Sure, it’s nice to have a view down to the ocean, with the beach just a short stroll from the gate, but you’re playing in the B-leagues.

The big hitters are buying game reserves for R200 million, darling, which gets you plenty of clout when you swing past the Kurland estate to play a spot of polo, drink white wine over lunch, and complain about how hard it is to find good help these days.

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is actually the biggest game reserve in the southern Cape, with more than 1 296 hectares “spread out across the hills above the scenic Garden Route coastline”.

So says the description on Sotheby’s:

With its breathtaking views across the Bay of Beauty, its abundance of wildlife, superb facilities for day and overnight visitors and warm African hospitality, it offers an exciting child-friendly safari experience in a non-malaria area with an excellent chance of spotting four of Africa’s Big Five – buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino.

…Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is easily accessible for day visitors who want a big game viewing experience in an open 4×4 vehicle or on a guided horseback safari, or for those looking for an African safari getaway in a luxury 4-star lodge. The reserve boasts a diversity of natural biomes, including fynbos, grasslands and indigenous forests, and the property is the natural confluence of the Keurbooms and Palmiet Rivers.

You can expect to see over 35 species of game, including lion, rhino, giraffe, hippo, crocodiles, buffalo and a large variety of antelope and 101 different bird species. It is the biggest sanctuary in the area for the endangered white rhino.

The facilities on the reserve include The Shed, The Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge (with 10 stylish and spacious bedroom suites, enclosed Boma with bar and open fireplace, library, living spaces with log fireplaces, many sitting areas, pool room, courtyard with plunge pool, kitchen and dining room, etc.), and three Manager’s Houses.

Keen to poke around? Me too:

What a noble beast.

Here’s more on the Baroness Lodge:

[It was] built in 1822 by Baron von Pletten from local stone, with it’s “Out of Africa” atmosphere and spectacular views across rolling lawns where zebra and antelope room freely, to the indigenous forests and majestic Tsitsikamma mountains in the distance.

It all sounds rather colonial. Melania and her pith hat would fit right in:

You can see the full listing here.

[source:sothebys]