Kings Walden Garden

About Kings Walden Garden

Up on the hillside of Tzaneen is a spectacular historic, 300 square metre English garden. With heady views of the Drakensberg from the lawn, leafy walkways and a trail through a patch of indigenous forest it is a sight for sore eyes on a typical clammy Tzaneen day.

The drive out to the manor garden leaves behind the noise of the town to ascend the escarpment, before entering the gate posts via a secluded, dirt road. One is immediately transported into a time of olde worlde colonial style plantations and estates.

The garden is Kings Walden's treasure. There are fountains, moss-covered paths, and a sea of colour as agapanthus, azaleas, camellias and roses contribute to the atmosphere.

Often the garden is shrouded in mist, which only adds to the romantic atmosphere. There is delight around every corner, including the ornamental lake guarded by a couple of concrete sphinxes. To rub their nipples is to bring good luck.

But most charming of all is the giant blue gum tree at the end of the lawn with its back against the skyline. This is known as the lightning tree and there is a romantic story attached to it.

Kings Walden was once a huge, productive estate its garden designed by Elsie Tooley who, the story goes, once stood where the garden is today and breathed “I never want to leave”. She married the owner and many years later, on the night she died, the giant blue gum tree was said to be struck by lightning. Today it stands white and bone dry against the backdrop of the Drakensberg.

It lends great mystery to the garden.

Kings Walden welcomes day visitors to its garden. You do not need to be a guest of the boutique hotel that now occupies the manor in order to enjoy its beauty, but it is customary to stop at the tea garden, open daily, or reserve a meal in the restaurant, open every evening (book in advance as it is popular).