence is a large, three bedroomed brick and plaster house. It has one bathroom, a well fitted kitchen with scullery/pantry, massive lounge, entertainment/craft area and office which could both be converted into extra bedrooms if required. This main homestead needs to be viewed in order to appreciate the large extent thereof since the current owner has essentially incorporated an adjoining building that’s was previously used as a tea garden as part of the homestead.

There is a small outbuilding which was once used as a dairy plus there is also a large carport.

The property is used for small scale cattle farming and there are various grazing camps (12 in total). In conjunction to the above internal fencing the perimeter of the 10ha front section of the property is enclosed with quality stock fencing and the Western boundary thereof is comprised of 3 electric strands.

There is a well laid out water reticulation system for the household and farming operation.

A cattle race and other livestock handling facilities are in place.

Eskom power is supplied by both single phase and three phase transformers.

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier the location of this property is superb and this can be attested by the fact that a tea garden was once operating from here. It is a comfortable 35 minutes from PE airport and considerably less to the large shopping malls of PE and Jeffreys Bay. For anyone with kids, Woodridge school is approximately 5km away, offering some of the best private country schooling in the province. The fact that it marries genuine rural living with excellent schooling right on its doorstep makes this area of the province almost unique. Other nearby notable attractions include: Crossways Country Kitchen, The Wind Farm, Van Stadens Flower Reserve, Three Rivers Trails and Bay West Mall. Couple to this the properties well developed pastures for keeping horses and livestock farming and it would prove a very rewarding acquisition and superb place to live.

Price R 2, 85m plus VAT at the applicable rate.