SA's most exclusive estates for super-rich revealed

The Zimbali estate in KwaZulu-Natal has been rated South Africa's most exclusive estate for 2015 by Hurst & Wills and New World Wealth, a global wealth intelligence and market research company.

This 700 hectare estate is located next to Balito, 45kms north of Durban. Along with Umhlanga and La Lucia, it has become the premier luxury area on the east coast of South Africa, according to the report. Zimbali features a world class golf course, hotel and spa. It also has access to the beach.

Fin24 previously reported on New World Wealth's rating of the top 10 residential estates in SA. This time they rate the most exclusive estates in the country, based on their appeal purely to the super-rich.

“The top things that wealthy people look for when buying an estate property are space, exclusivity, security, view, nature and scenery. Locality and lifestyle offerings are also critical,” explained SA estate property specialist Basil Weinrich.

In second place is The Gentleman’s Estate at Val die Vie, currently being constructed outside Paarl in the Cape Winelands.

It will offer individual residents their own private stables, garden and vineyard. Properties range from 3 to 6 hectares each, with residents also having access the rest of what Val die Vie has to offer, including the polo fields, trails and equestrian facilities.

The Pezula Private Estate, situated next to the Pezula Golf Estate outside Knysna in the Southern Cape, is in third place.

According to the report it is one of the lowest density estates in South Africa, featuring 255 plots on 176 hectares. It is a relatively new estate and much of it is still undeveloped.

The Fancourt estate near George on the Garden Route is in fourth place. There are several distinctive residential areas on the estate including Links Ridge, Links Avenue, Cape Dutch Village, Oakland’s Village and Montagu Ridge.

According to the report, Fancourt is South Africa’s premier golfing destination for the super-rich, with three highly rated courses on one estate.

In firth place is the Pearl Valley estate, which is also located outside Paarl, next to Val die Vie.

Highlights of the estate include a highly rated golf course, natural fynbos scenery, mountain backdrops, several lakes and over 120 species of birds, including the iconic African Fish Eagle and Malachite Kingfisher.

New World Wealth's most exclusive estate in the world for 2015 is The Yellowstone Club. The houses on the private residential estate in Sky, Montana in the US start from a base price of $16m, making it only for the super-rich.

The estate, set on 13 600 acres, features a world class golf course, ski slopes and hiking trails. It offers access into the wilderness areas that surround it has two large rivers flowing through the property.

Activities available on the estate include fly fishing, golf, horse riding and rafting during the summer and snowmobiling and skiing for the winter.

Source: Fin24