Winner of 3 prestigious awards, including the National Premium Award for Integrated Environmental Planning and Management.  Ongoing conservation programmes further ensure that this exclusive Green Portfolio is properly maintained. 

Jakkalsfontein Nature Reserve plays host to a myriad of bird species, the wetlands providing a safe haven for breeding.  Roaming the indigenous fynbos you will see Grysbok, Steenbok, Duiker and even Lynx.  In the spring the reserve presents a magnificent display of wild spring flowers. 

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Jakkalsfontein forms part of the “Rondeberg Strip” an unexpected wilderness area less than 70 kms from Cape Town’s city centre.  Its survival as a wilderness area is even more remarkable when it is remembered that the Darling District has been farmed by European settlers for the last 300 years, and even before that, Koi herders grazed large flocks of animals here.  Two late Stone Age archaeological sites were discovered on the dunes at Jakkalsfontein during preparatory work for this project.   Fortunately for the natural vegetation of Jakkalsfontein and surrounding farms, the coastal strip was relatively infertile and most farmers owned productive farms elsewhere.  The coastal farms were used only for low intensity grazing and had ample opportunity to rest and recover after burning and grazing.  The strip of West Coast Strandveld and Coastal Fynbos has thus remained relatively intact, an invaluable resource to both the general public and ecologists.

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

Jakkalsfontein Nature Reserve comprises the farm Jakkalsfontein and the farm Vygevalley  No. 572 in the district of Malmesbury and occupy approximately 1700 hectares.  The reserve is situated in the middle of a largely deserted 20 kilometre beach between Yzerfontein and Grotto Bay.

The Reserve fringes the seaward edge of a broad coastal plain bounded inland by the granite and shale hills of the Swartland, and further inland, by the majestic mountains of the Hottentots Holland.  Its position on the coast affords majestic views of Table Mountain to the South, across to Dassen Island, directly offshore, and Northwards along a broad sweep of beach to Yzerfontein.

Ecologically the Reserve is situated in a rare strip of strandveld and fynbos giving rise to spectacular shows of flowers in spring.  As a result of its rare combination of acid and leached sands and vlei system behind the dunes, the flowering season continues well into summer with impressive shows of cotulas (daisies) gladioli, sour fig, and gousblom among others.

THE ARCHITECTURE

The architecture of the buildings was based on the familiar West Coast vernacular.  The aesthetically pleasing style of the beachfront homes with their white walls and green parabolic rooftops, reminding one of upturned traditional West Coast fishing dinghies, blends in with the shapes and colours of the dunes.  Strict design manual control ensures a tasteful uniformity in the exterior aesthetics of the homes, whilst the interiors may be custom designed.  Each home has its own special view of the surf breaking and of the dolphins and whales who are regular visitors on this shoreline.  Boardwalks over the dunes give easy access to the beach.   

MANAGEMENT

Central to the green heritage of the Reserve is the original farmstead.  This farmstead is the management nerve centre of Jakkalsfontein, where under the watchful eye of the Reserve Manager and staff in residence, the reserve and its environs are carefully maintained and controlled.

SECURITY

Jakkalsfontein is by design exclusive, private and secure.  We pride ourselves on an excellent security control access system.  Security personnel man the main entrance gate permitting entry to yourselves and invited guests only.  The telephones in the houses are linked to the security control.      

PROPERTY OWNERSHIP

The property ownership system of Jakkalsfontein;   individual freehold title of beachfront plots and houses and an undivided share in the remainder of the farm, all governed by the Jakkalsfontein Homeowners Trust/ Homeowners’ Association,  who legally entrench the intention to preserve the wide open spaces of the Reserve for future generations.