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 Branch News
Locate your Branch
ALBANY
Free State
Limpopo
Southern Overberg
Algoa
Garden Route
KZN Coastal
Winelands
Cederberg
Gauteng
KZN Inland
Weskus
Kogelberg
Lowveld
Kirstenbosch
Hours
Monday to Friday 08h30 to 16h00. Closed on weekends and public holidays.
Contact Us
We are experiencing intermittent faults with our landlines, please phone +27 21 797 2090 or send a message to our alternate WhatsApp number if required
+27 65 922 6163.