Grietjie has become one of the most sought after properties within the Ba-Phalaborwa area. The reserve encompasses some 3000 Ha and has about 6kms of river frontage.

We are one of the founding members of the Balule Nature Reserve. Balule encompasses some 40 000 Ha and straddles the Olifants river for over 25kms. Grietjie reserve boasts an amazing variety of game, with most of the common species being encountered, with the exception of the 2 rhino species (although there was a black rhino that visited the reserve briefly a couple of months back). The reserve also boasts an amazing birding list with over 260 species having been recorded, including rarities such as the Pel's Fishing Owl.

Balule is also within the Greater Kruger National Park, which also means we are a part of the UNESCO proclaimed Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve. This Biosphere reserve is the largest of its kind in the world.

All of these reasons are what has led to the increased interest in recent years in acquiring a piece of this beautiful countryside.

Managing a reserve such as ours is not an easy task but it has the potential for being very rewarding too when you get to see the way in which the reserve changes on a daily, monthly and annual basis. The reserve had its humble beginnings over 10 years ago now when a group of owners took the decision that the farm would be better utilised in a conservation manner rather than the domestic farming practices that predominated at the time. The face of the reserve has changed completely over the years and from a farm that had about 80% domestic farming taking place to none at all now is quite a dramatic turn a round and it is these changes which make the hard work and associated frustrations worthwhile.

The reserve relies almost entirely on owners levies to function financially and the levels of these are set at each AGM. The treasurer will submit his proposal and the members that are paid up and in good standing have the opportunity to accept or not, as the case may be, the proposal.

At present the levies are set as follows for the year 2010:

Basic levy	R4730
Multiple stand owners	R1375 per extra stand
Vacant stand	R4130
Additional dwellings/stand	R825
Hectarage levy	R16.50/Ha
Commercial operator	R1650

The reserves is always endeavouring to find alternative sources of income to supplement the levies. Occasionally we will get commission paid to us by an estate agent if the sale is referred to them through the committee. Whether you are thinking of buying or selling your property this commission is really valuable to us and will go a long way to assisting us with various conservation projects we would like to implement. If you have an interest in either selling or buying properties we can recommend that you contact Glenda Watson at Kruger Real Estates in Phalaborwa. Please make mention to her that you heard about it on the website so that the reserve can get some commission come back after a successful sale.

We have recently also begun a volunteer programme where volunteers can come and spend between 1 and 6 months helping out the ranger team to perform daily tasks required to manage the reserve. For further details download our prospectus and if you are interested in joining the programme feel free to contact the warden or the chairman.

 

This site was last updated on 8th August 2010