According to Wayne Rubidge, area manager for Pam Golding Properties Karoo, homes as well as farms in the Kalahari are attracting increasing interest. So much so that PGP decided to open an office in the ‘River City’ as Upington is referred to by locals.

"We have extended our network to incorporate the Kalahari due to the growing demand for property, both from South African as well as overseas buyers. Because of its hot climate this area is increasingly popular among Scandinavians who view it as a great lifestyle destination away from the long cold winters of northern Europe. As we already operate an extensive network servicing 52 towns in the Karoo, a region with a similar property profile to the Kalahari, it was a natural progression for us to launch a regional office in the very appealing city of Upington," says Rubidge.

PGP Kalahari covers a broad area from Botswana in the north, the Karoo in the south to Namibia in the north-west and the North West Province in the east, incorporating the scenic towns of Kakamas, Keimoes, Kanon Eiland, Goblershoop, Kuruman and Kathu and the quaint towns in the Gordonia area leading up to Botswana and the Kgalaghadi National Park area.

Coinciding with the expansion PGP launched Belle Rio Estate, a 102-unit residential development situated near Upington. Being the first lifestyle development of its kind in the Kalahari, it was almost 60 percent sold out during the first week. Prices for freestanding erven of 790 to 1440 square metres range from R370 000 to R780 000 and the 43 plot and plan homes, varying from 130 to 180 square metres in size, start at R1.1-million.

Upington is seeing significant development.

Upington, which has all the amenities of a modern city with irrigation canals flowing through the residential area, has recently seen significant development including the opening of a large shopping mall. "Being the gateway to Botswana, the Kgalaghadi National Park and Namibia, it's no surprise that tourism related businesses are flourishing," says Rubidge.

"The magnificent guest houses along the banks of the Orange River are booming and there's a definite shortage of upmarket hotels. Property prices are rising consistently in middle income areas where house prices range mainly from R450 000 to R600 000 and start at R800 000 in upmarket areas. In the exclusive suburbs grand and spacious properties sell from R1.5-million to in excess of R5-million for luxury properties.

Due to the Upington area's association with abundant water there are numerous smallholdings which are popular among those seeking a rural atmosphere. Rustic smallholdings of about 20 hectare can still be purchased for under R500 000, some with irrigation water," he says.

"Being the largest export table grape producing area in South Africa, the countryside around Upington and along the Orange River is surrounded by vineyards. Small fruit and irrigation farms along the Orange River sell for around R1-million and even less. For this you can purchase around 20 hectare of vineyards, orchards or cultivated pasture and other crops. Farms in regions with better soils and greater infrastructure or fashionable cultivars sell for in excess of R2-million, while profitable export grape or nut farms with extensive irrigation and infrastructure are available in the R5-million to R20-million price range."

He says the extensive Kalahari farms are very popular for game or livestock farming, depending on their location within the region. Some areas situated within the savannah biome, with indigenous camel thorn trees as found in the Kgalaghadi National Park, are ideal for game, while areas such as the Duineveld, where there is more grass veldt and beautiful red and white dunes, are also popular. "We've experienced strong interest in property in this area and expect this to continue with the arrival of the summer rains," he says. Farm buyers are mainly those from the Cape and Northern Provinces, as well as from elsewhere in South Africa and Europe.