SANDCASTLE - The Jewel in The Crown of the Sunshine Coast

Game farm, beach seafront property of unequalled beauty and scale with its own sea frontage of nearly two kilometres with wide glorious white sand dunes and beaches stretching right down to the waters edge nestled between two rivers that form this haven of beauty and tranquillity on South Africa's unspoilt Eastern Cape, Sunshine Coast, 3Km north of Begha. The 6 bedroom lodge was completed in 1999 and is approx. 1600 square meters of construction and is quite organic in its structure, but extremely opulent and luxurious in its proportions and furnishings. This cutting edge, uniquely styled and architecturally acclaimed home is set on a 300-hectare game farm in the proclaimed Wesley Coastal Conservancy reserve, home to numerous small mammals, genet, jackal, lynx, bush pigs and various species of plains game including zebra, giraffe, reedbuck, nyala, bushbuck, dyker, waterbuck, sable antelope and over 250 bird species. All of this is looked after by our qualified game ranger Craig. This unique property offers the utmost in luxurious bush accommodation, unsurpassed awe-inspiring views and a scale that is the epitome of indulgent "out of Africa" living with its "African Adobe" design, emphasised by doors, windows and purpose made furniture and fitting being crafted from rare, seldom encountered, African hardwoods. The three reception rooms, with easy flow, take full advantage of this property's position with its magnificent views of the coast, valleys and mountains. The lounge is the ideal place to enjoy a drink from the walk in bar and watch the magnificent African sunsets, or on those colder days (in Africa we think 18 degrees Celsius is cold) enjoy the large open wood-burning fireplace. The sunken conversation pit is a great spot to access the small library of wildlife and marine reference books and novels while sitting in front of another open fireplace.
The games room has a home theatre with the contemporary audiovisual technology, including a 47-inch flat screen with satellite, DVD with 100 movies, and Nicam stereo surround-sound.
All bedrooms have panoramic sea views and are decorated to reflect the earthy simplicity and rich colours of Africa.
The 2 end master bedrooms are both on suite, with California king size bed and air conditioning while the 2 centre bedrooms are both furnished with two ¾ beds convertable to kingsize beds and airconditioning. The annex provides accommodation for 4 additional people in two bedrooms, one with a king size bed and the other with two ¾ beds connected by a lounge dinning room complete with kitchenette, and a large bathroom with a walk in shower.
There are 2 telephone lines and all local GSM cellular phone networks have coverage here. There is also 3G internet connectivity so bring along your 3G modem.
The design of the gourmet “theatre kitchen” allows any cook to enjoy the vistas and converse with their guests. There are organic granite tops, cappuccino machine, microwave, two electric ovens and an electric hob, as well as a gas grill and two gas plates. A large walk in, cold room and freezer room, provide more than adequate space for fresh produce and frozen foods, with a smaller refrigerator in the kitchen for continuous allday use. The separate scullery is equipped with a dishwasher attended to by the staff.
The outside entertainment areas include a covered patio overlooking the large, solar heated, infinity edge swimming pool and offers 180° view of the Indian Ocean and a central courtyard with a small, solar heated plunge pool and wood burning pizza oven provides a delightful retreat for lazy days and candlelit dinners.
The Object d'Art is a never-ending acquisition process, with careful consideration given to each piece. The lodge houses a collection of original art works by prominent South African artists. Two Easter Island Heads greet visitors driving into the entrance.
There are canoes available to explore the otherwise inaccessible north bank of the Gqusha lagoon’s indigenous virgin vegetation. A Fish Eagles pair is resident here on the cliffs along the river valley, together with eagles and plenty of other bird life. This lagoon is an ideal spot to fish for mullet, cob and shad.
The Lodge is fully staffed and serviced daily. You could arrange to hire a cook or chef from one of the adjacent towns if you don't want to do your own cooking.
Do not lose out on the chance to visit one of the ultimate treasures of pristine and unique South African coastal real estate.

We have a helipad adjacent to the house and have just completed building a 600m grass runway on the property that we fly our plane into from Johannesburg . Both are unregistered and used at your own risk.

We can also rent out our property for periods of a week and longer.

•See Website: www.sandcastlesa.com

•The Dream Destination site: http://www.southafrica-tdd.com/SouthAfrica/SouthAfrica/southafrica-hotel/sandcastle.html

•Virtual tour:
http://listing.pamgolding.co.za/vtour/march03/za0203117030301.html

THE RANCH

Sandcastle is located on New Bradford game farm, situated on 2Km of sea shore, forming part of the Wesley Coastal Conservancy, 4km north east along the coast from Begha Mouth and just 80 km from East London city and 50 km from the marina town of Port Alfred. The closest village is Wesley 4 Km down the road. The farm has a small river, is 252 hectares (600 acres) with a large private lagoon and the Indian Ocean forming 2 boundaries. Sandcastle has a sea frontage of nearly 2km with wide white safe sandy beaches and towering white sand dunes, which makes for great bumboarding, skimboarding, strolling and shelling. We are within easy reach of shopping, cultural facilities and big 5 game parks.

The resident game ranger will meet you on arrival and familiarise you with all the facilities. We would request that there is no smoking inside the house.
We could, by specific arrangement, discuss making various of the following available if reciprocated in the exchange or at a cost:
• Auto, VW Caravel 8 seater with AC if reciprocated in exchange
• Horse riding with 4 horses
• Hobie 16 sail boat
• Rubber duck (Semi rigid inflatable boat) boat with 15 hpoutboard (by special arrangement only)
• River boat with 30 hp outboard (by special arrangement only)
• Men's and woman's bicycles
• Quad bikes for adults and children (by special arrangement only)
• Paddle ski, surfboard, skim board and canoes
• Dune riding boards
• Stand up Jetski (by special arrangements only)
• Qualified game ranger for game drives, walks and wildlife talks
• Fishing tackle
• Clay pigeon shooting at cost

We will only be able to use an exchange from April 2012 onwards. As Sandcastle is a second home our exchange partners can use it most of the year when no one is holidaying there. Over Christmas and New year it is usually occupied.
We can do family exchanges during our children's school holidays usually for a month in April, August and December/January and then for shorter holidays at other times throughout the year to closer destinations. Exchanges need not be similtaneous. Some destinations might be of interest at other times of the year for just Jeanette and I.

Open to any dates

From 2012 we are available for non and also similtaneous exchange or rental throughout the year.
We are generally looking to do a similtaneous or non similtaneous exchange for a seaside villa or large yatch in any warm location. We are looking for sea and beach holidays, especially if there is a boat/yatch included, all year round. Short stays in Afrca south of the equator also possible throughout the year.
If we can't arrange an exchange with you, you could consider renting Sandcastle instead.

View Feedback About My Exchanges

Jeanette and Barry, both over 50, have 2 daughters, Cara aged 17 and Romy aged 13. Barry's business interests have included timber, aviation, property developement and the safari industry. Jeanette's are facilities planning and human resources as well as charitable work for Freeme Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. We live in Sandhurst, Johannesburg, South Africa and visit Sandcastle most school vacations throughout the year as the weather there is pretty good year round. With a suitable exchange property we might take another family along with us.

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