Western Cape, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

SOLE MANDATE

Cradled in a forest cultivated with love, this rural sanctuary is so much more than a dream come true — it offers a livelihood.

A tree-lined dirt road leads you past colourful, lily-filled dams where dragonflies hover and papyrus sway in the breeze until a moss-covered fountain in a teardrop garden signals that you’ve arrived — not just here, but home. Magnificent groves of diverse, mature trees and flowers that shift with the seasons guide you forward through natural archways and along winding paths to hidden fairy-tale alcoves, where leaves crinkle underfoot and the wind softly rustles through the branches. You sigh, overcome by a deep-rooted calm only found in places where nature and nurture have long entwined.

As you approach the main house, you notice subtle Cape Dutch influences in its whitewashed walls, scalloped roof, and handcrafted wood detailing that bring warmth and texture throughout. Two separate units — one with three bedrooms and one with a single bedroom — share the structure, while the patio, framed by lush monsteras, invites you to sit back and soak in the majesty of the gardens beyond.

A little further up the drive, the property’s second residence appears — a three-bedroom home centred around a sun-drenched, fully enclosed courtyard that wraps you in a sense of privacy and peace. With not one but two double garages, there’s generous space for vehicles, storage, or creative work, making this home as practical as it is serene.

As you peek through the trees, you catch a glimpse of a delightful forest cabin — a traditional log-built, one-bedroom dwelling that opens into a tucked-away clearing where you pluck cherry guavas as you meander. As night falls, the fire glows at the clearing’s centre, while towering, moonlit trees frame the starry sky, lending the space an aura of warmth and wonder.

Finally, you approach a grand building edged by mature redwoods. It is home to a large storage space and four apartment units, each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and open-plan living spaces featuring custom yellowwood cabinetry and granite countertops. Each unit has its own courtyard and balcony, two of which open onto spectacular views of a lily-filled dam, the forest unfurling beyond it, and mountains rising gently in the distance.

Two boreholes, a gravity-fed rainwater system, and the Bos River running along the northern boundary ensure an abundant high quality water supply, while a pine forest invites natural immersion — the perfect setting for mushroom foraging, exploration, or simple connection with the land.

Just 750 metres from the beloved Harkerville Saturday Market and within easy reach of both Plettenberg Bay (10 minutes) and Knysna (20 minutes), you’ll find yourself close enough to savour the charm of two of South Africa’s most beautiful coastal towns every day.

With its natural beauty, income-generating potential, and agricultural zoning, this versatile homestead is ideal as a wellness or creative retreat, a rich rental investment, or a lifestyle farm for those yearning to live — and earn — off the land.