Many who have paid their dues to live this envied lifestyle as permanent residents, and others who remain holiday makers with firm investments in holiday homes. And then there is the keen kite surfing community, who frequent this beautiful 14 km coastline throughout the year, while providing endless entertainment for kite spotting hobbyists.
Struisbaai offers a number of areas ideal for beach recreation as well as launching spots for kitesurfers, stretching between the main beach, the harbour, Soetendalsvlei and Die Mond Nature Reserves. The flat water conditions of the main beach as well a large grass area holds great attraction for those rigging their equipment or those keen to picnic in this pristine natural environment.
Locals who are quizzed about the origins of their village name, maintain much controversy and debate over the meaning of the word Struis, apparently most commonly relating to the extraordinary size and length of their beach. Yet, linguists maintain that the actual Dutch translation of Struis means well-built, and is possibly a derivative of stroois or reed, that may also relate to the original fishermen huts built of reed.
Either way, Struisbaai is a haven for keen photographers who will find fisherman exploring the salty seas around the picturesque harbour, while locals come to claim their share of the catch of the day. Other points of interest in the town, both for photographers and those with an interest in the local heritage, are the quaint restored cottages now declared national monuments, that tell many tales of bygone eras.
Located within the country’s southernmost municipality of Cape Agulhas and falling within the Overberg region, Struisbaai has equally quaint neighbours at Suiderstrand, and Arniston close to Bredasdorp and just past Cape Agulhas. Although this village has a property composition of 2% Sectional Sheme, 7% Estate and the majority Freehold, Lightstone shows that over seven years average values of sectional scheme property here exceeded that of freehold. In 2005 freehold average prices stood at R380 000 with sectional scheme at R491 000, while current average sectional scheme prices are at R821 000 and freehold at R715 000. Municipal values reflect Struisbaai to be in a good position among its peers, with average freehold prices of R981 000, R1-million in Suiderstrand, and R1.8-million in Arniston.
Also interesting is that Struisbaai is popular with young families since the majority and 59% of recent buyers are aged between 36 and 49 years of age. The stable property ownership here shows the majority of existing property owners in Struisbaai to have lived there for 11 years or more, with the majority of recent sellers having lived there for up to seven years.
For those recognizing the value of bringing up younger family members in a small coastal town, Struisbaai offers a primary school, and a number of other schools closeby in Bredasdorp. And for those in need of outdoor entertainment, long walks on the beautiful stretches of white beach and a selection of pristine nature reserves beckon.
