Nature Reserve for Sale in Bela Bela, Limpopo, South Africa

Lodge in South Africa(Ecolodge)up Market(Ready for Sale )

LODGE FOR SALE IN LIMPOPO (South Africa - Up market - ****Star)
View of nature and wildlife photos 1-2-32-33-35

This exclusive, well established and profitable lodge is for sale! Located near the busy tourist area of Bela Bela (Limpopo), it is an opportunity not to be missed.

This delightful privately owned game reserve is located in the heart of the African bushveld within a prime wildlife area, nestled on the foothills of the magnificent Waterberg Mountain range in a malaria free area of the Limpopo Province in South Africa and offers a comprehensive and up market infrastructure for up to 40 guests. It is one of the few exclusive 4-star lodge on the popular Bela Bela tourist area.

About our area - Bela Bela (Warmbaths)-
The Michelin guide has the following comment:” Warmbaths is not only For Ever Resort (hot springs centre), and if it is mentioned in our guide, it is due to mainly the vicinity of our lodge!”
It is the only lodge in the region to have received the 'Bibendum' - that is the Michelin quality label - their recommendation in the area.

Moreover, we are proud to announce that the lodge has been included in the SLEEPOVER (the Good Lodge Guide) as being part of the Top 10* of the most beautiful lodges in Mpumalanga, North-West Province and Limpopo Province. Only 3 lodges upon 10 are situated in our province. (* Lapalala, Londolozi, Makweti, Matumi, Ngala, Pilanesberg National Park, Savanna, Singita, Touchston and us)
The selling price is “lock, stock and barrel” Therefore, a new owner can just move in and continue with the business.
50% of guests are foreign tourists – mainly from Germany, France, Holland, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Belgium and the UK.

The reserve and lodge offer some unique and special features:
• Absolute unspoilt nature with breathtaking views
• Private and secluded
• Excellent “Eco” wildlife
• Excellent birdlife
• Ideal location – guests use the lodge as a base from which to explore the Limpopo and North West province.
• Average stay of guests: 2 to 7 nights.
• Great expansion opportunities exist for a new owner!

More detail about the property and business

1. Location
In a free Malaria area. It takes less than 2 hours to reach the property from Johannesburg International Airport and less than one hour and thirty minutes from Pretoria, travelling on the Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) highway N1 North.

2. Property details
313,6 ha. The entire property is zoned as a Business and is registered with the relevant authorities.

3. Reason for selling
Current European owners have been in the industry on a full time basis for 11 years and have reached the stage where they feel it necessary to semi-retire and enjoy seeing their children living in Europe.

4. Selling Price - ZAR 17,950,000- or €1,890,000- or $2,700,000-
The lodge is being sold as a going concern, i.e. lock, stock and barrel – walk in and continue with trading.
Note: All furniture, fittings, equipment, artwork are included as well as marketing and advertising material. This also includes a vehicle which has game-drive seating used to take guests on nature drives and sundowners.
Items excluded from the sale are the personal vehicles as well as some furniture, artwork in owner’s house and a helicopter.

The business, infrastructure and land were independently evaluated and our selling price of R17,95 Million is a very realistic price according the bank property valuation.
• All stocks in respect of food, beverages and curio shop – on day of take-over – are included.
• All monies received (full payment / deposits) in respect of future reservations (from date of take-over) will be refunded.
• Current owners are prepared to assist with a hand-over for a period of 30 days after which further assistance can be negotiated.

5. Improvements
Buildings: +1.800 m2
Entirely game fenced (2.40 m high)
More than 28km of hiking trails
Road infrastructure to explore parts of the reserve
Lodge Infrastructure:
The lodge was designed and built by the current owners in 1999. Prior to development, the entire property was “virgin land”. Infrastructure condition is such that no renovations or additional buildings are necessary. A new owner can literally move in and continue with business.

Wildlife
The reserve property is home to an astonishing diversity and abundance of wildlife species. Animals include kudu, impala, blesbuck, blue wildebeest, zebras, eland, oryx, red hartebeast, giraffe, klipspringer, leopard, hyena, warthog, steenbok, duiker, baboon and African blue ape (list on request). The general area supports a wide variety of bird life species including eagles, kingfishers, bee-eaters, hornbills, secretary birds and exotic reptiles and amphibians as well as bizarre and colorful insects.

Plant Life and Environment
The topography of the reserve supports a wide range of habitats and scenery, ranging from open savannah plains offering easy viewing of animals, mountains offering panoramic views of the surrounding area and natural and man-made water holes which attract birds and animals into easy viewing areas. There are also hundreds of species of trees, shrubs and an enormous variety of grasses and other plants including indigenous thorn trees.

FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
The Lodge is one of the only 4-star resorts in this area (4-Star SABS Grading) and is “Highly Recommended” by the AA Travel Guide.
The property, which is privately owned and managed, is fully operational and contains:

Private and staff quarters
• a large 5 bedrooms-3 bathrooms thatched house (260m2) with swimming pool and a lush garden. *photos of residence 4-5-6-6bis
• a thatched full equiped “rondavel” *photo 7
• a large storage area (helicopter woorkshop)
• a mechanical shop.
• 6 workers quarters are also located on site

The resort
• a restaurant ( ***** grading, Best restaurant in Limpopo - Bibendum Michelin grading - Selected by BBC Food program as being one of the TOP 20 Restaurant of South Africa). *photo 8-9-10
• a wine cellar
• a thatched office
• a curio shop (local arts and crafts)
• 5 up-market “Out of Africa” tents (****Lodge). *photo 13-14-15-16
• a Country House with 5 rooms + swimming pool + barbecue & fire “boma” *photo 17-18-19
• 3 bungalows. (****Lodge) *photo 20-21-22
• 2 bungalows (***Country House) )
• a gymnasium thatched area + health treatment centre (****Lodge). *photo 24
• a bar, breakfast restaurant with open fire place and barbecue area (Zebra Cafe) (****Lodge). *photo 26-27-28
• a swimming pool with waterfalls surrounded by a wooden deck (****Lodge). *photo 29-30-31
• a toddler swimming pool (****Lodge).
• a tented bush camp (7 tents for the children).
• a thatched “rondavel” (house) for the game ranger (****Lodge).
• stables for 12 horses (18 horses on the property).


The infrastructure of the property has been fully developed. This includes viewing hides for watching and photographing game and birds, animal drinking water points, 10 km game fencing, and access roads to service the property. (1 kilometer equals approximately 0,62 miles).

The reserve has all necessary vehicles and equipment to maintain the property. There are also vehicles to accommodate groups of people when travelling inside or outside the property. (list on request)

6. Current Ownership
The property is currently owned by a Close Corporation with the owners as members.

7. Staff Compliment
Our permanent staff consists off the owner couple+ 1 Ranger/Manager + 5 operational staff.
All staff members are well trained, experienced and committed to the lodge.


8. Marketing and Source of business
The lodge’s website and direct reservations via other websites, generate more than 80% of the business
50% of reservations are from Western Europe (mainly Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Scandinavia and the UK)
The lodge is featured in various international travel brochures – examples available.

rrent Operations
The lodge is operated by the two owners on a full time basis. They are very ably assisted by a Ranger/ Manager

The **** Lodge is operated only on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis.
The *** Country House is operated on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast & on Self Catering basis.
However, a lunch menu is offered to guests who are on the premises. This is at a nominal extra cost for the guests.

Our current tariffs are based on the above and also include commission payable to tour operators and agents where applicable.
We are registered for VAT

neral
• Electricity: Provided via the national network (ie ESKOM). Three transformers 50-25-16KVA
• Water: A few, very strong boreholes with excellent water quality for property use.
• Sewerage: Septic tanks system.
• Communication: Telephone (Telkom+ Internet on a satellite system).
• Limited mobile phone coverage.

nancials
Very established and profitable business
Turnover in excess (on request)
Audited financial statements for the year ending Feb 2011 are available soon. (on request)

12.Expansion opportunities & development potential
The reserve of 313,6 ha has incredible expansion opportunities. Current owners limited guest development to 40 guests to ensure exclusivity for guests.
Additional camps / lodges can be developed to increase occupancy potential
Opportunities for soft adventure activities, e.g. abseiling, rock climbing.
The property presents a tremendous business opportunity for early stage investors or developers, to develop the property as a private resort and sell 20 units (plots + houses) of ownership to individuals or companies that can appreciate this opportunity in what could be one of the most unique gaming, sightseeing or corporate retreat experience anywhere in the region.

INVESTMENT: (forex rates 11-2011): ZAR 19.950.000- or €1.850.000- or $2.460.000-

The Next Step Is Yours

This is just a taste of what the reserve has to offer. The combination of convenient access to some of the world's most intriguing animals and natural beauty makes this an amazing business opportunity.