Cape crusaders | Express.co.uk

ON COURSE: Properties in the Fancourt community provide a true taste of luxury The attractions of taking early retirement or redundancy in South Africa mean that more people are deciding to

spend several months of the year there and derive some rental income in their absence. The Garden Route, that unspoilt stretch of coastline between Plettenberg and Cape Town, attracts the

greatest number of holiday home buyers and, at its heart lies the Fancourt estate. This is undoubtedly South Africa’s premier golfing and leisure resort, its reputation confirmed when

Fancourt was voted the country’s leading golf resort at a recent World Travel Awards ceremony. Set in 1,400 pristine acres, Fancourt is less than four hours drive from Cape Town and a mere

10 minutes from George national airport where property owners can use the specially designated executive lounge. Security is exceptionably high within this gated community and within

Fancourt most of the housing enclaves also have their own 24-hour guards. THATCH'LL DO: One of the Dutch houses for sale at Fancourt development All four of Fancourt’s courses, The

Links, Montagu, Outeniqua and Bramble Hill were designed by Gary Player and all are championship courses. Fancourt’s Mark Kirby said: “In 2007 The Links and Montagu were named two of the top

10 courses in South Africa in the annual Golf Digest Awards.” Non-golfers are extremely well catered for as there is a vast spa centre complete with indoor and outdoor pools, gym, sauna and

steam rooms, beauty salon and a wide variety of restaurants; some set within the focal point of the estate, the boutique hotel. All property owners automatically acquire a Fancourt

membership, costing around £800 per annum, entitling the owner to unlimited golf with no green fees and use of all other leisure facilities. > The Cape Town suburb of Kenilworth’s key 

attraction is the > Kenilworth Racecourse, the oldest in South Africa. There is a variety of properties for sale, the most striking being the spacious detached Cape Dutch houses that edge

so many of the fairways and boast classic dark thatched roofs with whitewashed exterior and interior walls. The small enclaves, designed like traditional village centres complete with

terracotta town houses and cobbled paths, are ideal for buyers keen on a lock-up-and-leave property. Ideal for year-round living, there are a few resales available ready for immediate

occupation from around £350,000 for a large three-bedroom detached home. New-builds start from around £390,000, depending on size and location of the plot and the house-style chosen and take

around nine months to complete. Savills, in association with Pam Golding International, has property for sale at Arabella Country Estate near the coastal resort of Hermanus, a mere one-hour

drive east of Cape Town airport. The golf course has recently been rated the second best in South Africa and the properties boast views over the lagoon. Simon Gibb, of Pam Golding, said:

“The development is completed and homes ready to move into include a lovely four-bedroom house with a private pool costing from £285,000, with a three-bedder priced from £214,000. “Plans

include a new phase to be built across the lagoon which hopefully will be launched during the autumn. We also have a fractional ownership scheme.” It is virtually impossible to enter

Arabella undetected as there is a high fence surrounding the estate topped with electrified wire. Property owners are issued with their own swipe card, allowing access and exit at will.

Lanice Steward of Knight Frank’s Cape Town associate office, Anne Porter Knight Frank, is very positive about the effect next year’s football World Cup will have on the South African

economy. She said: “Winning the right to host the 2010 World Cup has already had an impact on the South African property market. We are already seeing a steady, though small, stream of

British and Europeans hit by the global economic woes buying in Cape Town. On the current exchange rate they still get far more for their money and enjoy a much better lifestyle than is

possible in their home countries.” The Cape Town suburb of Kenilworth’s key attraction is the Kenilworth Racecourse, the oldest in South Africa. Homes here are large and comparatively

expensive. These include a spacious three-bedroom/three-reception detached house complete with well-stocked mature gardens, double garage and pool priced at £303,500 and a smaller but new

three-bedder with a paved courtyard on the market for £178,000 through Knight Frank. INFORMATION: Fancourt Country Club: 0027 44 804 0000/ www.fancourt.com Savills/Pam Golding Int: 020 7016

3740/ www.savills.co.uk/abroad Knight Frank: 020 7629 8171. Cape Town: 0027 21 671 9120/ www.knightfrank.com