Life on a Hoedspruit Residential Estate

By Lee Gutteridge and Dr Kersey Lawrence

We are very fortunate, here in Hoedspruit, that some of the earlier land owners had the foresight to apply to sub divide their properties into residential, wildlife supporting, estates.

Some of these around Hoedspruit include Moditlo Game Reserve, Canyon Game Reserve, Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, Raptors View and Jejane Private Game Reserve. But this is not all. There is also Zandspruit, Olifants North, Ndlovumzi, Leopard Rock, Blyde Wildlife Estate, Grietjie Nature Reserve and, of course, Parsons Nature Reserve, in the Balule, where we live. It seems like a lot of places, but we have heard estimates that there are only around 2000 such privately owned stands, spread across all of these places on the edge of the Kruger ecosystem. Malelane, Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa have the majority of these we think.

Sadly, very few folks are in a financial position to buy a Kruger reserve outright. In this day and age tens, if not hundreds of millions of Rands would be needed. But, a home on a wildlife estate is still within reach for some South Africans. In fact, since Covid, prices have gone a little bit crazy. Perhaps people just don't want to be caught in the city for any such future event? We really don't know. But the fact is that prices have been, and are, soaring. Soon, living in a place like this may be out of reach for most people. The homes in the town have also experienced a major price increase.

But, for now, there are still many South African families on the estates and living in the reserves.

A typical day, waking up, surrounded by the dry African bushveld, looking out through a glass sliding door into the wild, is really a treat. And a privilege, too. Spurfowls and francolins competing at making the most noise. Drongo’s and apalises, singing loudly, accompanied by the ever-present white-browed scrub-robin, celebrating the arrival of the first rays of the sun.

Maybe you could hear the predawn whoops of a spotted hyena, or a distant lion. Even the many ‘supposedly’ non-big-five reserves have their share of hyenas, leopards and hippos, some of the more vocal denizens of the bush. Outside the Kruger ecosystem animals like porcupine and aardvark are more common. Where the lions and leopards abound, the smaller mammalian animals are sometimes reduced in number. Each type of estate has its pros and cons. And of course, when there are children are involved, the safer environments, close to schools, usually are preferred. Many estates are within minutes of schools, and others can be an hour away. It all depends upon what you need. But unrivalled bush-living is what we get, irrespective of where we choose.

We have chosen to find a home inside the Kruger ecosystem. Living here is an incredible privilege. Anything can happen. We have had mating lions on our porch. Lion kills on the hillside next to the house. Elephants drinking from our pool. Mating leopards outside our window. Wild dogs laying in our waterhole on a warm day. And much more besides. But on the down-side, as avid gardeners, growing any type of plant is absolutely impossible. The elephants, with whom we share the landscape, are far too attentive to allow for us to grow a baby tree!  But we are mere custodians of this land. Many of these animals were living right here before we moved to Hoedspruit, and many will still be here long after we are gone. We are fortunate to be here. We get to watch those to whom this land really belongs. Hopefully, one day when we go, we will not leave any damage, and, if we can, we will help the wildlife along the way.

In the same way, in the estates near town, the nyalas and kudus make short work of succulent collections, and your newly planted coral trees and aloes. We feel like it’s best just to let it be, but we still try, unsuccessfully, to grow a few of our favorite species.

But what a great problem to have.

African wild dogs are an also regular visitor to most of the estates around the town. The packs know exactly where to enter or exit, by scooting under the fences of the estates. There is usually a stir of excitement amongst the human residents when they arrive. Such a rare and beautiful canid. But ferocious predators. The impact of a resident pack of these animals can soon be seen, as impala numbers deplete.

Bush babies, squirrels, honey badgers, zebras, warthogs, common duikers, genets, civets, African wild cats, and many other species become super habituated to people, and the estates often have some of the best small mammal sightings you could ever wish to see!

It’s an amazing experience to be having a braai with a herd of beautiful female nyalas stood nearby, simply ignoring you. But this also brings an element of danger. Nyala bulls, if in attendance, can turn nasty on occasion. So can porcupines. We have had experiences where they have needed to be guided back out of the front door with a broom!

Taking a slow drive along the dusty roads of an estate, early in the morning to seek out birds and mammals is also a treat. It’s easy to forget how lucky we are, and get wrapped up in the inevitable politics, but we always manage to shake it off. Having an afternoon braai, whilst elephants, kudus or giraffes stroll by is simply incredible.

We have had property in the Hoedspruit area for many years, and it’s still as amazing to us as it was back then. We have always bought our stands or homes through Rob Severin and his amazing team at Century 21 Wildlife, and can highly recommend the service they provide. Hoedspruit has certainly become home to us.

The town itself has grown. That’s for sure. But this being said, it’s still not like most places. A long weekend can be kind of crazy, but most of the time it's pretty chilled. We have all the amenities and shops we need, fantastic medical services, and a few really good schools. Many people from around the world have come to Hoedspruit to settle, in spite of the best efforts of continuous bad press. South Africa does have some wonderful corners, and this is certainly one of them.

If you are in a position to do so, looking into one of the estates in this fantastic little town is a great idea. Living here is a chance to slow things down, to focus on the aspects of nature and family that we often miss in the hustle and bustle of city life. We hope to see you out here one day!