What Is Estates?
An estate is everything comprising the net worth of an individual, including all land and real estate, possessions, financial securities, cash, and other assets that the individual owns or has a controlling interest in.
The word estate is colloquially used to refer to all of the land and improvements on a vast property, often some farm or homestead, or the historic home of a prominent family. However, in the financial and legal sense of the term, an estate refers to everything of value that an individual owns real estate, art collections, antique items, investments, insurance, and any other assets and entitlements and is also used as an overarching way to refer to a person’s net worth. Legally, a person’s estate refers to an individual’s total assets, minus any liabilities.
Estates are most relevant upon the death of an individual. Estate planning is the act of managing the division and inheritance of your personal estate, and arguably represents the most important financial planning of an individual’s life. Generally, an individual draws up a will which explains the testator’s intentions for the distribution of their estate upon their death. A person who receives assets through inheritance is called a beneficiary.
Top Estates In South Africa?
Zimbali:
Zimbali Coastal Estate is located next to Ballito and about 10 miles north of Umhlanga. It is widely considered to be one of the world’s best eco-estates. Zimbali is known for its coastal forest and birdlife, and has been instrumental in helping to conserve the “King of Africa’s jungles” – the mighty Crowned Eagle. The estate has been home to breeding Crowned Eagles for more than 20 years. According to Dr Gareth Tate, manager of the Birds of Prey Programme at the Endangered Wildlife Trust: “There aren’t many raptors that demand the level of respect that Crowned Eagles do. Not only for their raw beauty and vital role in the ecosystem as apex predators. This is largely owed to their temperament and incredible strength, particularly in their oversized dagger-like talons which have extraordinary crushing power to take down large prey. They are a true keystone species and guardians to Africa’s dwindling forests and form vital components of the forests they inhabit.” Please see our full feature on the Crowned Eagle here.
Steyn City:
Steyn City is located near Broadacres in Johannesburg. It is probably the best designed estate in South Africa, with large amounts of beautiful indigenous parkland between the various distinct residential neighborhoods. It offers a nice mix of houses, townhouses and luxury apartments. The facilities & clubhouse there are world class, as is the new 300 meter swimming lagoon. The birdlife on the estate is also very impressive.
Highland Gate:
Highland Gate is located in the Steenkampsberg mountain range near Dullstroom. The estate is very unique as it is located right inside the mountains, making it one of the most picturesque estates in the country. The birdlife there is also very impressive with Malachite Sunbirds, Red-collared Widows, Brown-hooded Kingfishers and Long-crested Eagles all easily found on the estate.
Fancourt:
Fancourt is located in George on the Garden Route. It is undoubtedly South Africa’s top estate for golfers, with three highly rated courses on the estate. The two original courses (the Montagu and the Outeniqua) were built in the early 1990s, whilst the world famous Fancourt Links was added in 2000. The estate features some of the most beautiful houses in the country and is very top-end. The birdlife and wildlife there is also impressive – the rare Caracal has even been seen on the estate.
Princes Grant Estate:
As remote as it is beautiful, Princes Grant is arguably South Africa’s best kept secret. It is a bird lover’s paradise as Trumpeter Hornbills, Mangrove Kingfishers, Narina Trogons and Palm-nut Vultures are all found on the estate. Like Zimbali, it is also home to the Crowned Eagle. It features a nice mix of house designs and the clubhouse there is lovely. It is one of the only estates in SA with direct beach access (others include Zimbali and Sunset Links).
Val de Vie Estate:
Val de Vie Estate is located in the Cape Winelands between Paarl and Franschhoek. Highlights of the estate include: a wellness farm, vineyards, polo fields, a top golf course (Pearl Valley) and beautiful mountain backdrops. It is highly rated by both local and foreign buyers – see article from the New York Times here.
Steenberg:
Steenberg is one of the pioneer estates of South Africa. Originally a vineyard, Steenberg was re-developed by JCI in 1990 to include a golf course, hotel, spa and housing estate. The estate still contains a large winery and vineyard to this day. There are relatively few houses at Steenberg, when one considers the size of the estate.
Pezula Private Estate:
Pezula Private Estate is located in Knysna on the Garden Route, next to Pezula Golf Estate. The estate is very exclusive and the houses there are spaced far apart, offering their residents a lot of privacy.
Whale Rock Ridge:
Whale Rock Ridge is located in Plettenberg Bay (also known as Plett) on the Garden Route. The 100 hectare estate is located in a prime part of Plett and offers residents stunning views over the bay. The bottom gate of the estate is located approximately 100 meters from the beach.
Waterfall Equestrian Estate:
Waterfall Equestrian Estate is a super-exclusive estate located in Waterfall City. It is home to some of South Africa’s most spectacular mansions and the stands there are particularly large.