South Africa is an incredible destination if you’re looking for natural beauty. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with 8 biomes, meaning that you can see just about everything, despite the country not being particularly big. For this reason, it should be no surprise that South Africa has some truly beautiful gardens.
If you’re planning on visiting South Africa for its incredible beauty, go visit these gardens. You can even get some garden ideas for yourself while you’re at it.
Kirstenbosch Gardens
Cape Town is known for Table Mountain and some of the best beaches in the world. But its natural riches extend to the garden variety. Kirstenbosch Gardens is a truly wonderful experience for every garden lover. Not only does it have plenty of flora on display, but it is also one of the first gardens in the world to put an emphasis on cultivating indigenous plant-life – all the way back in 1913!
You’ll spend hours walking around the gardens, and can even try a range of hiking trails around and up the mountain. Furthermore, during the summer there are weekly concerts hosted at the gardens, which make for a wonderful afternoon even for those who aren’t addicted to flora.
Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens
Johannesburg is not short of gardens, but it’s still very much a city, focused on residential suburbs and industrial towns. However, take a drive to the outskirts and you’ll be amazed by Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens. This garden is so big, vibrant, and diverse, that even many locals don’t realize it is there!
Put down a picnic blanket, then take a stroll to the gorgeous waterfall, above which lives a family of eagles. There are hiking trails as well, taking you through a wealth of natural glory. Just remember to check the weather before going. Johannesburg experiences rain in summer, and an afternoon can be cut short by a massive thunderstorm.
Durban Botanic Gardens
Durban is a popular city for tourists, both local and international. Unlike Cape Town, where the water is freezing, its beaches lie on the Indian Ocean. Even in winter, the city remains somewhat warm and you can swim in the water. But in South Africa, no region is defined by one characteristic and, naturally, Durban has beautiful gardens as well.
The Durban Botanic Gardens are actually the oldest surviving botanic gardens in Africa. This means that not only is there plenty of ecologically important flora, but also cultural monuments dating back over the past century-and-a-half, commemorating those who came before and giving a glimpse into the history of the gardens and the city itself.
There are also concerts and other events that occur at the gardens, including educational visits for children. Entry is entirely free, both for locals and tourists.
South Africa is a destination famous for its natural beauty. True to its reputation, wherever you go you will find gardens that rival some of the best in the world.
Featured image – Kirstenbosch Gardens
