Page 9 - LandscapeSAIssue111

PROJECT

decks, patios, water holes and fine dining
in close proximity to the animals.
Long Lee was earmarked as the
sophisticated, formal manor house
gardens with clipped indigenous hedges,
boulevards and orchids. The farmland
heritage of the old manor house was a
key thread and needed to be interwoven
into these gardens.

Riverdene, the family lodge and
children’s playground, required informal
landscaping and adventure zones with
climbing and interactive activities for
youngsters. A large, controlled, adventure
zone with zip lines, timber tree houses
and fun, outdoor climbing structures
were incorporated in and around
existing mature trees. The gardens are
educational, focussing on the senses
and touch and feel aspect of the Eastern
Cape’s planting palette. It is a child’s Each Sindile tented villa has its own timber deck and splash pool
“dream world” in nature.

Eagles Crag’s landscaping is
predominantly on a lower level, with the
lodge making the best of a raised floating
timber deck and pods. The landscape
is somewhat divorced from the upper
aspect of the lodge, and is very much a
visual experience for viewers, from above.

Sindile tented camp had to blend in
naturally and harmoniously with the
existing landscaped surroundings.
Portulacaria affra (Spekboom) was the
focal point, into which the tented camp
had to ‘disappear’.
Environmental considerations for
the upgrade
The new planting palette had to
be sustainable and predominantly The Sindile tented camp is a new build which blends into the natural bush
indigenous to the area, but since these
were existing gardens, some exotic mature
trees were inherited from Riverdene and on each site to harvest existing plant artificial grass on rolling hillocks in the
Long Lee’s past. The decision was taken to material by means of a search and rescue children’s playground.
retain some of these specimen trees and mission during the demolition period
work around them. of the old buildings. Various existing At Long Lee Manor, grey pavers have been
endemic cycads were incorporated into used on the formal, straight walkways
At all times, the wildlife had to be the new design. and buggy paths. The walkways are
respected and by means of various wheelchair friendly and terminate at focal
temporary fences, game was kept out of A formal permaculture vegetable garden points throughout the gardens.
the new landscape until the permanent for the ultimate guest experience is
fences had been installed . showcased at the entrance to Long Lee The main reflection swimming pool with
Manor, and a separate herb garden has vast open vistas onto the new, centralised
The existing natural bush around the been established for relaxation and water hole was tiled with a dark blue
tented camp was surveyed and mapped contemplation by guests. mosaic crackle tile. The tiled deck steps
by drone footage to allow for best into a wet lounger shelf in the pool, for
placement of the camp and to minimise Hard landscaping aspects relaxation and game viewing seating.
damage to this special biome. Various external hard work components Day bed cabanas frame the poolside
were designed by Landmark Studios and water features were installed at the
To ensure that all environmental for all the lodges. The adventure zone entrance and spa.
aspects were adhered to, there was at Riverdene was part of their scope of
close interaction with the Shamwari work, with the installation of all timber The boma to Long Lee Manor was
management team throughout the structures and bespoke playground designed by Landmark Studios with
installation process. equipment crafted and installed on site. unique private dining pods along the
In-situ concrete walkways with imprints peripheral fence line. These rustic, onion
Soft landscaping and planting of animal footprints and climbing walls dome shaped structures were specialised
Temporary holding nurseries were placed were also installed, as was the use of items built and installed on site.

Landscape SA • Issue 111 2022 7