Harkerville equestrian estate. WHERE YOUR DREAM + THIS CANVAS, THE PERFECT PASSION PROJECT

TRI MANDATE

In the rolling hills of Harkerville’s equestrian countryside, a quiet farm road leads to Ponderosa Country estate. You pass a cleared parcel—ideal for growing vineyards or a citrus grove that will thrive with Plett’s prosperous growing season—while on the opposite side, a fully walled, electric-lined boundary encloses the homestead. Type in the code and the automatic gate glides open, drawing you forward down a drive lined with towering eucalyptus trees that ends in a circular turnaround centred on a peaceful pond. The grand, Regal Ranch-style home exudes a sophisticated presence, and at its entrance, a shallow stone reservoir hints at what’s to come—an idyllic pond brimming with water lilies and colourful koi.

You step into the foyer and turn right, passing a guest cloakroom and entering a private guest suite with its own lounge and garden-facing patio doors. Like every bedroom in the home, it’s fully equipped with a wood-burning fireplace, air-conditioning, and an en-suite bathroom.

Forward through the foyer, marble floors lead you into the heart of the home—a soaring, open-plan space with exposed trusses and a château-style ostrich egg chandelier suspended over a lounge anchored by an induction hearth.

Across the way, the kitchen is a blank canvas ready to be tailored to your culinary vision—whether you’re creating a private family home, boutique guest lodge, wellness retreat, or equestrian escape, its layout can be designed to accommodate whatever role this property is meant to play. To its left, the dining area is edged by stacking glass doors that open to a covered porch—perfect for braai`s or sundowners—and onward to a south-facing, generous green lawn with a 16-metre lap pool. The soft quacking of ducks catches your ear, and to the left, a dam glimmers beneath towering trees, where a single majestic swan drifts through the reeds.

Back inside, other passages from the living space lead to a glass atrium (perfect for a home gym or greenhouse, especially if you`re leaning into a farm-to-table lifestyle), an adjacent entertainment room ideal as a games lounge, kids’ den, or media space, and two generous en-suite bedrooms—all with direct access to the yard.

A staircase lit by inset lights guides you to the upper level, where the master suite enjoys a private lounge and balcony that overlooks the green space and pool, and an en-suite bathroom boasts double vanities and a luxurious bathtub. An attached secondary en-suite bedroom—ideal as a nursery or private studio—offers its own exterior entrance. Across the landing, a large loft with two balconies holds the potential to become a fully self-contained flatlet if renovated, with space for a lounge, kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom, and complete with a built-in safe.

The home also includes an external staff loo, a dedicated laundry room with a covered drying yard, and fibre internet hook-up—rounding out the functional footprint of this expansive, multi-purpose residence.

Evenings unfold beautifully here. The echoing calls of nearby nesting fish eagles drift by like music on the breeze as you cross the lawn to a wood-fired pizza oven and dedicated entertainment space. As the sky deepens, you and your guests naturally meander to the bonfire circle tucked beneath towering trees, where firelight exudes an aura of warmth, and laughter lingers in the smoky air. Eventually, you find yourself at a second residence—simple but spacious, with its own kitchen and bathroom, ideal as a stable lodge or ready to be renovated into guest accommodation. Attached to the back are several stables—one of which doubles as a chicken coop—that face a fenced paddock; a broad expanse seeded for pasture where two resident ponies roam peacefully, bordered by raised berms for privacy and grazing fields beyond. Within the same enclosure stands a row of newly built stables—havens for your horses.

Scattered around the property are several additional structures, including three small pod-like rooms (once used for wellness treatments, now open to interpretation), a charming original hay shed, and a separate tool shed for storage or workshop use. The property runs on three-phase power with well-distributed electrical points, a full security setup with lighting and cameras on direct feed, and an outbuilding housing a diesel generator for peace of mind. Water is supplied via a borehole and supplemented by an underground 70,000-litre reservoir, three 10,000-litre tanks, and a built-in water purification system. Two 1,000-litre septic tanks and a grey water system connect to an additional reservoir used for irrigation.

With its commercial zoning and versatile layout, this equestrian estate has the potential to become whatever you can dream of. Whether it’s a boutique lodge, wellness retreat, horse-focused guest farm, or simply a wholesome family home, the groundwork is already laid. Ideally positioned just 10 minutes from Plettenberg Bay and 20 minutes from Knysna, it sits between two of South Africa’s most coveted coastal towns, meaning beaches, entertainment, and everyday conveniences are never far away. For those with vision, heart, and drive, this is the perfect passion project. Read more...