Durban Botanical Gardens, KwaZulu-Natal

• Email
• Tweet
• Print

Abundant flora at the Durban Botanical Gardens.

© Christine Marot

Africa's oldest surviving botanical gardens, the Durban Botanical Gardens are a magnificent testimony to more than 150 years of dedication and care by a succession of curators.

Not only do these gardens offer travellers a scenic respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, they're world-renowned for their cycads, ferns, bromeliads, palms and orchids, among many other stunning flowers and trees.

Animal species that complement the flora include a variety of birds, butterflies and tiny reed frogs, so take your binoculars and birding book along. Spend time feeding the ducks at the lake or simply spread out a rug and lie under one of the massive old trees that flank the paved pathways meandering through the gardens.

The Orchid House is a popular attraction and a must-see when you visit the gardens. Marvel at the spectacular collection of orchids, each with distinctive and vividly colourful blooms, before moving on to the award-winning Sensory Garden.

The herbarium is another part of these botanical gardens that should not be overlooked. It houses thousands of carefully catalogued plant species, mostly endemic to the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

For a panoramic view of the gardens, make your way to the deck at the fern dell, and to end off a relaxing day, pop in to the famous tea garden. Their tea and crumpets with cream and syrup are legendary.