Arab investment in Eastern Cape

Arab investors have found the Eastern Cape. Three multi-million rand deals in the tourism sector were signed in the last four months. The latest was the purchase of the exclusive Karoo game reserve Blaauwbosch for a rumoured R40-million. Blaauwbosch belonged to Craig Cullingworth. It is over 4000 ha and lies between Port Elizabeth and Steytlerville. The buyers are the same group of international Arab hoteliers as those that acquired Port Elizabeth‘s Edward Hotel in May this year for what a rumoured R30-million. Cullingworth, a quantity surveyor by trade, bought the land as a small farm for him and his family to use as a retreat in 2000. The reserve has seen a 50% increase in visitors each year for the past three years.