KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden

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South Africa - KwaZulu-Natal - Pietermaritzburg

Institution Code: NBGN

BGCI Member: Yes

London Plane Tree Avenue, planted in 1908
London Plane Tree Avenue, planted in 1908

About the KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden

Parastatal organisation (SANBI) under the national Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).

The beautiful and tranquil KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden specialises 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. Take a virtual tour of the Garden to see its highlights, or visit it season by season.

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, makes the Garden rich in bird life, with over 180 species recorded.

Main Address:
KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden
South African National Biodiversity Institute
P.O.Box 21667, Mayors Walk
Pietermaritzburg
KwaZulu-Natal 3208 South Africa

Telephone: +27 (0) 33 344 3585
Fax: +27 (0) 33 344 1284
URL: www.sanbi.org
Primary Email: s.zondi@sanbi.org.za

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Mr Christopher Willis
    Curator's Name: Ms Sthembile Zondi
    Plant Records Officer's Name:
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 2
    Educational Staff Number: 1
    Research Staff Number:
    Administration Staff Number: 2

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: State: Yes
  • Date founded: 1874
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: Yes
    Natural vegetation area: Size: 40 Hectares
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
    Landscaped Area: Size: 12 Hectares
  • Total Area: 52 Hectares
    Latitude: -29.6075
    Longitude: 30.3480
    Annual Rainfall: 900 mm
    Altitude: 700.00 Metres
  • Additional Locations
  • Satellite Garden Names: None

Features and Facilities

  • Arboretum: Yes
  • Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Yes
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 107000

Plant Collections

  • Special Collections:About 80% of the Garden area is natural vegetation of Ngongoni Veld, with dominant Trimeria grandiflora, Combretum kraussii, Halleria lucida, Themeda triandra and Aristida junciformis. About 75% of the plants in the collection are indigenous.

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Medicinal Plant Programme: Yes
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: Yes
    Reintroduction Programme: Yes

Research Programmes

  • Conservation - Biology: Yes
    Conservation - Genetics: No
    Data Management Systems and Information Technology: Yes
    Ecology: Yes
    Ecosystem Conservation: Yes
    Horticulture: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Yes
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Courses for General Public: Yes