Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation

Nestled within Prince Albert's rustic embrace lies a gem that is a testament to the transformative power of human vision and nature's bounty.

- Connall Oosterbroek

It is hard to believe that what was once barren farmland has blossomed into an oasis of biodiversity and tranquillity thanks to the vision and dedication of Derryn and Malcolm Searle.

Drawn by the allure of the burnt orange hues of the Karoo earth, a cob kraal and the tranquil embrace of rural life, the Searles embarked on a transformative journey. Taking a conscious decision to ‘let nature in’, they breathed life into the arid landscape and fostered a haven where flora and fauna intertwine in a delicate dance.

The Kraal Garden is divided into two distinct sections: The Formal Garden (the top garden) and The Wild Garden (the bottom garden). These are then further divided into complimentary rooms.

Malcolm was inspired to develop the Formal Garden by Monty Don’s Italian Renaissance Gardens videos and a visit to Babylonstoren.

The formal geometry and burnt earth texture of the cob kraal and the underlying shallow rock influenced the design and layout direction of the Formal Garden. Low walls and pergolas border many of the garden rooms, with their favourite being the top room, the Om Garden, shaped in the Sanskrit symbol Om, a sacred sound.

A stone path is etched into the middle of the block to honour his wife, Derryn, a yoga teacher who runs the Karoo Yoga School in the studio on the property. The Om Garden’s stone path is surrounded by the karoo shrub, Pteronia incana (wild lavender) which attracts bees with its abundant display of yellow flowers.

As the garden flourished, it beckoned the expertise of kindred spirits and visionaries who shared the Searles’ reverence for nature’s bounty. Enter Franchesca Watson, acclaimed landscaper and Sue Milton-Dean, esteemed plant ecologist and co-architect of the Kraal Garden’s metamorphosis.