We are blessed to not only have the ideal climate, but also kilometer after kilometer of fertile soil to develop and grow our own organic vegetables at the reserve. Our vegetable garden not only supplies the reserve and our guests, but those of our sister property in Johannesburg, Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, and our local community situated closest to the reserve.

The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. – Alfred Austin

After rolling out emergency food parcels during the COVID-19 pandemic, we realized the need was greater than initially imagined and that providing shop bought food for a large amount of school children and their families was unsustainable. We took the decision to expand on the success of our vegetable garden by also helping three local schools develop their own vegetable gardens which feed children and their families. We are currently working with a fourth school and look forward to developing their garden with them in early 2022. The establishment of these food gardens has not only provided much needed local employment but most importantly, are providing food security and highly nutritious meals to the children on a daily basis. These organic gardens help promote ecological balance and biodiversity, enhancing the soil and water quality while conserving our ecosystem. In 2002 Nelson Mandela said, “Giving children a healthy start in life, no matter where they are born or the circumstances of their birth, is the moral obligation of every one of us”. It is therefore entirely fitting that his legacy to end hunger is living on in these vegetable gardens, a legacy we are proud to be part of.