Les Gets together

by Charlotte Ashton France

If skiing is your winter vice and you are more focussed on the downhill ski rather than the après ski, then Les Gets in the Portes du Soleil domain of the Alps (France), dubbed ‘the gateway to the sun’, is the resort for you. This historical and somewhat quieter Alpine village epitomizes traditional family values, has an excellent snow record and offers a purchaser year round unforgettable holiday usage, after all why buy a property you can only utilise for 4 months of the year when you can invest in one that you can enjoy for every season?

With the winter ski season just opening in the Alps and snow already being reported on the slopes, what can Les Gets offer the avid skier? Portes du Soleil is one of the world’s largest ski area created from a chain of villages strung along the French – Swiss Alps. There are 650km of downhill slopes and cross-country trails served by 209 ski lifts, all covered by a single ski pass or there is a cheaper more restricted pass available. Situated between Lake Geneva and the Mont-Blanc the region also enjoys exceptional snow coverage throughout the season creating reliable rental demand.
Les Gets village itself offers 3 cabin lifts, 25 chair lifts, 2 gondolas leading you to 3 green slopes, 26 blue slopes, 28 red and 9 black slopes for the more advanced skier. The resort also boasts 12km of cross country ski trails. For those who want to be in the heart of the action, property buyers are opting for the new development Les Fermes Emiguy, with its authentic Savoyard architecture, offering skiing on your doorstep being only 400m from the Chavannes ski-lifts and approximately 300m from the piste of the Vieux Chênes. Being so close to amenities and the slopes it is perfect for the burgeoning self-catering holiday rental market.
The resort comprises of 74 luxury studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments in a 4* leaseback development and is SIPP eligible. Within the residence there is a wide array of high quality facilities including an indoor and outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, fitness centre, laundry and bicycle store. Perfect for year round usage.
In spring and summer mountain-bike enthusiasts can enjoy 380km of trails including 100km long circular Portes du Soleil tour. Or for the brave try your brakes on the heart-stopping 3300m bike descent in the neighbouring village of Morzine. 
For those opting for the gentler pace of life, simply enjoy the many miles of trails which wind into the mountains with breath taking scenery covered in alpine flowers and moss. If you go quietly and are away from the maddening crowd then you are almost guaranteed to see the wildlife that braves these hills – artic hare and buccatan are a treat to see. To amuse the whole family other activities such as horse riding, golf and canoeing are available to visitors throughout the summer months.
Les Gets is just 55km from Geneva airport making it one of easiest resorts to get to. International flights arrive daily from most UK airports and coaches run from the airport every 75 minutes for a mere €25. From the 19th December, perfect timing for the 2009/2010 ski season, new weekly Saturday flights will be available to savvy skiers from London Oxford Airport flying to Geneva. This flight service will be with Baboo from only £78 each way including a generous baggage and complimentary ski or snowboard allowance.
To buy in this fabulous ski resort Experience International are offering studio apartments from £156,428 and 4.5% guaranteed income for 9 years available (renewable), this is an opportunity not be missed.
For more information contact Experience International on 0207 321 5858 or visit www.french-ski-property.co.uk.  

Living on the French coast

by Charlotte Ashton France

 

From Paris to Provence, Franco-philes find a reason and a destination to visit France at all times of the year, but what is it that keeps drawing tourists, French holiday-makers and property buyers alike to the alluring south-east Cote d’Azur coast and the 5th largest city in France, Nice?
The Provence Alps Cote d’Azur region as a whole is the most popular region for owning holiday homes with over 415,000 people already doing so and with over 10 million visitors a year to the Cote d’Azur, Nice and the surrounding towns are the second most popular tourist destination in France.
–          Outdoor life
You can’t visit Nice without taking a stroll along the famous Promenade des Anglais, indeed many will only live in Nice if they can achieve this prime real estate location adjacent to the sea front and the Baie des Anges. Established in 1822 by British ex-pats (hence English Promenade), this fairy-light adorned walkway along the coast is the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere, you go there to see and be seen.
Of course if walking is a little to slow-paced for you then hire a ‘velo bleu’ bicycle from one of 90 stations and imagine yourself as Lance Armstrong speeding down the cycle paths, well perhaps the Tour de France is one step too far for the regular customer but it certainly is the ideal way to get around town and take in the sights, for as little as 1 Euro per day. The bikes are self-service, just register online to give you 24-7 access to the velo bleu and as the popularity of this mode of transport increases so is the number of bikes with 175 stations being rolled out amounting to 1750 bikes available for hire (www.velobleu.org).
You can’t visit the coast without a dip in the sea, especially in the hot summer months. Adrenalin junkies can hire jet skis, parascend, dive, water ski and paraglide on the Mediterranean coast in Nice. Plus with 9 Blue Flag beaches in Nice alone (74 in the Provence Cote d’Azur region in total) you can be assured the amenities and cleanliness are excellent making the beaches perfect for the whole family too.
Back on dry land the markets are the perfect French shopping experience aside to the huge Nice Êtoile shopping mall. The cours Saleya in Nice is home to the flower, food and antiques markets held on different days of the week but the buzz and vibrancy is always the same. There is also the Cave de la Tour for traditional wine tasting and buying.
–          Food lovers heaven
France is renowned for its delicious cuisine, inspiring chefs and top class restaurants worldwide but you can’t imitate the real thing. When in France eat French and what a choice there is for the hungry foodie. In Nice you can sample Michelin stars at the Chantecler restaurant serving classical cuisine and for the smaller pocket, who can resist the smell of a freshly baked baguette, a flaky croissant and the rich aroma of ripening cheeses.
To wash down your meal head to Vieux Nice, the old town, made up of winding passages and walkways packed full of bars and cafes. Sample a perfect pastis, the anise flavoured alcoholic drink in the 18th Century surroundings.
–          Seeing the sights
With so many events, exhibitions and festivals on at any one time in Nice there are two free publications dedicated to keeping residents and visitors up-to-date with the cultural, sporting and musical activities available, the Nice Rendevous and Cote d’Azur en Fêtes, plus another weekly paper the Semaine de Spectacles.
A highlight of the cultural offerings are the museums and galleries. The Musée D’Art Moderne Et D’Art Contemporian (MARMAC) houses the likes of Andy Warhol’s 1965 ‘Campbells’ Soup Can plus you can’t go to Nice without admiring the Musée Matisse. Henry Matisse moved to Nice from Paris in 1917 to recover from bronchitis and never left; just walking around the city you can take in the same sights that he described as the ‘radiant colours and luminosity of daylight’.
For music lovers the likes of U2 visited this summer, Nice is a touring stop for most A-list groups but on the other end of the scale there is the Opera de Nice to enjoy.
Taking you back in time, there is the ancient Roman city of the Cemenelum to explore where ruins are on show. In 154BC the Romans were second to settle in the area after the Greeks who had named the colony Nikaia to commemorate a nearby victory – nike in Greek.
–          Interesting property
From ancient homes to the modern and sought after properties on the Promenade des Anglais… despite the world economy, real estate on the Promenade des Anglais remains in demand due to the finite number of properties offering those breath taking sea views. Kirkor Ajderhanyan, MD and owner of Agence 107 Promande comments, “prices have stayed relatively stable and in the more affluent segment of the market prices are already starting to see a rise; as always good quality properties with that location, location, location, are ever popular. Many of our clients are seeking their bolt-hole in the sun, but we also find that a large number are investing in property in Nice because it is a ‘safe’ market and they see returns from their purchase from rents and capital gains.”
Ross Elder MD of holidaylettings.co.uk states, “Accommodation enquiries are up 40 per cent year on year across the board, demonstrating growth in the ‘book direct with owner’ market where space, privacy, freedom and value prevail.” France is one of the top performing destinations for what is being coined the ‘self-catering explosion’, where people are choosing privately owned properties to rent for their holidays instead of the more expensive hotel options.
Buying your Promenade apartment doesn’t have to cost the earth either, for example, you can purchase a well presented 2 bedroom apartment of 49sqm in a prime seafront location offering a living room, balcony with panoramic sea views overlooking the Baie des Anges, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom and an allocated parking space for €285,000.
For those with a larger budget this contemporary apartment of 96sqm situated in an Art Deco building on the Promenade des Anglais offers 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, 2 bathrooms plus a large 8sqm terrace with spectacular sea views. It is on the market for €648,000.
–          Good access
Nice is one of the most accessible locations in the Cote d’Azur, the international airport services Nice and surrounding area, visitors come by car, boat or even helicopter. 18 low cost airlines alone service Nice International Airport from over 42 destinations, this coupled with the 73 destinations reached with the traditional airlines, all 33 of them, air access isn’t a problem. And unlike many smaller destinations in Europe and beyond, having such an established air service is reassuring for home owners who are not threatened by airline closures or reduced services like so many minor locations.
For more information please contact Agence 107 Promenade on 00 33 4 93 44 83 83, email contact@107promenade.com or visit www.107promenade.com.

Property is plain sailing in Nice

by Charlotte Ashton France

As the seasons begin to change, you may be thinking it’s all over for excuses to travel in 2009 however for France, the announcement by Louis Vuitton of its partnership with the new World Sailing Team Association, yachters will be navigating to the Cote d’Azur in the south of France this November . The World Sailing Team Association will be holding a series of regattas from now until 2011, the first of which will be held in Nice from the 7th to 22nd November. 10 teams will battle it out on the waves including a number of renowned faces from the elite sailing fraternity.

It is events such as these in which the fortunate Promenade des Anglais property owners can delight. They will have front row seats for the regatta in the comfort of their own home. The Promenade has already seen the likes of Lance Armstrong and eventual winner of the Tour de France 2009 Alberto Contador speeding through its streets this summer, the yachting ‘world series’ extends this sporting havens appeal.

Kirkor Ajderhanyan, Owner of Agence 107 Promenade, the international property agency specializing in Promenade des Anglais real estate comments, “clients come to us from across the globe seeking prime location penthouses and apartments with sea views over the famous Baie des Anges in Nice. The Promenade des Anglais is where people come to see and be seen and with so many events happening this year and planned in the future from festivals to sporting events it is little wonder why. Owners come to immerse themselves in city celebrations and many choose to rent out their properties at these opportune times to maximize returns on their properties. Nice and the Cote d’Azur is particularly popular with the yachting fraternities, the region boasts 22 Blue Flag marinas alone.”

For enviable Promenade des Anglais positioning and fabulous sea views, why not consider this spacious 6th floor 2 bedroom apartment of 72sqm for €530,000 with a lobby, living room of 22 sqm, separate kitchen, 2 bedrooms with balconies, bathroom and terrace with panoramic sea views of the Mediterranean Sea

For more information please contact Agence 107 Promenade on 00 33 4 93 44 83 83, email contact@107promenade.com or visit www.107promenade.com

France – a safe option for property buyers today

by Charlotte Ashton France

There were few markets spared in the economic downturn, France included, however, focus has now switched to the property markets which are recovering the quickest, and which markets offer a safe investment option. With news of France officially lifted from the recession, property agency, Agence 107 Promenade based in the ever popular Nice, in the south of France, talks about the recession and what there is to come for this region.

Kirkor Ajderhanyan, MD and owner of Agence 107 Promenade:
During the beginning of the economic recession, towards the end of 2008, when we started to notice the effects, we saw the real estate market stall, in every sector. The largest effect of this was the lack of confidence in the property market and the uncertainty of what the future holds for property in France and in most cases, people were concerned about the recession in their home countries, coupled with fluctuating currencies, which of course has a huge knock on effect in the purchase of second homes overseas.
It was not until January or February of this year that wealthy buyers started to re-enter the property market, seeking out and buying apartments of which the owners were pressured to sell. This trend has continued into summer and the number of buyers in the market has increased significantly which has been shown in the growing number of property sales.
Inevitably, six months after the start of such a severe financial crisis actual selling prices did reduce, although comparatively moderately in Nice. This has lead to one of the hardest problems we face today, the gap between what sellers are prepared to sell their properties for and the perceived worth by the buyers, bridging this gap and easing sellers into the new market conditions can be very difficult. Everything is, however, relative and those selling at slightly lower prices than in 2007 are also able to purchase at the proportionate lower value, it is only those dropping out of the market altogether, people relocating back to their home countries or those retiring that it becomes more of an issue.
The situation in Nice for current property owners has been that offers are flooding in on properties but not necessarily at the price they were expecting. For the buyer, the market has opened up with people able to afford more than they would have done 1 or 2 years ago and so it is also an exciting time. The saying ‘location, location, location’ still rings true, properties in sought after locations such as the Promenade des Anglais, the seafront in Nice, are still in demand and even less effected by the downturn so the very micro or localized markets are behaving quite differently from even the French Riviera as a whole.
Property prices on the Promenade des Anglais in particular have remained stable, over all we expect to see an increase in property prices in Nice within the next 6 months. After all, France is a ‘safe’ choice for buyers today. It has one of the best consumer protection laws in place for any other European country; the French banks do not have as much toxic debt as other banks around the world thanks to stringent mortgage criteria. Plus for the UK especially, France has always been a popular destination for holidays and property buyers alike, with visitors flocking over the Channel for the beautiful landscapes, culture and appealing warm climate, well in the south of France anyhow!
Nice and the seafront in particular, offers a good investment for a range of budgets. It’s location on the 7km stretch of coast is quite exceptional and it has a large variety of properties and prices with opportunities for resale profits in the medium-term. The City of Nice and the Urban Community are also implementing a range of urban improvement policies including the second tramway line, stretching from the East to West of the coastline taking in the administrative business centre of Nice as well as the International Airport. This will ease traffic and any associated pollution along the Promenade enhancing the atmosphere and experience further for visitors.
In the forthcoming months we expect that our local market, the French Riviera, will initially show price increases and more property movement in the higher segments of the market. Wealthy people are looking to invest in properties offering them security and stable growth. And with the constant threat of bankruptcy and negligible bank interest rates, real estate offers a tangible alternative.
For the lower and middle segments of the market, we do not feel that prices will fall any further than the 10% or so already experienced and so stability and increases are set to happen. As always the well presented properties in good locations attract more interest with buyers.
For more information on the French Riviera or to enquire about your French property requirements contact Agence 107 Promenade on 00 33 4 93 44 83 83 or visit www.107promende.com.
——– ENDS ——–
Kirkor Ajderhanyan:
Kirkor is President of the International Relations Committee FNAIM, French Real Estate Federation French Riviera.  He’s a member of NAR National Association of Realtors, a member of the Board for the French Chapter of FIABCI France Vice-President Exchange Committee FIABCI International. Regional Representative FIABCI France French Riviera. Member of the Board of French Riviera & Regional Committee FNAIM. CIPS/TRC.
On the market:
Ref. 867 Promenade des Anglais:
An incredibly spacious 1 bedroom apartment in a Bourgeoisie style building on the prestigious Promenade des Anglais, Nice. The property has a large terrace, kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom and WC.
The asking price is €594,000. For more information please contact Agence 107 Promenade on 00 33 4 93 44 83 83, email contact@107promenade.com or visit www.107promenade.com.

Happy 10th Anniversary for Agence 107 Promenade

by Charlotte Ashton France

 

The leading player in the sea-front property market in Nice, 107 Promenade Real Estate Agency is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Agence 107 opened its offices to the property hungry public ten years ago in 1999 and they remain at the same address on the Promenade des Anglais today.
A decade ago a studio apartment was worth just €60,000 to €80,000, today that same studio apartment would cost between €175,000 and €235,000 on average. Since then Agence 107 Promenade has grown, they now have 16 staff representatives, 9 locally in Nice among whom 5 are from the founder’s family and 8 representatives spread all over the world in Moscow and Saint Petersburg (Russia), Miami and New York (USA), Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Kiev (Ukraine) and also as far as New Delhi (India), Beijing (PRC), Taiwan and Manila (Philippines).
As Kirkor Ajderhanyan, founder and owner of the agency comments, “Following the massive arrival of customers from Russia and the former Soviet republics, we now forecast a significant increase in our customer base from Central Asia and South East Asia. Of course the international financial crisis did not spare the property market of the Promenade, but it brought down the prices requested by the sellers to more realistic levels, at a time when large increases were not justified. In 2009, The Promenade remains a very attractive and accessible property market with a wide range of price levels and real opportunities for capital growth. This is also due to the numerous efforts the City Hall and the Urban Community are making to re model Nice as a ‘green city’ by diverting and reducing vehicle traffic. The quality of living on the Promenade will be the first to benefit from this policy and so will the value of the properties on one of the most iconic stretches of real estate in the world. With such assets, the Promenade des Anglais, more than ever, becomes the leading property spot of the French Riviera.”

International buyers opt for the ‘Nice’ life

by Charlotte Ashton France

 

The Cote d’Azur has always been synonymous with international chic and glamour; today in Nice, not only can you find international icons, such as the likes of Jack Nicholson who is holidaying in Nice presently, but also a wave of hungry real estate buyers from all over the world looking for their own slice of the Riviera action.
For property agency Agence 107 Promenade situated in the heart of Nice city on the Promenade des Anglais, foreign visitors and property buyers are part of the rich and intricate tapestry that makes Nice the diverse and popular city that it is today.
The main attraction for buyers is the seafront coupled with the relaxed French lifestyle and climate, and owning an uninterrupted view of the Baie des Anges is an opportunity not to be missed, some buyers have called it “priceless”. Christensen, a former Director of Unicef, recently retired to Nice from Denmark. From his apartment he soaks up the French sunshine and the far stretching coastal views. “It’s quite reasonable to pay a high price to enjoy such an amazing view, I feel this is a real privilege and there is a certain freedom of not having buildings in front of your apartment.”
Christensen’s sentiments are shared by the Italians, English, Irish, Russians, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, American and Turkish buyers that all hope for this ‘privilege’. Kirkor Ajderhanyan, Founder and Owner of Agence 107 Promenade says, “approximately 75% of the purchasers here especially on the Prom are foreign buyers, out of these 8-10% are from the UK. This hasn’t even varied a great deal over the last 5 years or so, the seafront properties in particular have always been popular from both an investment and lifestyle point of view.”
Agence 107 Promenade has found that there is some variation on where different nationalities choose to buy however. Typically the west side of the Promenade from Magnan to Carras is the hunting ground for Italians and North Europeans all with varying budgets. It is also a favourite for Parisians and the French from the colder northern climes that seek the sunny weather and panoramic views of the French Riviera from the Cap d’Antibes to Cap Ferrat. There is a significant demand from all buyers on the east side of the Promenade from Old Nice to Magnan, however supply of properties is limited and prices here remain very high, a 1 bedroom apartment sold in this strip recently for just short of €700,000 compared to a similar sized property on the west side which sold for roughly a third of that price.
Of course, those with large budgets tend to buy villas to enjoy greater privacy and space, wherever the villas may lie along the coastline. Undoubtedly these buyers tend to be Russians with far reaching budgets of up to €30,000,000. It is those typically with budgets of between €400,000 and €1,500,000 that opt for the Prom apartments and penthouses giving them easy access to the city centre without the need for cars.
Despite the ongoing international financial crisis they are facing, as well as local real estate crisis, the USA remains a major source of tourists for the French Riviera and well-off Americans are still looking for a secure investment haven. After vacationing in Nice several times, Doc and Marion from the US, sold up and flew to Nice in search of their retirement home, Agence 107 Promenade were able to quickly find them exactly what they wanted. “In just a couple of days we found our dream home, we benefited from Agence’s experience and Kirkor was able to assist with the legal necessities, even offering ideas on renovation for the apartment.”
The value of real estate on the French Riviera is more stable than in many places, property prices have been affected but it has been seen as more of a shake up as opposed to a market crash. With the high demand in Nice from buyers all over the world, properties have maintained their values; the local Government continues to plough in money to infrastructural improvements including the new tramway from the city centre to the international airport, all of which keep the appeal and quality of living in Nice extremely high.
For more information on purchasing in Nice contact Agence 107 Promenade on 00 33 4 93 44 83 83 or visit www.107promenade.com to view a wide selection of properties today.

More than ‘Nice’ – the promise of the Promenade…

by Charlotte Ashton France

 

Since the nobility of Europe first visited to experience its winter sun and to take pleasure in its natural charms, Nice has established its position as the destination of choice for the privileged and wealthy. Situated on the south-eastern coast of France and forming part of the Côte d’Azur or the French Riviera, Nice is fortunate to boast long beaches bordering clear blue waters and breathtaking woodland-topped hills as well as the exclusive neighbours of Cannes and Monaco on its palatial doorstep.    
 
Today, just 1 hour 30 minutes from the UK by air and accessible from 12 airports across the UK, Nice’s excellent location is just one of the reasons for its ongoing popularity with around 4 million tourists a year (according to the CRT Riviera Côte d´Azur – Observatoire du Tourisme). The world renowned Promenade des Anglais, or simply ‘Promenade’ as it is popularly known, is the premier attraction for this luxury location; boasting around 6km of beautiful sandy beaches, it is the place to see and be seen. And with many enthralling historic and cultural sights within a stone’s throw of the Promenade, including the Cathédrale de Sainte Réparate, Palais Lascaris and countless art galleries and museums, along with 300 days of sunshine a year, it is clear to see why Nice – the fifth largest city in France – is one of the world’s top tourist destinations.
 
The tourist industry of Nice is a thriving one, with those visiting the Côte d’Azur by air spending on average €111 per day (Data Sirius 2007), and the French Riviera Database noting that tourism forms 41% of the total employment for the region, some 66,000 jobs. It is not just those looking for an exclusive break that visit Nice, however, ample business tourists also form a large proportion of the region’s visitors, with 1,500 companies said to be financed by foreign capital and half of all stays in the region for business purposes, according to French Riviera Database figures.
 
Latest research by Lloyds TSB International could show that this trend is set to continue into the future. 1,500 employed British people were surveyed by the bank to find out about their working habits and the likelihood of their working outside of the UK. It was found that 32% of those asked had worked outside of the UK during their working life, with Europe the most likely destination for 56% of those employees working overseas. Stephanie Cousin, Head of Operations for Lloyds TSB International highlights the idea that this is a growing phenomenon,
 
“We’re certainly a nation of intrepid travellers and whether it’s to gain international work experience or simply escape the weather, it’s clear that many of us may be working overseas for part of our career.”
 
France, and Nice in particular, may well be one of the destinations that benefits from this trend due to its short distance from the UK, ease of access via a wide range of carriers, excellent climate and fantastic all-round reputation.
 
It is due to this sustained and increasing future popularity with both business and pleasure visitors that the property market of Nice is stable even within these difficult times. Well-located property in the city has always been, and remains, in high demand and those that are situated on the seafront or Promenade can command very healthy prices. It is for this reason that growing numbers of buyers from outside of France are investing in the city, with British and Americans as well as Asian buyers showing increasing interest in the property market. These buyers are not only purchasing property as a medium-term buy-to-let income stream, to cash in on the outstanding popularity of the place, but also moreover as a location to set up home and take advantage of the year-round benefits of life on the French Riviera.
 
It is not simply the popularity of Nice that has resulted in the city faring well during the credit crisis – with only a moderate reduction in actual selling prices – the City Hall and the Urban Community’s planning for the future is also one key reason for the relatively healthy property market even during these difficult times. These governing bodies have put urban improvement plans in place to reduce traffic in the centre of Nice and especially along the Promenade, plans starting in 2013 and being achieved by the improvement of the city’s tram lines. A second line is being built to run from the eastern side of the city to the west which will take in terminals 1 and 2 of the city’s airport as well as the administrative district and the beachfront. This project is set to benefit not only visitors to the city but also those buying property in Nice, as Kirkor Ajderhanyan, Director and Owner of Agence 107 Promenade who market a range of property on the Promenade explains,
 
“In 2009, the Promenade remains a very attractive and accessible property market with a wide range of price levels and real opportunities for capital growth. This is also due to the numerous efforts the City Hall and the Urban Community are making to re-model Nice as a ‘green city’ by diverting and reducing vehicle traffic.
 
The quality of living on the Promenade will be the first to benefit from this policy and so will the value of the properties on one of the most iconic stretches of real estate in the world. With such assets, the Promenade des Anglais, more than ever, becomes the leading property spot of the French Riviera.”
 
To take advantage of the promise of the Promenade, Agence 107 Promenade are currently marketing a spacious 3 bedroom apartment situated on the sought after Promenade des Anglais, set within a spectacular "Bourgeois" building on the seafront. The 120m² apartment has a large living room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and shower room and is well presented throughout.
 
On the market for €583,000, to find out more about this highly desirable property or other investment opportunities in Nice contact Agence 107 Promenade on 00 33 4 93 44 83 83, email contact@107promenade.com or visit www.107promenade.com.

Make a reservation – Limpopo-Lipadi Game and Wilderness reserve´s first completed lodge welcomes shareholders

by Georgina France

 

The Limpopo-Lipadi Game and Wilderness reserve in Botswana is reaching a pinnacle in its development. The first of six lodges, River Camp, has been completed and will welcome its visitors, a select group of shareholders, in early March 2009.  
 
Combining the concept of outdoor living with a rustic industrial design, River Camp creates a unique environment with stunning views of the Limpopo River. Comprising a selection of 2 and 3 bedroom fully furnished units set around a central facility which includes a kitchen, boma (communal area), dining room and swimming pool River Camp will offer guests the option of privacy or community living. The units will be serviced daily and guests can self cater or make use of one of the reserve´s chefs.
 
In keeping with the ethos of sustainability at Limpopo-Lipadi the building materials used have been carefully considered. A blend of natural canvas, copper and rusted metals combine to create a camp which is suited to its surroundings. Internally, the markings of the Woodland Kingfisher (blue and black) have been incorporated into the colour scheme of browns, greys and natural creams and the modern approach to the interior has been softened with key pieces of African art created by local craftsmen.
 
Founded nearly 5 years ago the reserve is the vision of a group passionate about the African bush, ecology and true sustainability. “We are very excited about what this year will mean for the reserve” says Alan Marneweck, founder, director and shareholder of Limpopo-Lipadi. “We have worked very hard to make the reserve a welcoming place for shareholders and their guests and we look forward to the feedback that we get from them as the first lodge is occupied this March.”
 
And this is what makes the reserve so unique. Individuals from all over the world own these 32,450 hectares of land found in the malaria free Tuli block of eastern Botswana. Entry level investment in this project is $195,000 and all that is required alongside the finance is a real passion about Africa, its people, its animals and making a sustainable reserve a reality.
 
It’s not just the shareholders who will be enjoying a new home however as alongside River Camp, as part of Limpopo-Lipadi´s corporate social responsibility programme, a new staff village has been constructed on the reserve providing high quality accommodation for the employees, most of whom are from the local communities. The staff village has been constructed using the eco friendly sandbag technique which limits the use of carbon emitting building products and subsequently reduces the reserve´s carbon footprint, a key sustainability factor. Limpopo-Lipadi employees are now enjoying structures that are cool in summer yet warm in the winter unlike the typical corrugated tin dwellings in the surrounding villages as well as new, transferable skills such as the sandbag construction technique.
 
Marneweck continues: “There are plans in the future for an expansion of the land known as the Limpopo-Lipadi Game & Wilderness reserve, construction of a boutique commercial lodge and more schemes to introduce endangered species but right now we are celebrating this significant stage in the reserve´s story.”
 
And the story of the people of Botswana is not as far from the UK as one might think as Alexander McCall Smith, the prolific Scottish author of the No.1 Detective Agency is about to release his ninth book of the series, “Tea Time for the Traditionally Built” in April 2009. The first book which has been adapted into a TV film and was aired on UK screens in March 2008 brought the African bush and its people right into the nation´s homes. Due to the success of the film, the BBC has recorded a second series which is due to air in winter 2009.
 
As Limpopo-Lipadi embarks upon a new chapter, for its local and international employees and shareholders the greatest hope is that this will be the first in a long series of exciting and significant steps for the reserve.
 

If you would like any further information on Limpopo-Lipadi please call 0871 244 5152 or visit www.limpopo-lipadi.com .