Over 100 UKZN alumni from all over KwaZulu-Natal braved the inclement weather on Saturday, 19 July 2025 to travel to Bazley on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast to visit a magnificent indigenous garden surrounding the property called Shangrila. The property is owned by fellow UKZN alumnus Elizabeth Forsdick who kindly invited alumni to visit the garden for the third time in eight years.

One of the country’s foremost indigenous landscapers, botanical artist, botanist, prolific author of books and Honorary Doctorate recipient from UKZN, Elsa Pooley, has provided landscaping advice for over a decade at Shangrila – slowly shaping the flow of the land, gardens, driveway, rock gardens and storm water flow. Elsa provided an overview of the project and explained how the garden had evolved before walking around the garden and identifying plants and their benefits to landscaping as well as to attracting flora and fauna.

Shangrila is now teeming with wildlife, birds, butterflies and insects.  Winter is the best time to visit the garden, with the wide variety of aloes in bloom, and the sea teeming with sardines, whales and dolphins. 

Light refreshments and UKZN publications and memorabilia were provided on the beautiful wrap-around veranda, and guests were able to purchase Elsa’s various publications.

Guests networked with each other and reminisced about their time at university. It was of interest to note the wide range of professions of the alumni on the tour – all brought together by the common interest of indigenous gardening.

This event was just another of the many events of the Durban Alumni Association – coordinated by Alumni Relations.

Article: Finn Christensen

Photographer: Calvin Govender.