It’s not every day that the President of the World Rose Society visits your garden, but Brahman Hills, home to luxury accommodation and internationally acclaimed gardens, had the honour of welcoming Mr Sushil Prakash from India on Saturday, 18 October 2025.
The visit formed part of the annual ROSA National Convention, hosted this year by the Midlands Rose Society from 16–18 October. The convention, coordinated by Gail Birss, President of the Federation of Rose Societies of South Africa, included a series of garden tours showcasing the region’s finest floral displays.
“Being chosen as one of ROSA’s garden stops was a true honour,” said Onwaba Gonyora, Director at Brahman Hills. “It’s always deeply rewarding to see visitors’ reactions when they view our gardens for the first time and take in the magic of what our team has created here.”
The day drew an impressive gathering of guests, including members from as far afield as the Western Cape Rose Society and international visitor Rosario de Algorta Carrau from the Uruguayan Rose Society – a noted garden designer in her own right.
Guests were warmly welcomed by Gonyora with a glass of sparkling wine at the entrance to the Moon Gate Garden. Before the guided walk began, renowned landscaper Elizabeth Steyn – one of the morning’s guides – invited everyone to embrace the garden’s tranquillity by remaining silent on the walk to fully absorb its beauty. Head Gardener Abongile Majola, together with his fellow guide, then led visitors through the gardens, sharing fascinating insights and anecdotes about their creation. Elizabeth Steyn is also the mother of Tim Steyn, co-author of The Making of a World-Class Garden, a newly launched coffee table book celebrating the Brahman Hills gardens.
The visit concluded with tea and scones being served at the Skyfall Restaurant, after which Gonyora presented Mr Prakash and Ms Carrau with copies of the new book as a memento of their visit. The gardens left a lasting impression on these two overseas guests, with Ms Carrau noting that she had travelled the world and never seen anything like it, while Mr Prakash expressed his admiration and said he would encourage garden enthusiasts across the globe to visit Brahman Hills during his future travels.
Reflecting on the day, Gonyora described it as “a true privilege to share the passion and creativity that define Brahman Hills – and to witness the joy our gardens inspire in everyone who visits.”