The transformation of a Midlands hotel into a world-class destination: a journey immortalised in a new book

A newly released coffee table book, “Brahman Hills: The Making of a World-Class Garden”, tells the story of how a once-forgotten piece of land in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands became one of South Africa’s most celebrated gardens. 

The property, now an official Royal Horticultural Society Partner Garden, is captured in words by Iain Buchan, Michele Magwood and Tim Steyn, and in photographs by Connall Oosterbroek. 

The book celebrates legacy, resilience and the power of a shared vision, appealing to garden lovers, design enthusiasts, travellers and anyone drawn to uniquely South African stories. 

What makes the book remarkable is how it came to life. 

During the Covid-19 lockdown, when the hotel stood empty, weddings were cancelled, and the business’s future was uncertain, the team did something extraordinary. 

Guided by the vision of the late Carol Buchan, a passionate plantswoman with a love for indigenous flora, staff from the kitchen to housekeeping began reviving the land. 

They healed the soil, carved paths, planted trees and cultivated the garden that now stands as a symbol of hope and resilience.

Speaking to “Independent Media Lifestyle”, Onwaba Gonyora, the director at Brahman Hills, said that she asked Iain why he chose to capture the journey in a coffee table book.

Gonyora said that he explained, “I grew up in Pondoland and never lost my love for open spaces. Even when Carol and I lived in Durban, we would build a fire and camp at the bottom of our garden."

"We were always drawn back to the countryside. After years of building businesses, we bought land in the Midlands. Brahman Hills grew from a modest motel into a wedding venue and ultimately into the destination it is today. The book captures that journey.” 

The collaboration between authors, landscape architect and photographer mirrored the spirit of Brahman Hills itself. 

Steyn first saw the site in the winter of 2019, a frosted slope dotted with motel buildings. Together with Iain and his late wife Carol, he began designing a world-class garden, drawing inspiration from the great gardens of France, Spain and Japan while making Brahman Hills the hero of the story. 

When lockdown struck, the garden could have stalled. Instead, waiters picked up spades, housekeepers dug beds, and chefs mastered irrigation. 

“The hierarchy flattened, and everyone worked side by side,” Gonyora said. 

“Words, design and images came together to reflect the essence of Brahman Hills: a garden born from resilience, community and vision. Out of a moment of uncertainty, the gardens began to rise from the soil. That resilience and shared purpose live in every path, wall and water feature today,” she said. 

Sustainability is central to Brahman Hills, with borehole water, rainwater harvesting and recycling keeping the gardens thriving. An organic vegetable garden supplies the restaurants, nourished by compost made from kitchen scraps and coffee grounds.

The book goes beyond documenting the garden. 

“It’s about creating a place where people feel genuinely welcomed,” Gonyora said.

“It speaks to the value of hard work, building something meaningful and finding a true ‘why.’ It shows how a family-owned hotel can grow into something that touches people far beyond its borders.”