Durban Botanical Gardens in Musgrave, Berea, KwaZulu-Natal
Africa’s Oldest Surviving Botanic Garden
The Durban Botanical Gardens in KwaZulu-Natal of South Africa is situated in the popular suburb of Berea and is Durban’s oldest public institution and Africa’s oldest surviving Botanic Garden.
The Gardens were developed in 1849 as a botanic station for the trial of agricultural crops. Today the gardens maintain both indigenous and exotic plant collections with the main collection of plants being cycads, orchids, bromeliads and palms. There are over eighty trees with some having historical value as they are over one hundred years old. Butterflies, birds, ducks and tiny tree frogs compliment the flora in this luxuriously scenic park.
A highlight of your visit to the Park would be the Orchid House and it is best visited during the Spring months. There are many other types of gardens, including a garden for the blind and the Herbarium which has over 100 000 specimens of dried plants of which most originated in KwaZulu-Natal.
Facilities
- Information Desk
- Guided Tours – by appointment only!
- Tea Garden
- Panoramic Viewing Deck at Fern Dell
- Orchid House
- Conference & Boardroom
- Amphitheatre
- Herb Garden
- Lake Area
- Japanese Garden
- Garden of Senses
- Living Beehive
- Bell Tower
- Lily Pond
Admission
The Park is open every day of the year and entrance to the Gardens is free.
Winter Times (16 April to 15 September): 07h30 to 17h30
Summer Times (16 September to 15 April): 07h30 to 17h15
Orchid House:
09h00 to 17h00
Park Rangers are on duty between 09h00 and 18h00 daily.
Climate
Durban has a warm climate throughout the year with cooler evenings in the winter and rainfall throughout the summer months.
Summer months, November to March will have average temperatures of between 15˚C and 29˚C.
Winter months, May to August will have average temperatures of between 7˚C and 20˚C.
Transport
There are Domestic and International flights into Durban’s King Shaka Airport on a daily basis. Bus services, taxis and car rental companies are available for easy access around the area.
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