Raptors View Wildlife Estate

Raptor's View Wildlife Estate was one of the first residential wildlife estates developed in South Africa. The estate offers a unique lifestyle where residents live and share the common ground with the animals which occur naturally in this bushveld environment. This successful concept of wildlife estates was introduced by Trevor Jordan and the first 1 ha stands started selling in the year 2000 for between ZAR 130 000– 190 000.

Today (in the year 2023) the average market price for a 1 ha stand lies at ZAR 1,5 million while some stands with outstanding positions have achieved prices of up to ZAR 1,75 million.

All 305 stands pegged out on Raptors View have been sold by the developer and currently there are only a handful of stands back in the market for resale.

Wildlife found on the estate consists of plains game such as:

Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala,duiker, kudu, waterbuck and smaller game as well as nocturnal mammals. Occasional wild dog, leopard and hyena sightings occur as they move in and out of the estate. The estate is neighboured by game reserves on 2 sides, with the access fronting on to Hoedspruit town.

General layout and ecology

The 1 100 ha estate has 305 freehold stands of 1 ha each with the remainder being common property jointly owned by the residents.

The seasonal Zandspruit River flows through the first section of the estate and features more than 50 river stands which have mostly been developed.

There are large pockets of undeveloped land where walking trails and cycle routes have been established, as well as dams and bird hides.

Vegetation is typical lowveld bushveld with some towering Knob Thorn, Acacia, Tamboti and Marula trees.

Just over 290 houses have been built to date, following strict architectural guidelines themed for bushveld living. The only roof type permitted is thatch and the roads within the estate are dirt roads with a speed limit of 30 km/h.

Land claims have been addressed and restitution has been made in 2005.

RaptorsView/ good to know

The estate rules do not make provision for short term rentals or holiday leasing.

Only long-term rentals (from 30 consecutive days upwards) are permitted. There is no provision for commercial activity on any of the stands within Raptor’s View Wildlife Estate. This has a calming effect and security benefits for the estate. There is also a limit of the number of full time residents in any one home, that amount being 8.

Owners are encouraged to keep as much open spaces around their homes as possible, as wildlife is reliant on the surrounding bush for sustenance. Most houses have decking with a swimming pool, rather than a garden and only indigenous plants are to be planted. Pools of a maximum of 16 sqm need to be raised to prevent becoming a hazard for animals.

Domestic pets are not allowed and feeding of wild animals is prohibited.

Residents of Raptor’s View:

A big draw card for the area is the renowned Southern Cross Private School. The school is situated within the estate and provides schooling up to Grade 12. Bushlore classes are an integral part of the curriculum and scholars are often seen practicing outdoor classes and bush walks on Raptor’s View Wildlife Estate. The school is an English medium private school which offers boarding to scholars from the age of 12.

The school attracts families from allover South Africa and abroad presenting a rich cultural mix of nationalities, with 17 different nationalities currently recorded.

As the area features well on the second home market just under 15 % of current home owners are foreign nationals with German, Dutch, French and British on the forefront.

Security:

Security services are of a high standard with strict gate controls and access cards for residents. There are security cameras at the gate, separate controlled access for contract workers, and 24 hr patrols.

Retreat to a better life and let your children explore nature and the wonders of the African bush in a safe environment and welcoming community.

You only live once - we'll show you where!