[VIDEOS] Plane seen on Munnik Avenue to be turned into an aero-hotel in Hoedspruit
With rumours circulating that the plane had landed near Mall of the North, it was actually being transported to Hoedspruit
POLOKWANE – Is it a giant bird? Is it superman? No, it was a Boeing 737-200 near Mall of the North!
You might also want to read: [WATCH] Fly Fofa Airlines conducts test flight to Polokwane International Airport
Traffic came to a standstill on Munnik Avenue on Thursday morning when a plane was seen across the intersection of the N1 bypass.
Video supplied*
With rumours circulating that the plane had landed near Mall of the North, it was actually being transported to Hoedspruit and is part of an Aerotel project that will be converted into a 12 bed aviator boutique hotel in Hoedspruit.
According to the Aertotel Hoedspruit Limpopo facebook page, the aviation themed boutique hotel will be coming soon and it is the brainchild of Martin den Dunnen and and Riaan van Niekerk. Aerotel is a collaboration between Zandspruit Estates, Craft Bespoke Worx and specialist services provided by local Hoedspruit artisans and craftsmen.
The plane caused waves on social media on Thursday with many stating that the plane had landed and confusion as to what was going on:
https://twitter.com/SALTruckers/status/1129199117614440453
https://twitter.com/NeoRammy/status/1129117331697885186
https://twitter.com/TEBOGO09332350/status/1129110995073404928
Polokwane go busy a whole plane was spotted traveling on R71 this afternoon 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— ℒ𝒶𝒹𝓎 𝒟𝒾𝑜𝓇 💕 (@TheeNubianQueen) May 16, 2019
Tracy den Dunnen of Aerotel, says the idea is the brainchild of pilot, Martin den Dunnen, who has been a businessman in Hoedspruit for almost 20 years.
“Martin used to have a construction company, Property Projects and then ventured into land development, when he created Zandspruit Estates, an integrated, multi faceted development, situated 2km outside of Hoedspruit, which spans over 2 town extension of Hoedspruit. At the heart of this multi faceted development was the Bush & Aero Estate, also a first time concept in South Africa, where aviation meets the love for wildlife,” she explained.
Tracy added that aviation, love for nature and ecological conscious development all played a role in bringing Aerotel to life. “It has been a long time dream/goal of Martin to buy up a plane and convert it into a living space of some sort, but the timing of all the elements concerned never seemed to come together until around late March this year when the right aeroplane, at the right location, at the right price became available and Martin had the time the project would need to get off the ground.”
She says the timeline for the project is estimated at opening in September/October 2019, but this remains flexible.
“Hoedspruit was chosen as the location due to it being the home base of Martin and the development company Zandspruit Estates Pty Ltd. Hoedspruit was chosen initially by Martin in 1999, as a quaint rural town where the ultimate lifestyle can be achieved, the perfect balance between quality family life and competitive business. Hoedspruit is a tourism hub and the gateway into the true Wildlife region of South Africa. The warm climate of Hoedspruit, its proximity to The Kruger National Park and all the Associated Private Nature reserves, the various internationally acclaimed animal rehabilitation centres, The Blyde Canyon area, the Panorama route, featuring the Gorge lift, the Potholes, the waterfalls all make Hoedspruit an absolute platinum destination in South Africa and heaven to live in,” Tracy said.
Aerotel will be an ecologically friendly development, with a low ground coverage percentage and most of the surrounding buildings being steel structures, which are floating on pillared substructures, so as to allow the micro ecosystems to continue to co-exist underneath it. “The recycling of the large steel fuselage and wings is also in trend with the where development and housing should be going, where innovation and upcycling of sound structures should be encouraged as opposed to the throw- away, breakdown and buy/build new outlook which lies at the heart of consumerism and the depletion of natural resources on the planet.”
The aim, Tracy says, is to, where possible, use the authentic internal fittings of the plane in the decoration and styling of the Aerotel, to provide a truly unique experience and ambiance.
