ENRICH YOUR MIND AND BODY AT SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP GOLFING SPOT

Arabella Country Estate offers a chance to commune with nature, relax your mind, and show off your sporting prowess. Stephen Penn pays a visit

Having a window on nature is food for the soul. Even better - to live overlooking some of the most stunning landscapes the world has to offer – without sacrificing on luxury and those all-important home comforts – is a treat to savour.

Located on the shores of the Bot River Lagoon and boasting panoramic views of the Palmiet mountain range, Arabella Country Estate delivers on all of the above fronts. Nestled within the magnificent surroundings of a World Heritage nature reserve, the Estate is an appealing alternative for younger families seeking to escape the stresses and congestion of city life.

Just 110 kilometres from Cape Town, commuting is a viable option, and the increasing trend towards mobile home offices is seeing more families opting to relocate for a gentler pace of life. Identified by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee as a biodiversity ‘hot-spot’, the area is home to more than 1,600 Fynbos species and abundant bird and animal life.

With 236 spacious freehold properties set on 113 hectares of pristine land, with 1.6 kilometres of lagoon frontage, Arabella encourages an organic style of architecture using natural materials, slate roofs and subdued earth colours in harmony with its surroundings.

The Estate is home to one of the top ranked golf courses in South Africa, with pristine grass, tricky sand traps and challenging water hazards. Designed by Peter Matkovich, the golf course has been enjoyed by celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson and seasoned professional players including Ernie Els and Gary Player.

Residents can also enjoy the 5-star Arabella Hotel and Spa, which offers guests and residents stylish and opulent tranquility, fine dining, and pampering within the superb natural surrounds of the Estate. Arabella also makes the ideal base from which to explore the Overstrand region, with its challenging mountain trails, sandy white beaches, surfing and fishing, not to mention adrenalin-fueled shark-cage diving.

When the bright lights call, the vibrant seaside town of Hermanus is just a 30-minute drive away. The Hermanus Wine Route meanders gently through the picturesque Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, uniting 15 small wineries each producing premium, world-class wine in sustainably managed vineyards. The annual Hermanus Whale Festival, held in September, attracts many thousands of visitors each year, who come to enjoy the best land-based whale watching in the world together with great food, colourful craft markets, live music and other non-stop entertainment for the whole family.

But a lifestyle like this isn’t just a treat away from home. Family living is at the heart. Quality education need not be sacrificed when considering a move to Arabella. Nearby Hermanus offers a number of schooling options, both public and private, including Waldorf and Montessori.

In addition, the Curro Hermanus Private School, which offers parallel-medium (English and Afrikaans) schooling from nursery school right through to Grade 10, has gained an excellent reputation over the years.

arabellacountryestate.co.za