Know, grow, protect and enjoy South Africa's indigenous plants
Location: Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Albany Branch
Formed in 1999 in Grahamstown, the Albany Branch aimed to replant cleared areas with locally indigenous plant species, assist in removing alien invasive species and support the Makana Botanical Garden at Rhodes University.
About the branch
The branch also assisted in plant atlassing and searching for flowers required to illustrate various books on Eastern Cape flora. Members are dispersed along the coastal belt from Alexandria to East London, and in Stutterheim, Hogsback, Queenstown, Graaf Reinet, Middelburg, Cradock, Somerset East, Addo, Bedford, Adelaide and Grahamstown.
About the Area
The Albany Centre of Floristic Endemism is home to six of the subcontinent’s eight biomes, and five of the floristic regions converge in a stretch of country just 200km wide, between the Kei and Sundays Rivers. This region is a mosaic of diverse plant communities containing an estimated 4 000 species, of which around 15% are endemic. Common vegetation types include Valley Thicket and Karoo/Namib vegetation, Alpine grassland and Sub-Tropical coastal flora.
Cool Facts
1.
The Kwelera National Botanical Garden in East London is South Africa’s 10th national botanical garden and the first SANBI garden to be established in the Eastern Cape. With estuarine, riverine, vegetated dune systems and history of human activity, this garden reflects the natural beauty the Wild Coast region has to offer.
2.
This region is fortunate to have a multitude of nature and game reserves, such as Addo Elephant Park, Amakhala Game Reserve, Bucklands Game Reserve, Inkwenkwezi Reserve, Kariega Game Reserve, Kwandwe Game Reserve, Lalibela Game Reserve, Pumba Game Reserve, and Samara Game Reserve.
3.
The Albany Museum in Grahamstown was established in 1855 and is the second oldest museum in South Africa. The Museum today consists of a family of seven buildings: the Natural Sciences Museum, the History Museum, the Observatory Museum, Fort Selwyn, the Old Provost military prison, Drostdy Arch and the Old Priest’s House (home to the National English Literary Museum).
Contact the Branch
Would you like to help BotSoc conserve the flora of Albany region? Please email info@botanicalsociety.org.za with your contact information.
Latest National News
Contact your branch to network in the following areas:
Albany
Algoa
Cederberg
Free State
Garden Route
Gauteng
Kirstenbosch
Kogelberg
KZN Coastal
KZN Inland
Limpopo
Lowveld
Southern Overberg
Weskus
Winelands
Hours
Tuesdays from 08h00 to 16h00. Closed from Wednesday to Monday and public holidays.
Contact Us
We are experiencing intermittent faults with our landlines. If you can't get through on our landline +27 (0) 21 797 2090 , please phone or send a message to our alternate WhatsApp number: +27 (0) 65 922 6163.
Notice
From 1 March 2026, our office located inside Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (through Gate 2) will be open to assist members on Tuesdays only (08:00 – 16:00).
