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Eight National Botanical
Gardens are situated throughout the country in five of South Africa's six
different biomes. When Kirstenbosch, the most famous of the Gardens, was founded
in 1913 to preserve the country's unique flora, it was the first botanical
garden in the world with this ethos. What makes the Gardens so famous worldwide
is that only indigenous plants are cultivated.
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Kirstenbosch, Cape Town
The National
Botanical Garden of Kirstenbosch stretches along the eastern slopes of Table
Mountain. Because of the different altitudes this area is suitable as a biotope
for a great variety of the plants of Southern Africa. Kirstenbosch grows only
indigenous South African plants, more than 6000 plant species can be found in an
area of 530 ha. A web of hiking trails facilitates wonderful walks through the
indigenous fynbos vegetation. The best time to visit is in springtime during
August and September, when the flowers are blooming. Kirstenbosch National
Botanical Garden is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape
flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern
slopes of Table Mountain.
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Karoo Desert, Worcester
The Karoo Desert
National Botanical Garden is totally unique in that it is the only truly
succulent garden in the southern hemisphere and on the African continent. One of
the floral highlights of the year is spring, when thousands of annuals and
brightly colored vygies come into flower. This color spectacle lasts from
mid-August to the end of September. A must for succulent lovers, the Garden lies
on the outskirts of Worcester, 120 kilometers from Cape Town. Falling within the
succulent Karoo biome, which includes the Namaqualand flora so famous for its
spring flowers, the Garden boasts some 400 naturally occurring species. The
garden is also a haven for rare and endangered plants, with over 300 species
being protected and propagated. Almost 70 species of birds have been recorded in
the Garden, as well as a wide range of small mammals, such as the Cape grey
duiker. Approximately 11 hectares of the estate are cultivated, whilst the
remaining 144 are kept as a flora reserve which has several kilometers of nature
trails.
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Harry Porter, Betty’s
Bay
This beautiful, secluded garden is set between mountain and sea,
in the heart of the Cape fynbos region and encompasses 10 hectares of cultivated
fynbos garden and 190.5 hectares of pristine natural fynbos. Situated in the
center of the coastal fynbos where the flora is at its richest, the garden
encompasses mountain slopes with their wind-clipped heath lands, deep gorges
with relict forests, flats and marshes with restios, sedges and bulbs, as well
as dunes adjacent to the beach with their specialized salt-adapted plants. The
garden is renowned for its waterfalls and amber pools The main fynbos families (proteas,
ericas and restios) are present as well as other important families such as
irises, daisies and orchids. The garden boasts Disa uniflora in its
natural habitat (flowering from mid-December to end of January) as well as the
national flower, the king protea (Protea cynaroides). There are
approximately 88 species of birds, including the Orange-Breasted Sunbird and the
rare Protea Canary, found only in the fynbos, present in the garden. Mongoose,
porcupines and genets are common but shy.
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Free State, Bloemfontein
This garden, on
the outskirts of Bloemfontein, spans a valley between picturesque dolerite
koppies with the natural vegetation comprising tall grassland and woodland,
dominated by magnificent wild olive and karee trees. The garden covers 70
hectares, and is home to about 400 species of plants, mainly from the Free
State, Northern Cape and Lesotho, including a fine collection of decorative and
hardy trees indigenous to the area. The harmony of the garden has been achieved
by retaining and highlighting the best elements of the natural landscape. Lion's
ear (Leonotis), red-hot poker (Kniphofia) and dwarf coral tree (Erythrina
zeyheri) provide touches of colour against a restful woodland backdrop. A
series of vistas leads one naturally through the garden, to the wooded koppies,
up onto the rock outcrops that overlook the garden, and back down to the dam, to
the bird hide, and the lawns. From November to March, most of the plants in the
garden are in full leaf and from March to June, the colorful autumn shades of
yellow and red dominate. The natural areas of the garden are a haven for
wildlife, including 122 species of birds, 54 species of reptiles and 28 species
of mammals.
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Natal, Pietermaritzburg
The beautiful and
tranquil Natal National Botanical Garden specializes in the conservation of
plants from the eastern region of South Africa and of rare and endangered
species from elsewhere. Established in 1874, the Garden's Victorian past is
evident in its magnificent specimens of northern hemisphere plants, such as the
swamp cypress, tulip trees, camphor trees, plane trees, giant figs and
magnolias. One of the finest features of the Garden is the avenue of London
plane trees, which has been stunning visitors since 1908. The focus of the
Garden is to collect, display and promote the conservation of plants of the
eastern grasslands, in particular the genera Kniphofia, Watsonia
and Dierama. A section of the Garden is planted specifically to attract
birds which, along with other diverse habitats, make the Garden rich in bird
life, with over 120 species recorded. A special feature of the Garden is a
traditional Zulu hut, surrounded by indigenous medicinal plants, which form the
basis of a Muthi plant display. The Garden has a series of exciting walking
trails through indigenous forest and grassland. The popular guided walk program
gives visitors the opportunity to experience the Garden in a hands-on way.
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Pretoria
This Garden is
situated 8 km from the centre of Pretoria and accommodates both subtropical and
temperate plants, giving the visitor a glimpse of the beautiful and varied flora
of the subcontinent. The Garden's features include over half of the country's
tree species as well as cycads, aloes and other striking collections. Paved
nature trails give access to the fascinating natural vegetation of the rocky
ridge above the Garden.
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Witwatersrand,
Roodepoort/Krugersdorp
Against the
backdrop of the magnificent Witpoortjie waterfall, this Garden covers almost 300
hectares and consists of both landscaped and natural veld areas. The history
shows that it was founded in 1982, but has been a popular venue for outings
since the 1800's. The natural vegetation of the area is known as the "Rocky
Highveld Grassland" and consists of a mosaic of grassland and savanna, with
dense bush in kloofs and along streams. The variety of habitats accommodates
over 600 naturally occurring plant species. A breeding pair of majestic Black
Eagles nest on the cliffs alongside the waterfall. The Garden is home to an
abundance of wildlife. Together with the other 230 bird species, there are also
a number of reptile and small mammals, including small antelope and jackal,
which occur naturally in the Nature Reserve. Several short walks run through the
Garden and the surrounding natural areas.
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Lowveld, Nelspruit
Rugged, rocky river scenery is the perfect, spectacular setting for Nelspruit's
main tourist attraction, the Lowveld National Botanical Garden, situated in the
heart and at the hub of Mpumalanga. The 159 ha garden straddles the Crocodile
and Nels Rivers. Viewed from the air, it is clear that the two Rivers dominate
the scene and determine the character of this Garden. The Crocodile surges
through a narrow, solid rock gorge that has been scoured out and pot-holed over
millennia, while the Nels River tumbles down a waterfall from the west, to
converge with the Crocodile in a serene pool on a bend in the river. Nelspruit
is ideally situated for tourists, being close to the Kruger National Park,
Pilgrim's Rest, Graskop and the renowned Blyde River Canyon which is the focal
point of the Panorama Scenic Route.
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AmaZingwe
