Although there is some debate as to who coined this expression; Lord Harold Samuel, a British real estate tycoon, or a 1926 real estate classified ad in the Chicago Tribune, which reads: “Attention salesmen, sales managers: location, location, location, close to Rogers Park.”
There is no truer turn of phrase that can apply to Pezula Private Estate.Situated along the southern Cape coast, shouldering the Noetzie river mouth and the Knysna Heads, consisting of 612 hectares and nearly 4km of coastline, and recognised as the most environmentally aware and best luxury development in the world, it is safe to say thatLord Harold was right on the money.
The rolling hills, rich diverse fauna and flora and array of wildlife that make up the Pezula Private Estate is the result of extensive rehabilitation to the area, and the panoramic view on offer from each plot is attributed to a well-thought-out and designed estate. In the 1990s, the property was purchased from the Parks family. George Parks, one of the early settlers in the area, set up the Knysna Forest Company in 1892; parts of land that now house the estate were used as a pine forest plantation for nearly a century. The initial investors in the estate had to tackle dense forest and climb trees to imagine the spectacular views that lie beyond them. In 2003, the alien clearing and rehabilitation commenced. With the support of a full-time environmental management team, more than a million pine and gum trees were removed, making way for the natural Cape fynbos that had been lying dormant along with other fauna and flora. The success of this rehabilitation programme has earned the estate numerous awards, and the management and preservation of the reserve sets the tone for the lifestyle at the estate. Homeowners are gifted with a plethora of bird life, which includes some critically endangered species such as the Knysna woodpecker and Cape eag
During the rehabilitation process and under the watchful eye of the environmental team, the infrastructure installation began. The developers earmarked 255 erven that varied in size, from 3000m² to 33,000m², which were to be developed over four phases. Although the plot sizes far exceed those within other estates, the area allocated to be developed only covers 15% of the overall estate, leaving 85% to the natural reserve, indigenous forests, magnificent cliffs and sheltered beaches.
The estate started marketing and selling plots from 2001, rolling out the development phases from 2003, with the final phase starting in late 2004.
Initial returns on investment were as high as 200% prior to the 2007 global recession.Property prices vary based on views and proximity to the coastal cliff area; however, the estate’s layout has a strategic design that ensures that each individual home has at least one boundary looking onto open space, thereby enabling homeowners to enjoy the reserve and all it has to offer.
“We have inland plots on sale from R 550 000 and those with sea views for up to R 10 million. Pezula Private Estate is one of a kind, and, for preservation of the forestation along this coast, we have been informed that there will be no further development rights on the coast, adding intrinsic value to the estate,” says Vanessa Eyre from Dream Knysna Property Specialists. Vanessa has been involved with the estate since its inception in 2001 and purchased a plot in 2004. When asked how she would describe the estate’s lifestyle, her passion for the estate is apparent. “Privacy is key here; the houses are not ‘cheek by jowl’ – from the homes, you don’t realise you have neighbours, and every window and view is picturesque. The game spotting is also special and we have personally seen bush buck, blue duiker, honey badgers, mongoose, Cape clawless otters, tortoises and caracal. Bushpig, porcupine and even leopard are occasionally seen on the estate. We have loved watching Pezula Private Estate evolve from empty plots to where it is today. Driving to the estate is a pleasant daily encounter, with the noticeable rehabilitation fully established, and the steady growth of designer homes continues to enhance this estate into an echelon never created before.”
The Homeowners’ Association (HOA) and the Homeowners have taken over the role of ‘visionaries’ when it comes to the future of Pezula Private Estate. The properties are owned by freehold and all the common areas and facilities are maintained by the Homeowners’ Association under the management of Anthony Evans and directorship of the board of trustees. For the benefit of its residents, the estate offers a sports field, a barnyard, a boma, a number of view sites, five walking trails, horse riding, surf angling, a golf driving range and hiking down through the indigenous forest to the Noetzie river and canoeing along to the beautiful Noetzie beach.
Sustainability is vital to the lifestyle and the HOA encourages homeowners to use alternative energies and rainwater harvesting, and homes are equipped with a sewer plant that allows for all grey and black water to be reused.
Security is paramount, and the estate has access control, motorised patrol, state-of-the-art camera systems and perimeter fences that are maintained by security specialists, with Mother Nature also offering a hand.
The architectural guidelines set out by the HOA ensure that the natural tones and contemporary design of the homes seemingly disappear into the landscape and colour palettes of the region. Situated 8km from Knysna CBD and 70km from George Airport, Pezula Private Estate is ideally situated for both a secondary and primary home.
The magnitude of Pezula Private Estate’s beauty is best described in the meaning of the estate name:
Pezula – ‘up high with the gods’.
A special Thank You to Chris Daly for the use of his incredible images of Pezula Private Estate.
