Have you ever wanted to live in an unspoilt landscape? Then step right this way. These estates offer pristine habitats, amazing views and wildlife galore for the ultimate in rural living. From Colorado to Costa Rica, take a look at these incredible nature reserves for sale, brimming with natural beauty.

With other-worldly nature reserves like this one, it’s no wonder Plettenberg Bay was originally baptised Bahia Formosa (‘beautiful bay’) by the Portuguese, the first Europeans to explore South Africa. The eponymous Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is the largest of its kind in the Southern Cape. Sprawling 3,202 acres across vast hillsides, it offers panoramic views of the country’s picturesque Garden Route.

There’s an abundance of wildlife to see at Plettenberg Bay, including more than 35 species of game. Look out for giraffes, hippos and crocodiles, plus four of Africa’s Big Five: buffalos, lions, leopards and rhinos. In fact, you'll even play host to the largest endangered white rhino sanctuary in the area. Plettenberg Bay is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, due to its dreamy 300 days of sunshine per year and malaria-free environment.

Take over the luxury 4-star lodge and make good use of the reserve’s plentiful facilities. The Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge boasts 10 plush bedroom suites, plus access to boma (livestock enclosures), a cosy library and a pool room. There's also The Shed, which houses a reception area, shops and a rustic bar and restaurant. Look out your window and watch leaping zebras and antelopes backdropped by the distant Tsitsikamma Mountains. You'll be sure you've landed in paradise.

Living in the confines of a United States National Park is a dream for many nature enthusiasts – and this is about as close as you can get. Kerr Road – an immaculate and secluded 45-acre site just outside of Estes Park, Colorado – has recently been put on the market. On the doorstep of the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, the land encompasses miles of trails, craggy peaks, woodland and tundra, and is a dream for hikers and wildlife lovers alike.

The plot sits above Mary’s Lake with second-to-none views of the incredible surrounding landscapes. It also includes several sites that are suitable for construction, so you can set about building a dreamy mountain bolthole, where aspen groves and centuries-old rock formations will be your closest neighbours.

You'll have little shortage of privacy within your mountain hideaway, but you're just a stone's throw from the civilisation of Estes Park too. While away your afternoons with activities such as hiking and horse-back riding, and take comfort in the fact that this glorious slice of Colorado comes with not too hefty a price tag. 

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You can stake a claim in the island state of Tasmania through acquisition of The Croft: 91 acres of heavenly natural reserve and a three-bedroom home to boot. Purchasing this property (via the Tasmanian Land Conservancy) is an investment in nature too, since landowners are expected to contribute to the site's conservation.

A conservation covenant is attached to the land, since the plot, adjacent to the Moulting Lagoon Ramsar site, is a haven for shore birds. It's also home to a diverse range of native fauna and flora, including the endangered Viminaria juncea, a pretty plant with small yellow flowers. The area immediately around the house is excluded from the covenant.

The house itself, spread over two storeys, is accessed via a council-maintained road, and has natural delights all around. You’ll be able to gaze upon The Hazards mountain range from your lakeside home. Or, if you're looking for an active adventure, lace up your hiking boots or head to surfing hotspot Friendly Beaches, a 10-minute drive away.

Don’t want the responsibility of a whole reserve? Invest in just a share of the action instead. This characterful three-bedroom family home is set close to the town of Hoedspruit in Lissataba Nature Reserve. Upon purchase, owners will have access to everything the stunning 6,178-acre site has to offer, and will take on a sizeable share of the reserve (there are 54 shareholders in total).

With this property, residents will live in the heart of nature, as the camp is built amidst the sub-tropical bushveld woodland. It enjoys a secluded location, with plenty of privacy from your human neighbours and lots of game passing through. Keep an eye out for zebra, waterbuck, warthogs and more, plus raptors circling overhead and lizards lurking among the granite rocks. 

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Its lagoon-like swimming pool is the perfect place to escape the heat, and even offers views of the little watering hole nearby. The viewing deck is another major draw: keep a watch for wildlife and drink in vistas of the Drakensberg mountains on the outskirts of the bushland too.

Want a blank canvas? Discover your own slice of paradise at Grand Anse Babonneau, a remote 1,600 acres of undeveloped land close to Gros-Islet, St. Lucia. The jewel in its crown is the 1.25-mile sandy beach, fringed by azure ocean, while mountain ridges grant expansive ocean vistas from wherever you are. The highest peaks soar to some 1,200 feet above sea level. 

The land is speckled with coconut palms and exotic fruit trees, and though the site has suffered some deforestation, much of this lush woodland has been preserved. It also remains a key habitat for the giant Leatherback turtle: protected by law, these creatures lay their eggs from March through to August. An important archaeological site from the Amerindian period sits on the reserve too. 

Due to the site's natural beauty, wildlife and historical significance, responsible land use is implored. When purchasing the property, vast green belt areas and natural reserve plots must be considered during the planning stages. Among other ideas, Sotheby’s International Realty suggests projects such as an eco-lodge resort, a wildlife refuge and/or cultural and educational facilities.

The dusty clay cliffs and dramatic canyons of Utah are some of the United States' most monumental natural wonders. Many of these lie within the boundaries of Zion National Park in the southwestern region of the state. Just outside this gorgeous preserve full of forest trails, winding rivers, emerald pools, waterfalls and hanging gardens is 160 acres of undeveloped land currently for sale. 

A few minutes' drive from the tiny town of Virgin, this plot is defined by the rust-coloured canyons of Zion National Park. It offers the chance to get right back to nature, but is also well connected, with a location close to Utah's State Route 9. The Virgin River adds an extra dose of natural beauty.

It’s an ideal spot for a luxury development, an authentic ranch or a blossoming orchard, and there's even ridge-top acreage up for grabs. You won’t have to worry about entrenching on public land, either – an easement is already in place. Once you've built your dream retreat, you can hike to your heart's content, with views of the striking national park on your doorstep. 

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Love the idea of owning a property on the National Register of Historic Places? The Baldpate Inn, open to guests since 1917, is a beautiful mountain lodge that's set within 12 acres of alpine glory. Located seven miles south of Estes Park, the inn and its surrounding greenery are perched upon Twin Sisters Mountain, bordering Rocky Mountain National Park.

Elevated 9,000 feet over the Colorado countryside, the charming bed and breakfast offers jaw-dropping views of the surrounding area. There are twelve guest rooms in the main lodge in addition to four private cabins and The Homestead, a luxurious forest retreat. Curiously, the inn is also home to the world's largest key collection...

The Baldpate Inn has been established for more than 100 years, so newcomers should be able to grasp the reins of the business with ease. In the Rocky Mountains National Park, you can get stuck into a whole host of outdoor activities, from hiking and wildlife watching to exhilarating mountain climbing.

Building a family home from the ground up is an aspiration for many and this 2.02-acre plot in the tiny hillside village of San Josecito can help you make it a reality. There's already permission to build here and the plot, close to some of Costa Rica's stunning natural preserves, rewards buyers with Pacific Ocean views, as well as a trail hemmed with old-growth trees.

Look southwest and you can spot the Whale’s Tail, a natural reef formation part of nearby Marino Ballena National Park. The reserve specialises in protecting marine life and, if you get close enough to the Whale’s Tail, you’ll be able to spot humpbacks as they flock to the bay. Fans of birdwatching should also explore nearby Oro Verde Biological Reserve, which lies to the north of the property.

Just over a mile down the road is Rio Morete, a natural waterpark with large river rock beds and serene swimming holes, perfect for whiling away a lazy Sunday. San Josecito itself is a small village, but the towns of Dominical, a renowned surfing destination, and rapidly growing Uvita are also close by. 

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Ready to blow the budget? Hacienda Tres Lagos, or Three Lakes Estate, rests in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, and boasts some 2,471 acres of land. The property encompasses some stunning natural features, from three lakes and Patagonian mountains to pastoral meadows and grassy riverbanks. On the market with Sotheby's, it's so exclusive you have to request the price. 

 

The estate also includes tasteful buildings that are attuned to their natural surroundings, and the central property consists of two suites, a games room, a restaurant and plenty of other spaces to kick back and relax. Meanwhile, offset from this are six single-family cabins, twelve bungalows and a lakeside spa.

The property's most exciting feature? A two-bedroom cabin floating on one of the lakes, purportedly the only building of its kind on the entire continent. Also approved but not yet constructed is a landing strip – this will be built some 5 miles from the lodge so as to minimise disruption.