Pretoria National Botanical Garden

Pretoria National Botanical Garden is a 76-hectare space with a quartzite ridge running through its center that creates two separate climate zones, each supporting different plant species. This central geological feature shapes the garden's layout and allows for the cultivation of plants with varying environmental needs.

Founded in 1946 on former farmland, the garden opened to the public in 1958 as a place to protect and study South African plants. In 2004, it came under the South African National Biodiversity Institute, expanding its role in research and education.

The gardens display medicinal plants that have long served South African communities, and teaching displays explain their traditional uses and ongoing importance to local people. Visitors encounter these plants in their designated sections and gain insight into how they connect to the lives of those living in the region.

The garden operates daily from 8 AM to 6 PM and uses a cashless payment system. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since the hilly terrain and central ridge require considerable walking to explore different areas.

The grounds house specialized collections of succulents and cycads adapted to the different conditions on either side of the quartzite ridge. These adaptations demonstrate how plants thrive across varying environmental conditions found in South Africa.