Once a vast cattle ranch in South Africa, and larger than the entire country of Singapore, this remarkable property is now home to over 10,000 native animals, including giraffes, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, gazelles, and hippos. Driven by a passion for nature, the owner set out to preserve the land, transforming it into a breathtaking garden filled with exotic plants that rival those of world-class botanical gardens.
To complement the lush landscape, Ed Beaulieu, The Pond Professor, was brought in to design a water feature worthy of its surroundings. With help from Certified Aquascape Contractors, he created a 750-foot-long water feature that includes a waterfall, stream, and a 250,000-gallon pond measuring 120 by 70 feet and five feet deep. Construction required 1,750 truckloads of dirt to build a 34-foot berm for the waterfall and 6,000 tons of boulders—equivalent to 300 semi-truck loads.
A standout element is a manmade cenote: a 42-foot diameter concrete chamber buried underground, now adorned with living walls and orchids. A 30-foot waterfall cascades from an opening in its roof to the four-foot-deep pond below, enhanced by misters and irrigation.
Bridges, platforms, and rocky outcroppings invite visitors to explore the feature up close. Thousands of plants, including large trees placed by crane, were added to blend the water feature into the landscape and elevate the immersive garden experience.