Stunning lifestyle farm of 528 hectares for sale outside Ficksburg in the beautiful Eastern Free State highlands of South Africa. Foreigners are allowed to purchase property in South Africa on full title.
Own a piece of paradise. This gem’s natural vegetation has been left untouched for at least 33 years. Only four hours (350km) from Johannesburg this amazing property is at the top of the list of beautiful farms in the Eastern Free State. Situated between Ficksburg and Fouriesburg on top of the Witteberg mountain range, only 30km from Ficksburg, 47km from Fouriesburg, 70km from Clarens, 88km from Bethlehem and 130km from Afriski.
Hidden in the mountain with a mild climate during summer, this is the perfect place to practise regenerative farming and hide from the effects of climate change and any pandemics. It is very possible to be completely self sufficient on this farm.
It is the most remote farm in the district and very private and safe.
All the water sources originate on the farm and is therefore unpolluted.
Many towering sandstone cliffs, springs and perennial and seasonal streams are found on the farm. A waterfall drops into a deep wooded gorge. Two dams offer area shelter to an abundance of bird life. Additional dams could easily be build in the watercourses. During normal rainfall years the farm receives an above average rainfall of 700 mm or more. The climate is mild during the warm months and we usually receive some snow during winter.
Biologically it lies in a major ecological transitional zone resulting in a great diversity of habitats (both Drakensberg and Free State High Veld vegetation) and rare plant and animal communities with an affinity for rocky places, water courses and mixed vegetation, e.g. baboon, caracal, serval, genet, jackal, fox, otter, mongoose, dassie, porcupine and many others. There are also many bird species associated with high mountains such as grey-wing francolin, ground woodpecker, stone chat, rock thrush, orange breasted rock jumper, rock kestrel, malachite and great double collared sunbirds, bald ibis, gymnogene and black eagle.
The farm has one of the best geological exposures of the top of the Karoo geological system. Quartz and Agate crystals are in abundance on the mountaintops. Hence some people calling this the Crystal Mountain.
In terms of safety aspects it is hidden in and on top of the mountain range with sheer cliffs on the Lesotho side. The access road ends at the reserve entrance so it does not border any roads and is surrounded by other farms making it extremely safe and private. There are no servitudes.
This is a low maintenance farm and is suitable for either a fulltime farmer or a lifestyle farmer just looking for an incredible weekend and holiday retreat or a piece of heaven for retirement. The previous owner used it as a weekend and holiday lifestyle farm for 25 years. We currently employ one male and one female worker and they are quite capable of looking after the farm in the owner’s absence. The workers own property in a nearby town so they do not have any right of permanent tenure should they be dismissed, retrenched or if they resign.
There are numerous beautiful spots where additional accommodation could be built. There are many cut sandstone blocks on the farm that could be used for this purpose. There is also a dolerite “gravel line” that runs through the farm which could be used for building purposes, brick-making and roadworks on the farm. The basalt rock formation above the sandstone rock formation could be used for the same purpose. Trees for firewood, fence poles or timber for own use are also in abundance.
Infrastructure includes the following:
Sandstone cottage (143 m²) with 2 bedrooms that have built in cupboards, lounge/dining room, kitchen, bathroom with bath, shower and toilet, separate toilet and walk-in safe. The cottage is fully furnished with log furniture, a gas fridge/freezer, gas stove, Dover wood stove, two gas geysers and a built-in gas heater.
3 x Bachelor sandstone chalets (35 m²) with double beds, kitchenette and own bathrooms. All three chalets are equipped with a gas fridge/freezer, double gas plate, Dover wood stove, gas geyser and are fully furnished.
Laundry room (11.5 m²).
An accommodation building (270 m²) consisting of 3 bedrooms, lounge/dining/kitchen area, 5 toilets, 4 washbasins and 2 showers. This building also consists of another large room currently used as a gymnasium and for storage. The building could house 14 guests. It is fully furnished and includes a gas geyser, a gas fridge/freezer and a Jewel wood stove.
An equipped borehole providing exceptional quality water and 8 500 Litre water tanks.
A power room (16.38 m²) with full solar 5kw off-grid system, as well as a 10kw diesel generator with a 200 litre fuel tank that is hardly ever used as the solar system provides enough electricity for our current needs. The reserve is totally independent of ESKOM. There is an ESKOM connection point on the farm should the new owner decide to make use of ESKOM.
There is an MTN 4G LTE tower on the farm and apart from excellent cellular reception it also provides some additional inco.
2 x Brick worker's houses (67 m²). These houses consist of two bedrooms, a living area, a bathroom and a kitchen with electricity, running water and a Jewel wood stove.
Slaughtering facilities and cold room (34 m²) with a Coolbot system that can be remotely monitored and operated from anywhere in the world.