Q&A Interviews

Q & A with Joe Marincowitz

Hunters Pride Wildlife Estate

Developer

Is it possible to have real bush veldt so close to Pretoria and Johannesburg?

[JM] Hunters Pride is a wildlife Estate in the only Big Five Nature Reserve within Gauteng. The Nature Reserve varies from 1000m to 1100m above sea level which is the ideal altitude for malaria free true bush veldt. Pretoria is at an altitude of 1300m and Johannesburg at 1600m.

How large is the Dinokeng Big Five Game Reserve?

[JM] At present 18500Ha is fenced in, but negotiations with neighbouring farm owners are underway which will increase the reserve to more than 30000Ha.

How long will it take for new areas to be included?

[JM] Big Five Game fencing is very costly. Therefore new areas will only be fenced once at least another 10000Ha has been signed in. Experience has proved that it takes 2 to 3 years to successfully incorporate a 10000 Ha area. Dinokeng Game Reserve has a full time team working on the expansion of the Reserve.

It is said that the value of property within a game reserve increases significantly.

[JM] It is a proven fact that properties in game reserves especially with the introduction of the Big Five are becoming increasingly more popular. Properties in Phase 1 of our development which was sold for R1 000 000 in 2000 are now reselling at R4 000 000 to R6 000 000.

Why do people buy lodges in a game reserve?

[JM] Firstly it is for lifestyle use and secondly as an investment.

Tell me more about the developers?

[JM] The developers have been involved in construction and property development since 1968. During 1998 the Pride of Africa Nature Reserve was initiated by the developers on 2100 Ha before the inception of the Dinokeng Game Reserve. The Hunters Pride Wildlife Estate follows the highly successful phase one which consists of 20 luxury corporate and private lodges.

What distinguishes the Hunters Pride fractional ownership scheme from other fractional schemes?

[JM] We provide for fixed weeks and flexi weeks. Fixed weeks include the Easter weekend, school holidays, Christmas and New Years day, etc. and are more expensive than Flexi weeks due to their exclusivity. Flexi weeks can be booked at random to suit the owners needs. One can purchase a fixed and a flexi week or two flexi weeks.

What happens if one buys a fixed or a flexi week and cannot make use of it due to circumstances?

[JM] You can either give your week to family or friends or you can place it in a rental pool. The income from one week’s rent can pay a large chunk of your yearly levy. Many people buy two weeks and rent out one week.

Can one exchange a week or weeks for other accommodation elsewhere?

[JM] It is possible to become a member of an exchange club which will enable you to exchange your week or weeks for similar periods in South Africa or abroad.

Do the developers allow outright purchases?

[JM] We expect that a large percentage of the development will be outright purchases of a whole unit. There are also instances where small syndicates consisting of 4 to 12 people purchase a whole unit and then formulate their own occupancy roster.

Why are there 25 shareholders of 2 weeks each and not 26?

[JM] We only have 25 shareholders to allow 2 weeks per year for maintenance and upkeep of the unit.

What is the difference between fractional ownership and timeshare?

[JM] With fractional ownership you are a shareholder in a property company. The value of the share increases as the value of the property increases. In South Africa properties normally double in value every six years on average. You can at any time sell your share with a profit when you need cash. Timeshare normally lapses after a period after which you have nothing to sell.

Who will manage the property?

[JM] The Body Corporate of Hunters Pride oversees the general running of the Estate, such as water and electricity supply, road and site maintenance, reception, security, etc. Your own property is run by a management agent of the shareholders choice. The shareholders choose directors and a chairman whom are responsible for the management affairs together with the management agent. The cost of the management agent is included in the monthly levy.

Is there anything else to do in Dinokeng except game viewing?

[JM] Dinokeng is a meander of which the Dinokeng game reserve is only one node. In the area is many restaurants, historic buildings, a Monkey Zoo, Curio shops, traditional healers, Potteries, Mampoer distilleries, the Cullinan Mine, Rust De Winter Dam, Roodeplaat Dam and the Carousel Casino to name but a few. It will take more than a week to visit all these interesting places.