Safari Travel - Adventure & Travel At Your Fingertips!

New Property investment in Brakpan

2014-04-15T11:51:00.002+02:00

http://sa-property.blogspot.com/2014/04/new-development-anzac-brakpan-100.html

Very impressive investment
Contact us today

Five Reasons for Using a Drink and Drive Service when in Gauteng

2013-08-22T15:27:00.001+02:00

The silly season is almost upon us: Christmas gatherings, family get-togethers' , extended road trips and a particularly ghoulish focus on road fatalities despite the fact that the daily average over December is hardly higher than at other times of the year.

However this is the time of the year to eat, drink and be merry and if you are out and about there is a strong chance of being stopped at a road-block, or be involved in an accident. So if you have had a drink or two it is a good idea to make use of a drink and drive service to avoid the obvious.

But what is the obvious? Find a lift home on facebook

Here are five excellent reasons for making use of a drink and drive service:

· A drink and drive service will mean that you can eat, drink and be merry without worrying about being stopped at a road-block.

· Making use of this service over the merry season will mean that everyone can enjoy themselves, and instead of one of the group having to stay sober the entire night, the responsibility of driving home can now be allocated to a professional team that will ensure that you and your friends get home safely.

· Drinking and driving is not a joke – entire families have been and will continue to be destroyed as a result of someone not being sober and getting behind the wheel.

· Don’t be another statistic this silly season and don’t cause statistics – either remain sober or hire a drink and drive service that will ensure that you arrive home safely from your festivities so that you and your family will enjoy Christmas together and many Christmases in the future.

· Fewer accidents happen at night because there are not as many cars on the road, but stats have proven that being involved in a collision are actually higher due to driver fatigue, reduced visibility and alcohol consumption – so if possible plan your trips to include a service that will remove this element altogether.

The best way to escape being a statistic over the Christmas period is by making use of your professional drink and drive service so that you can enjoy Christmas with your loved ones.

Leadwood - a place of dreams

2013-05-30T13:14:00.003+02:00

Located in Hoedspruit, Limpopo - Leadwood Big Game Estate is 984 hectares in size and

offers ownership in the form of 94 one hectare freehold title stands as well as a 32-bed lodge site.

An awesome place where you can get 100% home loans from Wizard midrand

Watch TopBilling Tomorrow at 8:30, to see Miss USA Nana Meriwethers visit to South Africa

Well fone folks for a magnificent new estate.

Why stay at a hotel when you can stay at Three Rivers Lodge

2013-05-23T11:58:00.001+02:00

If you are looking for the best hotel in the Vaal Triangle look for one that will be able to host a wedding, a private birthday party, Bar mitzvah or But mitzvah, a business conference or all those other once-in-a-lifetime occasions you need to find a venue for; it is, of course, a good idea to find somewhere that is close enough to where you live yet far away to get that home-away-from-home vibe. A hotel in Vereeniging that will satisfy all these needs and plenty more – perhaps one of the best-kept secrets, is the Three Rivers Lodge and Villa Anna Sofia which is beautifully appointed and spread along the banks of the Vaal River, offering lush gardens and surroundings that will guarantee the best memories that will be frozen in time immemorial.

You will be pardoned for thinking that you have gate-crashed the Magic Kingdom as the gardens that surround the lodge are breathtakingly, lushly manicured plus the army of well-trained staff will ensure that your every need is catered for.

Package deals for conferencing can be tailor-made to suit all business needs whether the occasion is big or small; our breakfast deals, lunch packages and cocktails functions are all tailored to perfection, plus a bit of free technology is added to ensure your affair runs smoothly from beginning to end.

For those seeking a touch of class and a moment of luxury, far from the madding crowd, look no further than the lavish Villa Anna Sophia for those special moments where stunning cuisine fit for a lord or lady will be served to perfection. Villa Anna Sophia offers the discerning traveler an opulent experience; nice to know is that all the rooms are equipped with air-conditioning units, private lounge, access to ensure privacy and a plethora of other bits and pieces to ensure you leave with a suitcase jammed with memories.

Should you be looking for the best hotel in Vereeniging to ensure your occasion is one that will be remembered long after the last drop of champagne has been sipped, then look no further than the sophisticated, well-placed Three Rivers Lodge, where indeed a river runs (almost) through it.

Bushveld competitions

2012-05-09T15:40:00.003+02:00

If you register with one of the numerous South African group websites, you will no longer have to wait for your magazines to arrive every month or every fortnight so that you can enter into one of the numerous competitions on offer in South Africa every day. Group websites and online competitions enable you to enter into a South African competition every single day which is really nice for those competition enthusiasts.

Instead of logging onto Facebook every morning, people are visiting the group sites for deals and competitions every day.

Try to win that mouth-watering car that you have been drooling over for months and which could be yours with a mere click of your mouse, or perhaps you dream of travelling somewhere exotic but instead you are obligated to pay all your bills before you can even consider this. The best and the easiest way to win all these wonderful prizes is by registering, entering, and then hoping and dreaming for that special prize.

The more times you enter the more chances you have to win a prize in a South African competition. This is a numbers game, therefore it is wise to enter often for a better chance to win.

There are so many things that you can win, and they don’t only include holidays and cars. You will be able to win crates of wine, cosmetics, perfumes, chocolate hampers, jewellery, spa days and so much more by entering a South African competition every single day.

First motor cars

2012-04-18T14:02:00.000+02:00

First Motor Cars

Many Patents Later the Motor Car Is Born

It literally took decades and many patents to create the car as it is today. The first man to have built a car that could move using its own power is Frenchman Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot.

· Cugnot built two tractors that were powered by steam, and these tractors in turn were utilised by the army to haul heavy artillery.

· Richard Trevithick who was a British inventor improved on the steam driven tractor and the steam-propelled engine by making it a little lighter, smaller and stronger.

· In 1801 Trevithick made a more compact engine called the Puffing Devil, and was the first carriage that was not driven by horses.

· These were the first designs towards building the modern-day motor car.

The next logical step was to produce a combustion engine, as the steam engine lost power along the way as the steam could not be maintained for long periods of time. The invention of the combustion engine soon turned this around. The result was that less fuel was utilised as combustion engines use fuel that is burnt within cylinders and vessels. Two French brothers created the combustion engine but chose to use this combustion engine to power a vessel and used moss spores, coal dust and resin to power the engine of the boat.

Francoise Isaac de Rivaz of Switzerland built combustion engines for a motor car but the engine was weak as he used O2 and hydrogen to power this engine, as was the case with other combustion engines designed by other inventors at the time.

The first electric carriage was developed by Scottish creator Robert Anderson in 1839, but the car had to be stopped regularly and re-energized which was hardly user-friendly.

The first contemporary car which was a petrol-driven, 4-stroke combustion engine and which converted fuel into motion, was the ancestor of the modern motor car that we drive in the world of today.

· German engineer Karl Benz became the very first person to build a modern motor car in 1885.

The first car by Benz was called the Motorwagen and was driven by a four-stroke cycle petrol engine.

There were other engineers and inventors working on petrol-driven motor vehicles at the same time, but Benz was the first to get exclusive rights his engine.

On the 29^th January 1886, Benz was granted the copyright for his very first motorcar which was a three wheeler and made him the originator of the car as it is today.

In the year 1891 the first four wheeled car was build which was affordable and by the year 1900 Benz & Cie was the world’s largest producer of the motor car.

Of special interest in the Mercedes Benz museum in Stuttgart, Germany where you will be able to see the progress of the first motor car right up to today’s stunning modern vehicles.

Travelling to Durban

2012-04-12T22:22:00.000+02:00

Last week I had to take a quick trip to Durban, it was kind of scary cause I had no place to buy tickets and I had very little time and the problem was I need:

1. To book a quick cheap flights
2. To book a car rental

Well, I searched for cheap flights on my phone and came across a great site called Fly.co.za. It was so easy and quick to book a flight that even in my little BLOG post I hope to reach one or two people that will use these guys. So if you want to book flights from Cape Town to Durban, use Fly.co.za.

I also managed to book my car rental through them as well. A total pleasure. Thank you guys.

Experiences, fun, healthy, adventurous for Easter

2012-03-15T15:36:00.000+02:00

Mangwanani

OK so it is time to take some time out over the next few weeks, not just for yourself but also for your loved ones, friends, family, parents especially and the best place to get this is through a gifting site and online and quickly.

Want to know how to win?

So what kind of adventure or experience are you after; Easter is here folk and that's a great long weekend, whether you go near or far, Gauteng to the Cape it is all available online through your gifting service.

maybe a Mangwanani Hot Stone Body & Royal Foot Massage or something more exciting like Canopy Tours - Drakensberg or Kloofing or abseiling or canopy tours or a blissfully chilled getaway for him or getaway for her or something more sublime like a Cheese Wine & Chocolate Tour - Cape Town

Now you can do all this from your armchair and book online with SA's - largest gifting service who offer experience, fun, healthy, adventurous and just a bunch of great gifts .

so what do they offer, well the gifting service list is endless:
Adventure, Food & Wine, Getaways & Tours, Lifestyle, Spa & Relaxation, Abseiling, Ballooning, Canopy Tours, Diving, Driving, Flights, Quad Biking, River Rafting, Camelot, Mangwanani, Dance Courses, Floral Courses, Personal Style Consultations and Photo Shoots go online today and get your action - EASTER IS AROUND THE CORNER

Wheelchairs for the needy - all cyclists and givers!

2012-03-14T12:59:00.001+02:00

14^th March

Dear Chris

Thethird Old Mutual joBerg2c challenge starts in the South of Johannesburg on the 27^thApril 2012and ends nine days and 930 km later, on the beach in Scottburgh on the 5th May 2012.

The creators of South Africa’s two favorites mountain bike stage races have developed a ride that has captured the imagination of mountain bikers both nationally and internationally.

This cycle event is part race and part adventure. A journey where the destination is less important than the experience and the challenge along the way. It is more about sharing a passion for mountain bike riding with like-minded biking enthusiasts, and through our efforts helping people in need.

The same community-driven formula used for the renowned Sani2C will be used in the joBerg2. This has the incredible effect of uplifting communities and giving them a foolproof way to raise much needed funds.

With this in mind an organization known as Cycling 4 Mobility (C4M) has been created.

Basically, we are four avid cyclists wanting to raise funds to purchase wheelchairsto donate to desperate people along the route.

We are appealing to youto assist us with this worthy cause in the form of monetary sponsorship for the purchase of the wheelchairs or any other assistance you can provide for this project to be a success.

If you believe you can assist or require further detail please contact a member of the C4M team.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

The C4M Team

Michelle vd Westhuizen michellela@mweb.co.za 078 083 1740

Jo Mackenzie mackpack.jo@gmail.com 084 439 5175

Beth Macleod mcbeth@iafrica.com 082 820 1100

Flavio Scarpa flavio.scarpa@sappi.com 084 330 6029

Jacqui Scarpa (admin) bcaccounts@selbornebodycorp.co.za 072 243 9732

www.joberg2c.co.za

Banking Details: Cycling for Mobility

FNB,

Scottburgh - 260225

Account no.-6234 2372 919

Raise Money for wheelchairs Round1

2012-03-14T12:52:00.004+02:00

Jenna van Schoor and Clarens Beer festival

2012-02-29T16:28:00.001+02:00

Hitting rock bottom could be seen as a measure of success when it comes to a beer festival, depending on your perspective. This weekend, hitting rock bottom took on a different meaning for me though as we drove into Clarens to attend the second annual Clarens Craft Beer Festival, and saw the sign for what I guess is the only bar/club in this Free State town.

Please don't forget to check out the wedding competitions 2012 south africa.

read full story

GET YOU BODY IN LINE WHEN LIVING OUT IN THE BUSH.

2012-02-29T12:43:00.002+02:00

So if you sit and need alignment use these guys - we do and we sit straight, don't have back problems and work more productively AND THEY CAME TO US FOR A WHOLE DAY AND DID ALL OF OUR STAFF and Then we had private Pilates mat classes, realignment classes and each of us were given a personal program to follow - absolutely awesome.

A fantastic investment for staff, clients, bush lodge guests and such a great investment.

This is what they said too us:

Multifidus activation is SO IMPORTANT!!!! The multifidus muscles help to take pressure off the vertebral discs so that our body weight can be well distributed along the spine. Additionally, the superficial muscle group keeps our spine straight while the deep muscle group contributes significantly to the stability of our spine.

Simple Exercise to attempt at your desk - and help any back pain
Step 1: Sit with your spine in a neutral posture.
Step 2: Locate the multifidus muscles along either side of your spine.The multifidus muscle can be palpated or felt here.

Step 3: Isolate and contract the multifidus muscle. Breathe in and on breath out, contract the multifidus by imagining that you are drawing your thigh into the pelvis. There should be no actual movement of the hips, pelvis or spine. The contraction of the multifidus should feel like a slow, firm ‘swelling’ or ‘bulging’ underneath your fingers.

If yours isn't firing give us a call 084 580 5284 and we'll book you in for a session to assist you in this and much much more

www.bodysynergy.biz

2012 Budget Speech

2012-02-22T17:03:00.003+02:00

Get the full 2012 Budget Speech!

Nature Guide Training - how divine

2012-02-14T15:02:00.001+02:00

nature Guide Training at its best - well this is what awaits you at Entabeni nature guide training

Have you always wanted to experience Africa on foot? Watch the sun set over the Savannah? Discover what its like to come face to face with Lion, Elephant, Rhino and Africas other exciting animals? Then this is the program for you!

Come and spend 14 fun filled days with us in the majestic Waterberg mountains. Spend your days tracking the legendary big 5, going on game drives, learning basic field guiding skills, sleeping out under the stars, birding,

doing night drives, astronomy and much more!

Back in camp our chef will have all your meals ready and waiting for you when you

return from your activities.

Go swimming in our waterfalls, visit our white lion breeding centre and spend your evenings around the camp fire, hearing tales about the bush and the people and animals that call it home.

Join us today for memories that will definitely last a lifetime!

Join them on facebook

Hoedspruit gets hammered!

2012-01-23T12:15:00.000+02:00

So just to see whats happening - send whatever you can to help the folks. Contact your estate agents such as Century 21, Remax, Engel&Voelkers and Pam Golding to see what you can do to assist these good folks. I know they need fresh water, lamps, paraffin, food, blankets, bedding etc, so do your thing folks!!

Floods in Hoedspruit area

2012-01-19T10:42:00.002+02:00

So today I spoke to my friend Annie from Remax in Hoedspruit and she sounded very worried, with all the rain.

More than 30 people have been airlifted to safety in Hoedspruit, in Limpopo, due to flooding in the region, the SABC reported this week.

"The bridge between the air force base and the town has been washed away, and several roads are impassable," air force spokesperson Pete Paxton told the broadcaster.

"There is a lot of water and there is a lot of areas flooded after heavy rainfalls over the past two days, but especially on Tuesday

"We then embarked on search and rescue operations with helicopters and we rescued about 30 people from either islands or treetops, or the roofs of houses and we evacuated them to safety to the air force base in Hoedspruit."

Kruger National Park spokesperson William Mabasa said the park had experienced heavy rains, affecting roads in the area.

"The most important thing is to avoid all gravel roads in the Kruger National Park. We have issued a statement this morning to warn people about the water situation. Crocodile Bridge is closed because the bridge is overflowing.

"We have closed Phalaborwa Gate as well, and bridges leading to Letaba and Mopani camps are overflowing at this stage."

We now see more closures have been issued today.

Visitors to the park should contact the public relations office to ask about the condition of the roads they intended using.

Mpumalanga community safety department spokesperson Joseph Mabuza said drivers should be extremely careful.

"We received reports that some of the bridges have been affected by rains, so we request all road users to be cautious when using the roads.

If a driver sees water on a bridge or near a bridge that is partially submerged, we request they assess the situation, whether it is safe to cross, and if there is any doubt, they must not use the bridge and find an alternative route."

Mabuza said heavy rains often created pot holes, which led to accidents as drivers tried to avoid them.

SA Weather Service senior forecaster William Msimanga said the strong downpours had been caused by the sub-tropical depression Banbo, the fourth of the season.

"We had issued a warning for persistent heavy falls in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo for the rest of Wednesday" he said.

Over the past 48 hours, 109mm of rain was recorded around Mbombela, 139mm around Skukuza, and 270.9mm around Hoedspruit.

About 170mm was recorded to have fallen around Phalaborwa over the last 24 hours.

So be cool people!

Wedding bliss at Thonga beach lodge, Mabibi

2011-12-02T14:04:00.001+02:00

I recently attended an awesome private wedding at Thonga Beach lodge which was simply put awesome. We had three nights and four days with the wedding party and in so doing were privileged to some of the best breakfasts, lunches and dinners never mind the Wedding lunch on the deck on the beach.

Taking over the 24 people / 12 roomed lodge was a fantastic idea and the management team and staff just blew us away with their "No problem" attitude. And the demands were high.

The wedding on the beach, snorkeling in the sanctuary, mucking about in the waves, tranquility, African fish eagles, yellow billed kites, turtles, whales and an amazing diving setup just make this the ultimate wedding.

The Thonga Lodge is committed to the heritage of the Mabibi tribe and all the staff are involved in this project.

The 250 odd clan or tribe have children that walk to and from school each day for 15 km each way and I am hoping that i can find like minded people who are interested in setting up a Mabibi Trust to raise money to buy a mini bus for the school children. My goal is to raise R 25,000.00 by July 2012 which will go to a second hand minibus. So if anyone is interested and has some ideas please email me and lets see if we can do something. Use it or lose it!

So this is next to the inland fresh water lake Lake Sibaya which has no rivers running into it.

Do yourself a favour go see Thonga Beach lodge - at least once in your lifetime.

Paris Hotels

2011-12-02T13:56:00.001+02:00

Well sometimes its great to get out of the bush and slum it in a city - and the only city to do this in is Paris, where the women are sophisticated, the Paris Hotels are awesome and the food is......french je ne sais quoi!

Love to buy a place in the bush - what do the banks offer?

2011-10-19T11:39:00.001+02:00

So you have now been for a weekend away and have just fallen in love with the bush and always wanting to own your personal piece of bush heaven, you meet with a great agent who finds you exactly what you want.

The only problem is you need some finance assistance, because sure you have a deposit in pounds or dollars and getting that across is quite simple because you can arrange a free money transfer from England to South Africa and all you need is a mortgage for the balance. But what are the restrictions, what are the costs and how do you get a home loan on a piece of vacant land or on your bush house or bush lodge.

So here are some thoughts and scenarios' but if you want details email a property finance specialist today!

Vacant Land - well Nedbank do not offer loans on vacant land. ABSA and FNB offer 60% loan and Standard bank offer 65% and 75%. The rule of size is maximum 8,5 Hectares but under certain circumstances up to 20 Hectares may be considered.

Bush House or Bush Lodge - well depending on the value and lloan required and whether you are a non-resident (50% max) or a non-resident with work permits (80% max) to SA citizens (up to 100% depending on the property value) - once again speak to your property finance specialist. The rule of size is maximum 8,5 Hectares but under certain circumstances up to 20 Hectares may be considered.

If this is a commercial undertaking then a different loan is applied for and the maximum loans are 60% but you will pay a raising fee of up to 2% and even then there is no guarantee of getting a loan. Business plans, financials and forecasts together with the seller and buyers pedigree is required.

So can you do it, yes! Is it easy no! Speak to your property finance specialist first! All good!

Property and the Kruger Park - take a break

2011-09-14T15:02:00.000+02:00

Time to take a break, go ahead you deserve it.

Ever imagine a place where the air is crisp and clean, the grass is green, and the sky is starlit with sparkly diamond like stars. Imagine soft sunsets filled with the sounds of chirping birds and nothing but contentment.

When i spoke with Barbara from Century 21 Wildlife properties she had this to say:

"Stop imagining because such a place exists! The Kruger National Park is a wonderful place where you can unwind from daily tension and enjoy nature at its best. Forget about stress caused by city life, and embrace the overwhelming feeling of rejuvenation and tranquility.

Being in the Kruger National Park makes you feel a lot healthier. Think of reducing your everyday tension, stress and anxiety levels. It’s almost sounds too good to be true, but believe it or not, getting away and going to quiet places is good for you! Thats why you should own your own bushveld property".

When was the last time you actually had time to clear your mind and have time to yourself? If you answered daily then good for you! However most folks barely have “me” time, simply because life is just way too hectic. Little do we realize how unhealthy and bad this is for us not only mentally but emotionally as well.

The Kruger National Park allows you to have that “me” time, which everybody needs. City life tends to make us forget about the finer things in life, the things that really matter. The long summer days spent outdoors with those you care about, the lazy winter evenings drinking hot chocolate and taking long relaxing bubble baths. These are the things that might not seem important at all, but these things need to be done for your own wellbeing. So when you are ready to buy a property in Hoedspruit next to the Kruger Park get a specialist to find you the one that suits your dreams.

Whenever things feel like they just piling up and not getting any easier, remember you can make it better by letting go and heading to the wonderful Kruger National Park.

Annie and Remax Wildlife Properties

2011-08-30T16:51:00.000+02:00

So Annie gets her gun - well done

the best property agent in Hoedspruit area and a fair deal for your bush properties and offering 100% home loans - annie and her team awesome- well done and welcome!!

When did you learn life was easier buying in the bush!

2011-07-12T14:16:00.000+02:00

Hi Geoff,

The bush sells itself, but is nice to know I may have influence.

So, How much do you need to raise? For properties zoned as Agricultural farms (like this one) and over 25ha it becomes quite difficult to raise cash and unfortunately takes longer than a normal home loan.

So yes 90 days may be needed. But to be fair houses and stands can take that long at times as well. It all depends on how quickly we can information to the bank regarding your financials, tax, banks account statements etc.

I utilise the services of Global Fundi for financing advise and while they do not raise finance for larger farms can offer excellent advise and recommendations. They can also assist to bring finance into the country at very favourable rates. I will ask them contact you, as he can explain the best options for doing so.

Kevin the seller was thrown a curve ball this morning!

He has been on a waiting list for buffalo calves because he would like them to get stuck into the long grass to reduce fire hazard. 6 became available and will cost him R16,000 each totalling R96,000. Obviously if he sells the farm he does not want to add more game to the offering and the value of this game cannot be included in the asking price. He wants to know if this will be a deal breaker. I would be a pity for him to loose such an opportunity stock is not easily available. The average auction price in 2010 for 56 auctions was R35,000 for a fully grown buffalo. They want to BOMA them on Friday and have Vets and staff lined up to do so. Let me know your thoughts?
Wish all deals were this cool!!

Renting a House in the Bush - Looks can be Deceptive

2011-06-09T09:20:00.004+02:00

Some of the older buildings in areas like Hoedspruit town may scare potential tenants because they may look rundown, but experts claim that branding areas as “unsafe” for living is unfair as some of the older buildings have a much more efficient maintenance and service record than some of the newer buildings.

so a great read: The 7 Secrets to Successful Apartment Leasing: Find Quality Renters, Fill Vacancies, and Maximize Your Rental Income

As the rental market in the Bushveld and country becomes more competitive, an increasing number of people are keenly reviewing the upkeep of the building they intend to live in as one of the most important factors to consider.

“There are many options to choose from. Why should I go to an older place, which may have problems right from start? At the end of the day, it’s all about safety and convenience,” said a resident of Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, who is now looking to move out of the area to town.

However, experts say that a simple glance of the building should not be the only factor to assess whether the place is safe or unsafe.

According to one source, some buildings in older areas of the city are in a much better state than others in newer locations, which may come as a surprise to many.

“You could well find a property in Old town that has a quicker, more responsive and efficient maintenance service than in some buildings in New areas such as Wildlife estates. Similarly, two identical buildings next to each other in the same area might well be receiving very different maintenance services,” he told us.

“The difference comes with the landlord and their commitment to their customers – the tenants. With this comes the ability to charge higher rentals. So, in the case of the buildings mentioned above, one charges a higher rent to deliver a better service,” he added.

According to another expert, some old buildings in Town are perfect examples how good maintenance can extend the life of a building.

“Maintenance is becoming a more and more talked about subject in Hoedspruit and surrounds. In theory, the economic life of a building should be 100-years plus. However, if the buildings are not properly maintained throughout, their life expectancy can reduce vastly,” said the Head of Valuations from one of the leading banks. And ABSA, Standard Bank, FNB and Nedbank feel the same.
“Good examples of this can be seen in Nelspruit and other bush type towns. Traditionally, in markets, landlords mostly enforce the upkeep of their buildings (commercial) through the provision of a full repairing and insuring lease to their tenants or through a service charge provision for residential. Proactive maintenance also improves the financial performance of a building over time, hence tightly worded leases being the norm in mature markets,” he said.

However, many residents in general complain their landlords are not bothered about the upkeep of the apartment or home once they lease it out.

"I’ve been in this house for just six months but there are so many problems here. Right from the AC to the water motor to sewage. It has been giving me trouble. My landlord lives in London and wouldn’t care to even reply to my e-mails. He should get me an annual contract from a maintenance company but he’s not willing to spend a single Rand,” said a resident of Raptors View, (one of the oldest and most established freehold bush communities in Hoedspruit).

For such tenants, experts advise a through check-up of the place before a contract is signed.

“Clients should be careful and conduct due diligence no matter where or what they lease. If it is a new building, it is advisable to see who the owner is (or are in the case of owners association properties) and if they have other properties, then check how their reputation for performing maintenance stands with these other buildings. For older properties, try and speak with existing tenants - visual appearances can be very deceptive so it is always best to investigate further,” said our bush expert.

On the other hand, A. or Residential Sales & Leasing, Expert, believes that it is not possible to instruct clients. “I do not see any reason to advise tenants to be careful. I believe it is all down to taste, budget and expectation requirements of the individual on which building they would choose,” she said.

“[Moreover], I do not know of any building deemed unsafe due to age; as long as a sound maintenance team is in place, all buildings should not be a threat for health and safety. In some developments, gyms or pools are not maintained well but that could be for many reasons, e.g., the developer is not receiving all the service charges paid, etc,” said A.

“A lot of the homes are simple structures and even pre-fabricated. Some of the older buildings even on the freehold market are showing signs of age after just 5-7 years. This is a concern as in other, more mature markets, homes over 100 years of age are very common, but the climate here is harsh and life expectancy of buildings are reduced as a result,” she added.

For those new in Hoedspruit, experts list areas with oldest buildings but rule out that they are unsafe.

“Areas such as Town, Big 5 areas etc have some of the oldest remaining properties. However, our Municipality (Theoretically) regularly checks all buildings in the area and will require an owner to repair, reinstate or renovate their properties should there be elements that are assessed to be unsafe, from the structure and items stored in emergency stairwells (in flats) all the way down to depth markings for swimming pools. If a larger, long-term commitment is being made, such as for a commercial or industrial property, then a company could be considered to provide a technical assessment of the building fabric and features prior to making a decision,” added our experts.

Food for thought! For more info look at this book and buy it now it is great and will get you going.

Hoedspruit and winter approaching

2011-04-28T12:44:00.000+02:00

I always like to hear from Hoedspruit as i own property their and have been trying to sell one of them.

So this was an email I received the other day from a friend of mine.

Dear

XXXXXX

It seems as if Autumn is over and winter has arrived but strangely so as here in Hoedspruit we are still having hot and humid days to contend with though it is getting cooler in the evenings.

With a few extra showers, the rain has kept the bush green for longer, which is always a good selling point in this area and the leadwoods and other trees are looking super.

Although for some the market may still seem depressed we are getting a lot of Internet enquiries regarding properties in Hoedspruit, some great walk in clients and hopefully more of these enquiries will result in the clients making appointments to view properties on offer and our sales continue to climb.

Please be assured of our commitment to find a suitable purchaser for your property and of our assistance at all times.

Best wishes

C

So now my place is sold! Thanks

Visiting SA - DO NOT DRINK and DRIVE Never!!!

2011-03-22T10:46:00.001+02:00

So we want you to come to SA and spend your hard earned FOREX ;Well, I'm like most of you, a beer here, a glass of wine or two there, and I always drive the car, because I brag to being a better driver drunk than a Stone cold passenger when my spouse drives!..Sounds familiar.

Well if you visiting our shores as a traveller or even if on holiday - find some responsible driver, taxi backup for ALL YOUR EVENTS when there is booze.

The situation is serious here - the law itself states NO DRINK and DRIVE but it is what happens when you are arrested that really takes its toll.

So for the rule:

DON'T DRINK and DRIVE (That includes me)

This is a recent story that just puts it into perspective in SA and how things can go.

14 March 2011

Dear Family and Friends

I am sending the same email to everyone because I just can’t bring myself to repeat this story over and over and so that everyone is on on the same page with the same information.

On Friday 11 March 2011 at 10pm I was pulled over in a roadblock and arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. I had met my friend Jenny at a nearby restaurant to have a very civilised dinner and a catch up. I had three drinks and two glasses of water, something I know every single one of us has done on many occasions. I knew full well at the time that I shouldn’t have had the third but I did. We left just before 10am because I needed to get a decent nights sleep for Andrew’s birthday party on Saturday morning. I felt 100% percent when I was pulled over and told that every person stopped would do a breathalyser test. The police woman said she really wasn’t concerned about me but now that I had been stopped we would have to go through the procedures. I did the breathalyser and was just over the legal limit of 0.24. I was put in a police Quantum and with 8 paralytic men and taken to Honeydew Police Station. I phoned Bradley immediately who threw the kids in the car and arrived just in time for the kids to see me being taken out of a police vehicle.

I honestly thought that Brad would speak to the nice police officers and the nice affluent lady from Ruimsig would be sent home. 18 hours of pure unadulterated hell ensued. I was put in a room with drunk, foul mouthed men and the start of the paper work began. I was then taken in the Quantum again with these men to the Randburg Clinic to have blood tests. I was convinced we would be killed from speed and wreckless driving. I am grateful to the policewoman who stayed with me and kept the men away from me. The person who took my blood was practically illiterate and when I asked him to put gloves on he said he wasn’t afraid of my blood. I told him “buddy I’m scared of yours”. It was all done properly, I took photos of the blood kit and documents which the cops found very interesting as everyone else was sprawled out of the floor not knowing the day of the week. Bradley had taken the kids to my mom at this stage and was outside with my friend I had dinner with and her husband who is a lawyer. We were then taken back to Honeydew where we were told it would be a few minutes and we could pay our bail and go home. It’s now midnight.

Apparently to post bail you need a detective and there were no detectives and only one small cell which couldn’t accommodate the “detainees”. I was finally separated from the men and put in an office with 8 policemen sorting out crates of booze from a shebeen. They had great fun making jokes with the “lovely white lady”. At 4am three more women were brought in, 2 motherless. Just for the record, of the 23 arrested, I had the lowest count. The cops also found this amusing as I should “never have been detained”.

At 4am Honeydew police station decided they couldn’t find a detective and just couldn’t process us. We (4 ladies) had to hand over everything, including cell phones and even our belts and shoelaces and were told we would be taken somewhere much more comfortable for us. Somewhere where we would be with criminals like ourselves. We were frog marched to a proper police van and thrown in the back. Stinking filth would be a mild description. The cops told us they were taking us to the veld for some fun which white ladies enjoy. There are no words to describe the fear and degradation. We were taken, sirens screaming and ramping pavements to “shake us up” to Randburg Prison. We were reprocessed and told once again that as criminals we had no rights.

Us 4 ladies were put in a cell in the prison with 6 other women. Prostitutes, drug addicts, a shebeen owner etc etc. We were treated shockingly but I am grateful to God I was not harmed in any way. I have learnt a lot about myself and how truly strong a person I am. I was more than ready to take on a stoned drug addict who didn’t like my face. There are no words to describe the hell I have seen and experienced. The prison movies I have seen are mild. There literally is writing on the walls in blood and no where to sit or lie but on an ice cold concrete floor. No food and no water. The fear and conditions mess with your head so badly, I desperately wanted them to call me and get me out but at the same time I was so terrified of being alone with a policeman I would rather have stayed in the cell. All this time Brad was outside with Gavin and other family members gathering. Gavin woke up people, there was even a Judge on the phone. They could do nothing!! I was finally granted bail and released after 2pm.

Andrew’s birthday party was cancelled, I have had to explain this situation to my children and see the terror my mothers face. I put Bradley through unspeakable anguish. I can’t even scratch the surface of how this has affected my family.

The reason I am telling you all of this and not keeping it to myself is because it’s not in my nature to ever shut up as you well know, and it would just eat away at me carrying a secret like this. I take full responsibility that I broke the law and will face the consequences. I will not dodge prosecution or “make evidence disappear”. It’s unfortunate that I am the one who has had to learn this lesson while almost every person I know does the same thing regularly. I believe that this has happened for a reason and possibly that reason is for my friends and family to catch a wake up and realise that this can happen to anyone. I don’t know how strongly I need to say this, I need you guys to listen to what I have to say and take it very seriously. I never want anyone I care about to have to go through what I did. I am getting trauma counselling and am a complete mess. Please trust me it is worse than any movie and any nightmare. I am not being dramatic in any way that when I say if I could video what I saw and experienced, no one of you would ever touch a drop again. The big hero men who thought it was all so amusing initially, left the prison broken. Me as a female was exposed to unspeakable things. I have witnessed people taking drugs next to me and going completely mental, I have used a steel filth encrusted toilet in front of a room full of people, I have been told my Nigerians and Zimbabweans that their only wish is to “f^%$ me until I die” and i have laid on a filthy concrete floor completely helpless. And that's the mild stuff.

I want every single person to think about this and stop what you are doing. Do not ever get behind a wheel after so much as one drink, its not worth it. Male, female, young, old, black, white, affluent or not. No one is excluded from this stuffed up system that is policing our country. It doesn’t matter how little or how much over the legal limit you are, you are a criminal in their eyes and will be treated as such. Ladies, your civilised dinner parties, book clubs and play dates in the afternoons with your children could honestly land you experiencing what I did. Guys a beer or two after work, same story. I will be going to court and I will have a criminal record.

I am not saying don’t drink, I am asking you all to drink in the safety of your homes and to never ever under any circumstance get behind a wheel after drinking anything. It’s just not worth it. You don’t know your limit, everyone is a different weight, size and everyone reacts differently. Just don’t take the chance, ever.

I apologise for this letter sounding like the ramblings of a mad woman but I felt I needed to tell everyone while it was still fresh. I haven't told a tenth of what happened. I am not ashamed by what happened and I cannot let my experience go without doing something constructive to prevent others from having to go through the same thing. I won’t punish myself for the rest of my life and I will still have a drink or two but I swear I will never again get behind a wheel after so much as one sip of alcohol. I have a long road ahead of me to sort my head out and many months of court cases and trauma ahead, make sure this doesn’t happen to you.

Lauren

Hey Lauren, good on you we all need a flippin serious wake up Call. Catch a taxi man!!!!