Cotswold Downs – Where Even The Greens Are Greener!

Dancing on the fringes of Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal, Cotswold Downs is the place to enjoy gorgeous views of the rolling hills and indigenous forest, world-class golfing, spectacular birdlife, and free-roaming antelope – all from the comfort of your home.

Each home is encircled by manicured gardens that offer the best in ingenious flora and fauna. In fact, the estate has been awarded the coveted Institute of Landscape Architects Award for Excellence in Environmental Planning and Management, and was a finalist in the Water Care, and Companies and Organisations with Innovative Strategies categories in the Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Awards.

A luxurious haven for all

At the heart of the estate is the Cotswold Leisure Centre, which boasts spectacular views of the estate and golf course. The Leisure Centre is a separate entity and is run by general manager William O’Driscoll.

Having taken up the position in the last few months, O’Driscoll has an impressive career managing hospitality facilities. Here he has hit the ground running with renovations taking place at the gym, new management of the sports shop, along with reviewing the menu and trading hours.

The design of the Leisure Centre enables residents and visitors to access the restaurant, as well as a separate bar and the sports shop. The centre also hosts events such as conferences, corporate events and weddings, as well as regular gatherings for residents. Management places great emphasis on health and wellness, and several local experts, including a biokinetic specialist and a dietician, have hosted events here.

For residents, the estate offers several facilities; these include a gym, squash and tennis courts, swimming pool, hiking, running and biking trails.

The estate also possesses a unique range of natural and indigenous habitats, including a pristine scarp forest, coastal grassland, several large and small dams with wetlands and seed beds, and the Nquthu River, with riparian woodland and bush along sections of the water courses.

These diverse environments are home to more than 240 species of bird alone, including nine species of waterfowl, seven species of sunbird, Malachite Kingfisher, African Jacana, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Shelley’s Francolin, White-fronted Bee-eater and African Marsh Harrier.

As a result, the estate is registered as a protected area with the Birds in Reserves Project (BIRP) at the Animal Demography Unit, University of Cape Town, to ensure that these species are looked after.

Safety is a high priority, and the estate has access control for residents and visitors. The central control room is manned 24/7 by a control room operator, there are perimeter thermal surveillance cameras, secure boom gates, and the estate is continuously patrolled, with an on-site reaction vehicle, perimeter foot patrols and search dog unit.

A championship golf course

Cotswold Downs has one of the country’s finest and most impeccably manicured golf courses, spanning a length of 6,193 metres. Designed by Peter Matkovich to USGA specifications, the magnificent 18-hole championship golf course has been designed so that players can enjoy the surrounding dams, wetlands and ponds.

A cart barn has recently been added to the sports shop and driving range, and the putting and chipping greens are maintained to the same standards as the course, using a mixture of cool season and summer grasses to allow the course to be lush all year round.

Professional club fitting is offered for avid golfers as is tuition by a dedicated teaching professional.

From vast green spaces and spacious homes to the fantastic golfing and superb community lifestyle, every aspect of life at Cotswold Downs is nothing short of exceptional.