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Cape Town - In the ever-changing world of today, filled with heart-stopping and jaw-dropping moments that easily make you want to take the first flight out of your current woes, is it possible to travel far enough off the beaten track for the ‘real world’ to fade into oblivion?
Is it possible to reshuffle life as a whole - no side political pun intended. Think about it, how would you actually feel if you were to invest in a space that allows you to breath in an entirely different kind of lifestyle.
Well, you can make this a reality at Pemba's sandy shores in Northern Mozambique - baring you have a cool R34m at your disposal.
A three-and-a-half hour flight from Johannesburg, allows you to enjoy 22 000m2 of prime beachfront's real estate where the baobab trees are the tallest structures to be seen for miles and the azure Indian Ocean laps against its eastern boundary.
Plans for Praia Das Rochas have already been drafted, foundations partly laid and local natural materials have been sourced for a luxurious five-star lodge that optimises the spectacular location and seamlessly harmonises with the stunning natural surrounds.
At this pivotal point, all the groundwork and research has been done so new owners can simply step in and instill their personal style on the project. The buyer will have full access to the approved plans by architect Ian Gray from Craft of Architecture in Cape Town as well as the relevant permits that have been granted. It is the epitome of tranquillity with not a soul to be seen on the beach and it’s a perfect natural playground for adults and children alike.
The secluded beach is the only area along this expansive coastal stretch where the reef ends, making it both an ideal swimming beach for children as well as a diving and snorkelling paradise.
The conditions are often perfect for surfing and kite surfing and there is almost always a breeze to cool you.
Development plans
Although there are existing plans for an ultra-exclusive five-unit lodge, there is potential for considerably more development on the site.
The current design is for luxurious suites 25m apart that all have generous seating areas and balconies overlooking the ocean along with a communal pool and outdoor bar and entertainment area. There is also space to add amenities such as a spa or a gym.
Accessibility
It is said that whilst most city-dwellers dream of escaping the rat race, many would also like to know that if the need arises, civilisation and its modern essentials are not completely inaccessible.
There is a new luxury resort just a short stroll along the beach where one can enjoy an evening out for dinner or drinks if cabin fever sets in or those in need of retail therapy can take a day trip into Pemba where there are markets, shops, patisseries, cafes and restaurants.
Praia Das Rochas is also only 26km from Pemba Airport, which lies just outside the town and there are direct flights from Johannesburg daily as well as from Kenya and Tanzania.
"remote and impossibly beautiful diving mecca"
Pemba traditionally only known as a "remote and impossibly beautiful diving mecca" is now touted as one of the top African boom towns since a gas resource was found 65km off the Pemba coastline in the Rovuma Basin in 2012, comprising 40% of worldwide gas discoveries that year.
Although the town is now an important centre for northern Mozambique’s offshore natural gas fields, there is still a critical lack of accommodation for all the specialist staff who visit and work in the basin.
Before 2012, the hotels and resorts in the region were struggling to stay afloat, but since the discovery of the gas reserves they have been almost constantly booked out by international professionals working in the gas fields and there has been a critical shortage of accommodation.
How will you benefit from it?
Reportedly, although Praia Das Rochas is a distance down the coastline and will remain unaffected by the growing offshore gas industry in the region, it is perfectly positioned to benefit from the ripple effect of Pemba’s strengthening position in the global spotlight.
South Africans have for many years been drawn by Mozambique’s endless stretches of unspoilt subtropical beaches, coral reefs teeming with marine life and some of the best diving and fishing in the world. But in the past decade, it has increasingly become an international destination that has seen luxury adventure tourism grow rapidly with a proliferation of five-star lodges along the southern coastline.
However, the northern stretch is still very much uncharted territory and Praia Das Rochas the perfect opportunity to join the growing number of South African investors in Mozambique, which include some of the biggest names in property and development.
South Africans are restricted in terms of the flow of their funds out of the country, with the current out-bound allowance being a maximum of R4 million per person per year, but the SADC property allowance that came into effect in 2010 has made an investment in our neighbouring countries very appealing.
The co-operative legislation allows individuals to invest in property in SADC member states in excess of this limit without impacting on the designation or extent of their offshore allowance and this has had a significant influence on development in countries like Mozambique in recent years.
There are very few places on earth where scattered rock formations become gateways to slivers of paradise by allowing you to swim through small caves at high tide to access secluded little beaches, where an extensive variety of soft and hard coral attracts a legion of species including the rare 1 000kg oceanic sunfish, dolphins, whales and turtles.
This part of the world is unlike any other; it’s unique in its wild beauty, idyllic setting and rich variety of marine life and at only $2.5 million (about R34m), Praia Das Rochas is also the opportunity of a lifetime to develop a five-star, high-value business.
