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South Africa is an ideal retirement destination for Europeans

The global trend of an ageing world, with retired people comprising increasing proportions of the population, presents exciting retirement opportunities in South Africa.

South Africa has become a particularly feasible retirement destination for European retirees with its friendly people, dream-like climate, breathtaking landscapes and, most importantly, its favourable exchange rate.

Europe has become one of the ‘hotspots’ for the aging trend in society. Many Europeans are retiring in their 50s and retirement is now the beginning of a period of life that will last some 35 years or more.

‘Retirement is now about planning for a rich and fulfilling future, rather than planning for an end,’ says Marc Harries of Harries Projects, joint-venture developers together with Madison Property Fund Managers of the R500 million Oasis Luxury Retirement Resort, located in the burgeoning node of Century City in Cape Town.

Internationally, there are few retirement offerings available that meet the needs of this active generation of retirees and offer a quality lifestyle. ‘South Africa is one of the few countries that can provide both the quality of life and standard of living that retirees from Europe seek. It is more affordable, especially in terms of the favourable currency exchange rates, than other more traditional European retirement destinations, such as Spain,’ says Marc.

However, he explains, Oasis is more upmarket than many similar South African developments and is designed to be the benchmark in luxury living for this particular sector of the residential market.

Most retired Europeans aspire to participate in life to the fullest, and have the ability to do so. Many of them also enjoy a global lifestyle, with regular international travel between hemispheres to visit family and make the best of the temperate seasons.

‘With families now spanned across the globe, retirees need to be able to accommodate visiting children, grandchildren and friends and to be able to travel with ease, without having to worry about the safety and upkeep of their homes,’ says Marc. This is true for both European and South African retirees and Oasis has a further advantage as it is ideally positioned minutes from the Cape Town International Airport.

Furthermore Oasis is located in Century City, which is literally a city in the making and contains some of the Western Cape’s most popular tourist activities for national and international visitors alike, including Ratanga Junction, Canal Walk Shopping Centre, and the MTN Science Centre, all enjoying magnificent views of Table Mountain. It is also centrally located to Cape Town, a mere 10 minute drive from the Cape Town Waterfront.

The secure Oasis development means that it is easy to lock-up-and-go and furthermore all the mod-cons offered, including broadband internet connectivity, ensure that the world is at the fingertips of Oasis residents.

There is a growing demand for this ‘new generation’ of retirement accommodation reports Mike Flax of Madison. ‘Retirees are seeking upmarket, well-located sectional title residential apartments which are served by top-notch facilities and link retirees to both the immediate community and far-away families,’ says Mike.

Designed for both residents and their visitors, Oasis creates a wonderful family environment catering to the needs of all age groups, even children. This allows residents to entertain in the garden areas as well as their elegant apartments with superb mountain and sea views.

Oasis provides the opportunity to partake in numerous outdoor activities with picnic areas and viewing decks as well as walking trails, and croquet lawn and more. ‘The formal water feature which is a focal feature in the clubhouse courtyard has even been designed to be safe and friendly for grandchildren to splash in,’ notes Harries.

Oasis is being built in five phases with work on phase one comprising 182 apartments nearing completion and 90 per cent of the apartments in phase one already sold. The completed Oasis will comprise 450 luxury sectional title apartments for active retirees, 78 suites for those requiring assisted living and superb communal facilities including a club and leisure centre, and sprawling lawns, shade trees, and water features and sports facilities.

Facilities will include a restaurant, library, lounge, an outdoor pool, an indoor heated swimming pool, a fully equipped gymnasium, wellness centre and sauna, which will be ready by the end of the year.

In addition Oasis also offers all the modern lifestyle benefits of DStv, underfloor heating and intercom system with 24-hour emergency health call being standard in each apartment.

Apartments range in price from R1.45-million for a one bedroom unit through to R3.5-million for a three-bedroom penthouse with most of the units comprising two bedrooms. Assisted living suites vary from about R450 000 to some R1.1m.

Oasis Luxury Retirement Resort has been well received by the market with 90 per cent of the apartments in phase one already sold.

For further information about Oasis Luxury Retirement Resort please call +27 21 528 7310