Know, grow, protect and enjoy South Africa's indigenous plants
Location: George, Western Cape, South Africa
Garden Route Branch
This branch was born in 1992 thanks to a local group of Botanical Society members who dreamt of establishing a botanical garden that focused specifically on the indigenous South Cape flora. Six years later the Garden Route Botanical Garden, situated at the base of the Outeniqua Mountains in George, was officially opened to the public.
About the branch
Due to the vast area covered by the branch, localised groups called ‘Twigs’ operate from George (including Wilderness), Knysna (including Sedgefield), Mossel Bay, and Plettenberg Bay (covering the Bitou municipal area). Activities include talks, walks, and workshops, as well as supporting local conservation efforts and coordinating volunteer opportunities at the Garden Route Botanical Garden.
About the Area
The Garden Route, which was added to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2017, is a significant conservation area. Multiple vegetation types can be found here as the Garden Route includes the Fynbos, Forest, Succulent Karoo, and Thicket Biomes.
The natural beauty of this vast area attracts many tourists each year, attracted by the mosaic of landscapes and many adventure and leisure activities. Despite rapid urbanization and development, the area is still a biodiversity hotspot home to beautiful wildflowers, healthy pollinators and incredible bird and animal life.
Cool Facts
1.
The Garden Route is home to a multitude of nature reserves, such as Blombos, Gamkaberg, Goukamma, Gourikwa, Grootvadersbosch, Pledge, Robberg – all worth a visit for different reasons!
2.
The indigenous forests of the Garden Route are known as the largest complex of natural, closed canopy forest in Southern Africa. A great place to visit is the Woodville Big Tree, where visitors can see one of the region’s most famous trees; a giant Outeniqua yellowwood (Podocarpus falcata) that is estimated to be around 850 years old.
3.
Garden Route National Park covers the areas of Wilderness, the Knysna Lakes, Nature’s Valley and Tsitsikamma, and is a great place to see Afromontane forest, wetlands, coastal fynbos and the sandstone fynbos of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountain ranges.
4.
To date, around 52 species of butterfly, 26 damselfly species, 10 frog species, 600 plant, and 146 bird species have been recorded and photographed within the Garden Route Botanical Garden.
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.