Benvie opens throughout the week as well as on the weekends for the period from 21 September to 6 October. The Open Midlands Garden season ticket doesn't apply here.

Benvie - Karkloof

This magnificent garden with its park-like setting was the brainchild of John Geekie – a man who loved trees. He came out from Dundee, in Scotland, to South Africa in 1856. He bought the property in 1883, with the express intention of creating an arboretum and spent the rest of his life realising his dream. The south-east orientation of the garden was ideal for his purpose. Seedlings were brought by ship from all over the world, transported from Durban to Merrivale by train and finally taken to Benvie by ox-wagon. Conifers, cedars Ginkgo biloba, magnolias, grass trees, hydrangeas, azaleas, azalea Mollis and Rhododendrons, were amongst the tree and shrubs planted in this 30-hectare garden. They are still lovingly cared for by his family, some 136 later.

Bring a picnic basket and spend some time in this beautiful garden, and do not forget your binoculars if you are a birder.

The entrance fee is R50 for adults and R30 for pensioners on Thursdays only, children are free.

Directions: From Howick take the Karkloof. Pass the Ambers. Drive for 33 km from Howick (21 km on tar) and at 33 km mark, turn right onto the York/Hanover Road. Travel a further 3 km, down the hill and you will find a Benvie sign on your left; then follow the signs to the Garden