A Flexible Facility with Extensive Land in a Unique Rural Setting

The centre is a safe, secure, air-conditioned Conference Centre, Training Centre and Project Base and has been used by dozens of universities for research students
• Teaching and Lecturing
• Training and Workshops
• Masters and Doctoral thesis research
• Field research
• Conferencing
• Private work and social functions
• Private corporate workshops

The Centre is in a deeply rural, traditional setting, 5 miles from the second largest forest in South Africa: Dwesa-Cwebe Forest, a gated nature reserve and protected marine area on the Indian Ocean. It is 10 km from the coast between the Mbanyana and Mbashe Rivers. This is a protected nature reserve and marine area. The Centre is one hour from Mandela’s birthplace, Mvezo and resting place, Qunu. The Forest boasts extensive indigenous plant and animal species and an accessible (climbable) waterfall on the Mbanyana River.

Project Office for 25 people.

I.T. and communications base

Reception and display foyer.

4 Large Huts (85 sq metres each) for arts & cultural events.

Lecture Theatre (for up to 75 people)

250 kva generator for power back-up.

Accommodation at the centre has 25 rooms / 50 beds and is situated around Lemon Tree Square and the Old Backyard Square, 3 kitchens and 16 bathrooms.

2.4 metre-high, galvanized steel fence for perimeter security.

Library and Archive Area.

Training Rooms x 4 for 25 – 75 people each.

Bar / Lounge area for social / evenings for 100 people

The centre has hosted University Students, Lecturers and Professors on site from 15 universities from UK, Switzerland, USA, Australia and South Africa (including Oxford, London, Sheffield, Basel, Penn State, USC, Washington State, Woollongong, Northwood, Cape Town, Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch, Pretoria, NMU and Rhodes universities).

The Valley has four large 85 square metre huts which are used for both heritage projects and training.
One contains a tiered circular layout for community meetings.
The valley also has a walking / running path through the forested area.

The centre contains three water tank banks with capacity for 600 000 litres of water. The main project office building contains the Lecture Theatre, various training rooms and the Library.