THIS year, the Durban Botanic Gardens turned 175 years old, making it Africa’s oldest surviving botanic gardens.

Established in 1849, the 15-hectare garden in the heart of Durban is home to a number of plant collections, trees and creatures, including birds and frogs.

Dr Charles Johnston established the first garden near Quarry Road before it moved to the present-day site in 1851.

The gardens, which have several paved walkways, are open every day of the year, including public holidays, and are great for a picnic spot or bird-spotting due to the lake near the gardens, or they are just a great space to explore.

We have come up with a list of five spaces visitors (both local and from outside the province) may enjoy when visiting the gardens. We discovered these places when we were taken on a tour by local resident Muhammad Adamjee of Durban Botanic Gardens Trust, who helped give some insight into the spaces.

The lake

Arguably one of the more popular spaces is the lake which is home to an array of bird species.

So far, more than 80 species have been recorded in the garden, including herons, spoonbills, the Spotted Ground Thrush and the Buff-Spotted Flufftail.

The area around the lake is also home to several birds who nest in the gardens, including spoonbills and the Pink-Backed Pelican.

Permaculture garden

The word permaculture comes from combining two words: permanent and agriculture.

Permaculture is a way of living and growing food by copying and working with nature, so everything that is grown is organic without the use of pesticides.

Essentially, it’s a vegetable garden open to the public who are welcome (within reason) to go and pick herbs and vegetables grown in the garden.

There is also a donation box, which isn’t compulsory, for those who would like to help the garden grow.

Butterfly garden

The butterfly garden, as the name suggests, is a dome covered in natural foliage, filled with plants to attract butterflies. There is a seated section inside the dome which gives you a great view of the beautiful plants, both flowering and host plants.

There is also a raised section with info boards helping visitors identify the common species of butterflies, and there is a very short trail walk under the dome and around it.

There is also a seated area for those wanting to rest and take in the beauty. Sunny days are the best time to see butterflies.

Sunken garden

The sunken garden is one of the most beautiful spots in the gardens. It is filled with various species of colourful plants, including Salvia, Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus) and SunPatiens flowers. It is popular for wedding photos and a great selfie spot.

It is also a great tranquil and chill spot to be surrounded by nature.

Circle of Life Memorial Garden

One of the lesser-known zones is the Circle of Life Donor Memorial, which was unveiled at the gardens in 2021.

The memorial recognises all those who have donated organs, bone and tissue to help others.

It is an initiative of Hero777, a non-profit organisation that raises awareness about organ donation.

There are two mosaic-styled benches which are also to honour the memory of those who’ve donated.

Important to remember

Entrance to the gardens is free, and it is wheelchair-friendly. For more information, visit wwwdurbanbotanicgardens.org.za/. 

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