Welcome to the Zulu Kingdom, KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal's Botanical Gardens, Parks and Nurseries

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The Green Province of KZN is well deserving of its name. Not only does the fact that it is the best watered province mean that vegetation grows wild and in abundance, but also that the province offers a wide variety of beautiful parks and gardens - 119 in all - places to delight the eye, challenge the camera, restore the soul, and certainly relieve the stress of city living. Mitchell Park, for example, is always filled with confetti-like colourful blooms, majestic trees and gracious garden corners. Birds share tea tables with visitors, picking up odd crumbs, families find the grassy lawns ideal for picnics, and old and young alike enjoy the birds and animals in the zoo.

The Botanic Gardens in Durban are a favorite place for wedding photographers, and offers a herb garden, orchid house, the world famous cycad collection and a garden for the blind. Berea Park plays host to the well-known Essenwood Arts and Crafts Market on Saturdays, while Jameson Park, full of roses, makes a sweetly-scented venue for Sunday morning strolls.

zoom National Botanical Gardens Photo: Pietermaritzburg Tourism

Pietermaritzburg is known as the 'City of Flowers', with private gardens and public parks aglow with lush foliage and seasonal blooms. This city is renowned for its National Botanical Garden, one of only eight in the country and other parks such as Wylie Park, Alexandra Park and the headquarters of KZN Wildlife - Queen Elizabeth Park.

KwaZulu-Natal does not only offer the formality of urban parks and gardens, but also a variety of forests, mangrove swamps, even substantial patches of indigenous bush within minutes of the centre of cities. Durban's Burman Bush for example is a 50ha piece of natural bush, unchanged since the early settlers arrived in the 1850's. There are three trails and facilities such as braai and picnic sites - and it's not five minutes from the centre of town.

For more information please visit our botanical features database or complete a query form.

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