One of the great pleasures of living in Roodepoort is having the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden right on your doorstep. The garden is made up of stunning rocky highveld grassland vegetation and landscaped spaces. There's an abundance of wildlife, including about 240 bird species recorded on site. And with plenty of activities and events hosted, this green refuge is a favourite for all who visit it. In fact, the garden has been voted the best place to get back to nature in Gauteng for nine years in a row.
Discover history at every turn
The Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden was founded in 1982 and remains one of the youngest of the nine national botanical gardens managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. As you enter the space, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the amenity. When it was founded, people could only visit by special arrangement. So, you are part of a truly fortunate bunch who get to experience everything it has to offer.
Since the 1990s, the garden has had major infrastructural development from the gorgeous entrance building, the Nestlé Environmental Education Centre, Sasol Dam and Bird Hide, to the paving of the main walkway.
The garden was renamed from Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden to its current name to honour Walter Sisulu, a prominent South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress.
Have a blooming good time
The area's natural vegetation is made up of three types: Egoli Granite Grassland, Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld and Northern Afrotemperate Forest. As such, you'll discover over 600 naturally occurring plant species. The garden has a special appeal whichever season you visit.
In spring, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden dazzles with orange-flowered bush lilies, ruby-coloured blood lilies, and wild pears with masses of small white flowers. In summer, you can spot Pride-of-De-Kaap's brick-red flowers, the mauve-blue flowers of the wild phlox, and giant-leaved wild bananas. Autumn is a superb time to catch sight of spurflowers, garden clivias, and kalanchoe rotundifolia, with its brave show of orange flowers. In winter, the aloes are the stars of the show.
See all your favourite creatures
The appeal of Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden is being able to escape the concrete jungle for a pocket of wilderness in the heart of Roodepoort. There are so many animals that repeat visits are needed to spot all of them.
Bring your binoculars as the garden is home to plenty of bird species. The most famous is a pair of Verreaux's eagles that nest in the Roodekrans Ridge which intersects the reserve. There are also dainty fairy flycatchers, super-fast peregrine falcons, and helmeted guinea fowls, to name a few. You'll feel like you're in a feathery heaven.
On the mammal front, there are a furtive few that make the garden their home. Honey badgers, servals, and aardvarks (antbears) can be spotted. There are also mountain reedbucks and sengis (rock elephant shrews).
The garden also has a fascinating show of reptiles, spiders, and insects. There's a range of butterflies, lizards, chameleons, tortoises, frogs, and toads that will delight the little ones.
Join in on the fun activities and events
Whether you're after a quiet place to have lunch or a weekend outing for the family, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden is a welcome refuge. The area is great for spotting plants and animals. The various gardens for succulents, cycads, ferns, and wildflowers also provide a great educational experience.
Avid photographers will find much beauty in the garden. The Witpoortjie Falls provides a dramatic backdrop for family photographs, selfies, or romantic shots for proposals and wedding pictures.
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden also boasts a fairly challenging hiking trail. Roughly 3,5 km, this trek takes you from the base of the waterfall to the top of the mountain. It's a bit of cardio that's worth it for the scenic views. If you're in the mood for a lighter foray, you can arrange a guided tour along the Roodekrans Ridge and through the nature reserve part of the garden.
On a balmy day, you can join other Joburgers and set up a picnic on the shaded lawn. The garden has a strict "carry in, carry out" policy, so be sure to take something to keep your litter in. You can also support the garden's lovely gift and book shop and eat at their restaurant.
You'll want to like the garden's Facebook page to keep your eyes peeled for future events. The garden has hosted concerts, exhibitions, markets, picnics, movie nights, and colour runs.
Book your ticket for a world of wonder
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden is open every day from 08h00 to 17h00. Adults pay R70 and children under six years can go in for free. There are discounts for students, and schools, and a free day (Tuesday) for pensioners.
Being close to this incredible green space gives Roodepoort residents the perfect place to relax, exercise, and socialise. Become part of the scene! View our properties for sale or properties to let, and get in touch with our team.
Image credits:
2. Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden by Renee Grayson | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | bit.ly/34Xt7PE
3. Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden by Renee Grayson | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | bit.ly/34Xt7PE
4. Male white-bellied Sunbird by Derek Keats | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | bit.ly/34Xt7PE
5. _DSC8378 by Chris Eason | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | bit.ly/34Xt7PE
6. Walter Sisulu Nasionale Botaniese Tuin by JMK | Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0 | bit.ly/34Xt7PE
7. South Africa-Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden by NJR ZA | Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0 | bit.ly/34Xt7PE