East Griqualand Open Gardens 2026

Friday 30 October – Sunday 1 November

East Griqualand is an area of robust contrasts in the changing of the seasons. After a bleak and cold winter when the deciduous trees are stripped of their glory and their branches laid bare, spring bursts upon the landscape with a flurry of buds and new life. This year, the E G Open Gardens showcases gardens in the Bounepartes area.

Times: 9:00-17:00 (Fr, Sat), 9:00-12:00 (Sun)
Tickets: R50 for the weekend.
Enquiries: Louise Simpson 073 464 2440, Mary Stanford 082 775 1907
Email: louise@cooperdale.co.za
Facebook/Instagram @opengardenseg

BONNY RIDGE

Bridget Johnson

This garden is a combination of formal and informal areas. A formal rose garden of only cerise coloured hybrid tea roses was reworked and re-established over the last two years. The informal areas are filled with icebergs and various companion flowers, and, with the shrubs, hedges, and paths, a flow throughout the garden has been created. Both Johnson homesteads are incorporated into this garden, also providing a window onto the farm.

Directions: From Kokstad, travel 12 km on the Matatiele/Cedarville Road (R56) and turn left onto Bounepartes Road (D611). Travel 7 km, turn left onto the farm road, and after a kilometre, you will find the Johnson houses on the left.

Food and drink

KROMDRAAI

Anne Louwrens

Two years ago, Janine and Anne swapped houses, and, with this, the gardens. Since then, a new chapter has begun for Anne, and she has been reworking the garden and recycling plant material by separating, grouping, and contrasting textures and colours. She has done this reworking cleverly, and her garden is an inspiration for anyone wanting ideas for creating flow around existing trees and plants, even combining aloes and roses.

Directions: From Kokstad, travel 12 km on the Matatiele/Cedarville Road (R56) and turn left onto Bounepartes Road (D611). Travel 12 km and turn left at the crossroads at the Mill/Charlton School. Follow the D613 for 4.5 km. Kromdraai is on the left. Follow the entrance road between the house and the big shed to the parking.

Plant Sales
Food and drink
Picnic Spots

MPATOANE FARM

Judy and Ross Johnson

Mpatoane is an established farm and homestead featuring old stone buildings and magnificent old oak trees. The oldest part of the house was built in 1886. The garden has an English country garden feel, with numerous roses, shrubs, and oaks, and rolling lawns that blend into the paddocks and countryside beyond.

Directions: Take the R56 Cedarville/Matatiele Road from Kokstad. After 8 km, turn left onto the D606 district road. Follow this road for 7,5 km, and you will see St. Andrew’s church on your left. Pass this, and the Mpatoane turnoff is on your left a kilometre further. Remember that this is a ring road, and by continuing on this road, you will eventually reach the Palmiet and Kromdraai farms and link back past Bonny Ridge to the R56.

NAIRN FARM

Gavin and Lesley Robinson

This is a colourful farm garden, full of roses. A haven for birds and insects, this garden has been nicknamed The Fairy Garden. As you wander around this garden, you will catch views of the EG mountains and surrounding farmlands, framing this whimsical, pretty garden.

Directions: From Kokstad, take the R56 (Road towards Cedarville), drive past Greenlands Meats, and before you get to Stoneybrook, turn Right onto the D617. Follow this dirt road, over the bridge, past Whinestone Dairy, past the school on your right and follow the road all the way up to Nairn.

Food and drink

PALMIET

Jeanette and Mike Rennie

Set around a third-generation homestead built in 1929, this expansive country garden reflects both heritage and fresh inspiration. The front garden now features bold, formal mass plantings that open up to sweeping views across the farm. In contrast, the back garden retains a softer charm, with curved beds that flow with the contours of the old rondawels and the stone wall on the eastern border. Though still a work in progress, this garden is a vibrant place, filled with a mixed variety of shrubs, perennials, succulents and roses, including cherished original floribunda varieties planted by earlier generations.

Directions: From Kokstad, take the R56 towards Matatiele. After 8 km, turn left, at the top of a rise, onto the D606 district road. Travel 12 km, and after the St. Andrews Church and the Mpatoane turnoffs on the left, the Palmiet Farm turnoff is at the bottom of the hill on your right. The homestead is at the end of the driveway, past the cottage and sheds on the right.

Food and drink

POORTJIE

Marie van Zyl

This is an amazing garden, old and established, with magnificent trees that tell stories from decades ago. Over a thousand roses, a large selection in a dedicated rose garden and many more throughout her borders. Mass plantings under trees and some interesting focal points.

Directions: From Kokstad – continue on the R56 for 29,4 km, turn left onto the link road to the D611. Drive for 5,6 km and turn right at the T-junction and follow the D611 for 5,5 km. The farm entrance is on your right, travel 700 m to the farmhouse and yard.

Plant sales
Picnic spots

RIETFONTEIN

Sam and Patty van Zyl

Not open on Sunday

What started as open farmland has blossomed into a sanctuary where roses, agapanthus, and a wide variety of flowers flourish. Overlooking a dam, the garden is rich in colour and fragrance.

Directions: Travel along the Cedarville Road from Kokstad for 12 km, then turn left onto Bounepartes Road. Travel for about 6 km, taking the first road to the left, and travel past the Bonny Ridge Open Garden on your left for 2 kms to the end of this road. (It is a farm road, and a smaller car will have to negotiate carefully).

ST ANDREWS CHURCH

Flowers in the Church, Sunday service, and beautiful church grounds. Please bring chairs and or a picnic blanket. Father Ray and the St Andrews congregation welcome you to our little church.