6,000 Hecatres Private Nature Reserve in Zambia For Sale
Name: Kotakota Nature Reserve
Guide Price: Was €16m…much reduced price now offered
No. of Keys: TBA
The Opportunity: This wonderful plot of land, has “the potential to be one of the best game parks in Africa” – a quote from the top SA photographer, Horst Kelmm.
The existing lodge is the result of a 30-year-long love affair between the current owner, Massimo Selicato and Kotakota.
At present, it consists of 12 suites accommodating 24 guests at a time and a large restaurant
catering for 100 clients. The lodge also boasts two swimming pools, a boma (kitchen garden), 3 bars, a reading room and a conference room. There is a children’s play area supervised by fully trained nannies, a state-of-the-art health centre with gym, all enveloped by a spectacular tropical garden.
The lodge is built in a unique architectural style – a happy blending of traditional African and medieval European techniques. Both this development and the existence of fossil forest trees in the area have prompted the Zambian government to declare Kotakota a National Heritage Monument.
The aim of this project is to produce a high class housing project within the Lake
Kariba area, incorporating a 5 Star Lodge, golf complex including conference facilities for up to
150 people, 125 private homes and a marina. In all accommodation for up to 600 people is envisaged.
The project is expected to bring significant benefits to the local population, with a minimum of
1,000 jobs being created in the area, as well as enhancing the medical and educational facilities
within the area.
Phase 1 takes the Kotakota wildlife estate and develops the road infrastructure, establishes
the golf complex and begins the layout of the course, designates locations for and starts the
construction of 55 villas on a purchase before build system, and works with the owners to fully
develop the Kotakota Club Project.
Phase 2 works with the local population to develop a further 30,000 – 70,000 hectares
enhancing the Kotakota Game Lodge into a larger reserve, allowing far greater game
potential and possibilities of further game projects including endangered game release
projects.
Phase 2 will also see the development of a further 70 villas on the ridge lines within the phase 2
land area. This further development will increase the size of the employed workforce and
as such will require us to assist in enhancing the educational and medical
facilities within the local area and developing an employee’s housing area
with full infrastructure.
Kotakota boasts a 1,300-metre-long landing strip, suitable for such large aircraft as
Caravan or similar. The desire to keep the peace of the place intact, will however mean that
private jets will land in Livingstone International Airport, less than 10 km away from the
world famous Victoria Falls. From Livingstone, a Cessna Caravan will take members to Kotakota in less than 1 hour.
“Clearly, the estate will not be built for the credit-crunched”, says Massimo. Membership fees to
become an irrevocable member of Kotakota Conservancy Owners Association (KCOA) will probably be in the region of US$ 280 000 each. “The top echelons of the luxury travel industry are talking about holidays in terms of private houses, not resorts.
Our prospective clientele want to be among family, but have the complete services of a five star hotel. They seek a distinctive personality, but without the idiosyncrasies of the ‘Mama and Papa pension’. Nor do they want to manage their own second home overseas.” It is this trend, evidenced by the boom in top tier rental agents, fractional ownership clubs and hotel “Villas”, that Massimo seeks to build upon in Kotakota.
The Golf Estate Villas will be sold on an ownership basis within the constrictions of the land
ownership lease. It is envisaged that there will be approximately 30 around the golf course
area, all selling for between $60,000 and $80,000.
The Lake Shore Villas, situated around the lake shore, to on the southern, south western and south eastern sides, a further 20 villas are planned, selling price between $100,000 and $150,000. These will be secluded with access to water and possibly incorporating a private marina area.
A further 5 Eagle’s Peak Villas are planned in unique locations providing stunning views and
luxurious accommodation. Four sites have already been selected, on the edges of the mountain
top, providing almost 360 views of both the lake and land areas. The selling price for these will
be between $250,000 and $500,000
Main Photo: An aerial view of the project
Tenure: To be presented