Welcome to Prince Albert Open Gardens

Prince Albert Open Gardens

Prince Albert, the jewel of the Karoo is situated in an arid, semidesert region at the base of the majestic Swartberg Mountain range, the location and resulting harsh climate and water scarcity forcing an adaptable way of gardening that is forging the way for the future of gardening practices.

Join us for inspiration on how to sustainably beautify your outdoor space in a waterwise way, harmonising with birds, insects, and wildlife that reside there.

From our inaugural event in 2023, Prince Albert Open Gardens has left lasting impressions on over 500 visitors who passed through or semi-dessert wonderland, many returning annually to watch our gardens flourish and change, and to partake in the unique talks, walks, and interactive workshops on offer.

Along with cultivating a more responsible way of gardening, we are pleased to support the incredible work being done at Wolwekraal Nature Reserve, a percentage of ticket sales contributing towards their tireless conservation efforts. The Prince Albert Open Gardens event also helps grow our community by employing youth as welcoming garden ambassadors, giving them exposure to the hospitality and tourism sector.

We look forward to welcoming you to a weekend of true Karoo nature and the warmest people this side of the Swartberg.

2025 was an Enjoyable Event

On 4 and 5 October 2025 Prince Albert’s most beautiful gardens once again opened their gates, showcasing sustainable spaces that are indigenous, water-wise, and wildlife friendly. The weekend was jam-packed with all things natural, organic, green, and inspiring. Besides our unique Great Karoo gardens, a host of talks, walks, book launches, and workshops enlightened and enthralled all.

A few staple favourites included our very own biodiversity expert, Professor Sue Dean who guided walks at Wolwekraal Nature Reserve, as well as the Swartberg Pass Wild Walk. When not out walking, Sue Dean was the host at Renu-Karoo Nursery, Prince Albert’s centre of plant expertise and purchasing advice.

Oasis Farm was once again one of our featured gardens covering organic vegetable growing, natural pest control, and the importance of companion planting. The ever-beautiful Kraal Garden was a firm visitor must-see, with the neighbouring experimental Veld Garden established on old, barren farmland now converted into a seed production plot for indigenous karoo plants, a re-wilding area, and a Karoo landscaped garden.

When not ambling around one of our gorgeous participating gardens, talks on wild bees, reptiles of Prince Albert, bringing the veld back to the garden, and more, ensured there was something to peak every nature enthusiast’s interest.

2026 DATES WILL BE OUT SOON.

For real-time updates and more, follow us on socials @princealbertopengardens.

Gardens to look forward to in 2025:

Roosplaas, Christal and Neil Dixon
Oasis Farm, Rich and Jacky Shapiro
1 Nieuwe Street, Jenny Reynolds & Patrick Kime
Die Blikhuis, Julie and Richard Waterston
10 Market Street, Monica Gibson
Kraal, Derryn & Malcolm Searle
The Karoo Garden Collective, Kraal, Swartberg House, and Karoo Huis
Renu-Karoo, Sue Dean & Bertus Fourie

FEATURED GARDENS

2025 speakers and events:

South African Indigenous Garden Plants, Geoff Nichols
The Story of a Prince Albert Farm, the Shapiro daughters
Wild Bees: Lessons in Adaptation, Karin Sternberg
Growing Wellness: From Soil to Soul, Petrus Jansen
Bee Identification Talk and Walk, Connal Eardley
Karoo Reptiles, Courtney Hundermark
Traditional Klein Karoo Medicinal Plants, Liana Jansen
Wolwekraal Biodiversity Walk, Sue Dean
Swartberg Pass Wild Walk, Sue Dean
Koppie Walk, Collette Hurt

Take Home Souvenir

Visitors can take home this striking souvenir, our logo and poster child, the rare and endemic Bijlia Dilatata, also known as the Prince Albert Vygie. Plants will be on sale at our ticket sales hub, Renu-Karoo Nursery, during our Prince Albert Open Gardens event 4 & 5 October 2025, each purchase accompanied by a permit.

2024-09-29

Everything was so well organised and it was thrilling to be here for it!

Karin

2024-09-30

Thank you for a great experience. Really enjoyed the gardens, the people and the walks. Will be back in the future. Keep up the conservation work.

Nicolas

2023-10-02

Wonderful initiative, hopefully to become a firm fixture on the garden show calendar

Sally

Prince Albert Conservation

Prince Albert Open Gardens supports the incredible work being done at Wolwekraal Nature Reserve which elevates conservation and environmental awareness, educating and facilitating research on ecological restoration, and Karoo Biodiversity. The reserve has annual running costs of R1000 per hectare and being a Non-Profit Organisation, it relies on an income generated from guided nature walks on the reserve, as well as public support and donations to cover costs and ongoing conservation.

A percentage of Prince Albert Open Gardens ticket sales are donated to their efforts annually, so while enjoying a weekend of Karoo gardens and associated talks, walks, and workshops, you can also be proud to have contributed to this worthy cause, we thank you.