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Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden

South Africa - Gauteng - Johannesburg
Institution Code: NBGW
International Agenda Registration: Y
BGCI Member: Y
About the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Parastatal organisation, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) under the national Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWEA)

Named after the late Iconic Apartheid Struggle Heroe Walter Sisulu Against the backdrop of the magnificent Witpoortjie waterfall, this Garden (previously called the Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden) covers almost 300 hectares and consists of both landscaped and natural veld areas. The history of the Garden 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 "Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld" and consists of a mosaic of grassland and savanna, with forest communities in kloofs and along streams. A list of naturally occuring trees is available.The variety of habitats accommodates over 600 naturally occurring plant species. View the seasonal highlights.

Main Address:
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Physical: End of Malcom Road, Poortview, Roodepoort, 1724
Postal: PO Box 2194, Wilro Park
Johannesburg
Gauteng 1731 South Africa
Telephone: +27 (0) 86 100 1278
Fax: +27 (0)11 958 1752
URL: www.sanbi.org.za
Primary Email: sisulugarden@sanbi.org.za

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Mr Christopher Willis
    Curator's Name: Mr Thompson Mutshinyalo
    Plant Records Officer's Name: Mrs Alice Aubrey
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 3
    Educational Staff Number: 2
    Research Staff Number: 1
    Administration Staff Number: 4

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: Private: N
    Status: State: Y
    Status: Educational: Y
    Status: Municipal: N
    Status: Satellite: N
    Status: Trust: N
  • Date founded: 1982
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: Y
    Natural vegetation area: Size: 288 Hectares
  • Landscaped Area: Y
    Landscaped Area: Size: 20 Hectares
  • Total Area: 308 Hectares
    Latitude: -26.0873
    Longitude: 27.8446
    Annual Rainfall: 750 mm
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: Y
    Herbarium: Number of Specimens: 300
    Arboretum: Y
    Arboretum Size: 1
  • Micropropagation/ Tissue Culture Facilities: N
    Seed Bank: N
    Published Plant Catalogue: N
    Computer Plant Record System: Y
  • Open to public: Y
    Friends society: Y
    Retail Outlet: Shop: N
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Y
    Disabled access: Y
  • Number of Visitors: 180000

Plant Collections

  • Special Collections:Over 90% of the garden is made up of natural vegetation of Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld which is comprised of Protea caffra wooded grassland slopes with, Acacia caffra, Cussonia paniculata subsp. sinuata, and rocky ridges with Englerophytum magalismontanum, and Ancylobotrys.

    Plant Groups in the collections: Agapanthus; Huernia; Haworthia; Plectranthus; Orbea; Aloe; Adromischus; Conophytum;

    Flagship Threatend taxa: Orbea elegans
  • Invasive Species Monitoring: N
    Invasive Species Policy: N
    ABS Policy: Y
    Plant Collection Policy: Y

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Y
    Medicinal Plant Programme: N
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: Y
    Reintroduction Programme: N

Research Programmes

  • Biotechnology: N
    Plant Breeding: Y
    Conservation - Biology: N
    Conservation - Genetics: N
    Data Management Systems and Information Technology: N
    Ecology: N
    Ecosystem Conservation: Y
    Education: Y
    Ethnobotany: Y
    Exploration: Y
    Floristics: N
    Horticulture: Y
    Invasive Species Biology and Control: N
    Molecular Genetics: N
    Pollination Biology: N
    Restoration Ecology: N
    Seed/Spore Biology: N
    Systematics and Taxonomy: Y
    Sustainability: N
    Pharmacology: N
    Agriculture: N
    Land Restoration: N
    Urban Environments: N

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Y
    Education Signs in Garden: Y
    Public Lectures/Talks: Y
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Y
    Guided Tours: Y
    Permanent Public Displays: Y
    Special Exhibitions: Y
    Courses for School Children: Y
    Courses for University/College Students: N
    Courses for General Public: Y
    Education Programme: Y
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