Land to Buy in Uitenhage > Province Of Eastern Cape > South Africa
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Land/Ruins Description
GROOT WINTERHOEK 2900 HECTARE FARM
Fram Groot Winterhoek Mountain range for sale Uitenhage Port Elizabeth
Location
The farm sits on the Southern side of the Groot Winterhoek mountain range, West of Uitenhage.
Size
Made up of 2 titles, the property is a shade under 2909 hectares in extent.
Description
This property is perhaps one of the last true stretches of pristine Wilderness outside of the Baviaanskloof. Despite its relative proximity to the Urban centres of Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth, it remains extremely remote due to the formidable escarpment that guards the eastern access to the property. Stretching North from the Elandsrivier valley, the property climbs the foothills of the Groendal and Groot Winterhoek ranges to a summit point at 868m, before plunging down into the Kwazunga gorge where the river of the same name has carved itself a picturesque, meandering valley, a mere 200m above sea level.
The surrounding topography is as dramatic as it comes, with a series of deep and heavily wooded drainage lines interspersed with often knifelike, elevated ridges interspersed with flat, well grassed plateaus. Multiple cliff faces orientated to multiple compass angles adorn the property and of these, many have evidence of expansive cave and overhang systems. The first, and only one of these that I had the residual energy to climb up to, showed some impressive bushman paintings, and I have no doubt, that a more energetic exploration would reveal a whole lot more. Because of the extremeness of the topography, this is a very large 3000h, and I believe it would be a considerable accomplishment to explore and traverse it all.
The river itself is one of the prettier you will encounter and apparently even during the extended drought of the last 4 years, it maintained a healthy flow rate. In places it has formed large, white beaches, or polished immeasurable numbers of white pebbles, while in others it tumbles over narrow rapids and gorges, forming a series of picturesque cascades and deep, shaded pools. There is over 11km of actual Kwazunga River traversing the northern third of the property with probably 4 times that of tributaries and drainage lines perpendicular to its meandering course, many of which also boast permanent water.
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Veld types
This farm is ecologically diverse consisting of no fewer than 4 of the country?s eight biomes.
The fynbos biome is found on the sour, elevated soils on the ridges, the subtropical thicket biome on the more fertile soils in the fire protected valleys, particularly on the sheltered southern slopes. The grassland biome occurs on the planed, gravely surfaces on the foothills and the forest biome mostly in the sheltered moist ravines along the drainage lines.
Grass species found are predominately those associated with the sour fynbos biome and are dominated by the aristida species, a healthy covering of Themeda, intermittent stands of hetrapogon and merxmuella. The shaded, more nutrient rich stretches along the valley floors have a good covering of pannicums, eragrostis Curvula and what I believe to be Sporobolis.
Plant species found include:
Fynbos biome - various proteas (e.g. Broad-leaf sugarbush and pincushions), ericas and restioids. The highly localised and threatened Willowmore cedar. Two species of indigenous cycads (mainly Encephalartos longifolius) - survivors from an ancient era, are found in concentrations I have not encountered elsewhere in the province. This in itself is testament to the very remoteness of this property.
Subtropical thicket biome - Sweet thorn, Common guarri, Sneezewood, Cabbage tree, Wild olive, False olive, Boerboon (Schotia afra), Num-num, Euphorbia and Spekboom.
Forest biome - White stinkwood, Red stinkwood, Outeniqua yellowwoods, Tierhout, Cape ash, Cape fig, Cape plain, White ironwood, Milkwood, Gardenia, Candlewood,
Kamassi and ferns etc.
Rainfall
The farm falls in a transition summer / winter rainfall area with an annual average of 500mm.
Improvements
There is very little development of any significance on the property. The remnants of a prefab labourer?s cottage, and elevated shepherds hut, plus a small cattle kraal are the only remnants at intermittent attempts over the years to stock farm here. With the exception of a short piece of internal fencing, this pretty much completes what the current owner inherited. In addition, the current owner has developed a rudimentary, but very functional and picturesque camp site, which has a central lapa area, small kitchen area, flush toilet and donkey boiler powered shower, all behind reed screens. Water is pumped from the river to a slightly elevated 5000l tank which supplies the toilet, kitchen and shower.
The single access road is well maintained up to just prior to the property boundary. From there on, down into the valley floor it is very passable, but perhaps not for the faint hearted. The river crossings were damaged during the floods of march this year, but a days toil with spade and sensible brain, would open them up and link the remaining 3km or so which terminates on the Groendal park boundary.
Wildlife species
Includes: Kudu (abundant but transient), Bushbuck, Mt. Reedbuck, Klipspringer, Blue Duiker, Grysbok, Bush pig, Cape Mountain Leopard ( numerous sightings ) and Cape clawless Otter as well as other smaller mammals. In addition to we found a set of eland tracks and there have been reported sightings of red hartebeest and black wildebeest, all of which move in and out of this unrestricted space,
Bird species of special interest include Green Turacos (Knysna loeries), Narina Trogons, Half Collared Kingfisher, Scaly throated Honey guide, Cape rock-jumper, Orange-breasted Sunbird, chorister Robin as well as Black, Martial and I'm quite sure Crowned Eagle.
Conclusion
True wilderness in Africa is becoming an increasingly rare commodity. True wilderness within 100km of a major city and airport is almost unheard of. It is only the massive sandstone bastions that jealously guard the entrance to this valley, and the resultant limited accessibility, that have protected this space from the irreversible 'progress' that accompanies commercial agriculture. To put a value to this type of property is a very subjective and individualistic matter, as for anyone who yearns for the type of absolute solitude, unparalleled privacy and pristine virginity this wilderness has to offer, it simply doesn?t get any better than this.
Price
Price - R 10 million (+ VAT ).
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Approximate price of this 0-Bed Land
ZAR10,000,000 ZAR |
€954,754 EUR |
£764,090 GBP |
US$1,197,835 USD |
(Currency and Foreign Exchange services supplied by  )
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| Type |
Land |
| Category |
Re-Sale |
| Listed |
111 days ago |
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Map of Uitenhage, Province of Eastern Cape, South Africa
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Price: ZAR10,000,000
Latest Property News in South Africa
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Price of Property in Uitenhage, South Africa
| (All prices in EUR) |
Uitenhage |
Uitenhage |
Uitenhage |
| Business |
2,200,000 |
31,382 |
2,200,000 |
60,000,000 |
- |
1,890,000 |
| Land/Ruins |
7,400,000 |
34,635 |
18,000,000 |
65,000,000 |
- |
3,240,000 |
* Calculations based on 4 properties for sale in Uitenhage and 516 properties for sale in South Africa |
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