What are the opening hours?

Monday 08:00 - 18:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 18:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 18:00 Thursday 08:00 - 18:00 Friday 08:00 - 18:00 Saturday 08:00 - 18:00 Sunday 08:00 - 18:00

Lowveld National Botanical Garden

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Lowveld National Botanical Garden

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A Wealth of Nature's Treasures The character of the Garden is shaped by the two main rivers that cut across it, namely the Crocodile and Nels Rivers.

Before these two rivers converge in the Garden, they form spectacular waterfalls which can be viewed at the Cascades and the Nels viewpoints. When the Crocodile River is low, interesting geological formations are visible. When in bloom the clivias at the Garden's main entrance are a beautiful and welcoming sight. Walking through the enchanting African Rain Forest enables one to cross the Crocodile River across the famous suspended bridge, where the cascading waterfall can also be viewed. The South African Forest contains fascinating vegetation from the Coastal Belt as well as the Limpopo Province. The Garden plays a critical role in conservation of rare and endangered species and played a pivotal role in establishing a cycad gene bank. The Garden also boasts one of the largest collections of South African fig trees. One of the other interesting trees that can be seen in the Garden is the mystical baobab tree which is famous for its unique shape and medicinal properties. Various plant species have been introduced into the Garden. These include South African coastal species and a unique collection of plants which represent the rapidly disappearing tropical forests of central and west Africa.

02/11/2026

30/10/2026

Castles in the Garden

South Africa is home to diverse range of termite species. They are often called ecosystem engineers, with their extensive tunnelling aerating the soil, recycling nutrients, and providing vital food for animals like aardvarks, pangolins, and birds.

Species like Macrotermes cultivate underground fungus gardens inside their mounds to help break down plant cellulose and provide them with a food source. Keep your eyes on the mounds during the rainy season, and you may just see a “fairy kingdom” appear around these soil castles.

29/10/2026

28/10/2026

World Sustainability Day

27/10/2026

Star-chestnut (Sterculia rogersii)
This is a small tree with smooth bark flaking to reveal reddish to purple or yellowish under-bark and a characteristic thickset trunk. It has saucer-shaped, showy yellow flowers with radiating red streaks carried on the old wood and young branches, making it a very interesting garden subject.

https://pza.sanbi.org/sterculia-rogersii

Address

Botanical Garden, Entrance Off Madiba Drive
Mbombela
1200

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 18:00
Thursday	08:00 - 18:00
Friday	08:00 - 18:00
Saturday	08:00 - 18:00
Sunday	08:00 - 18:00

Telephone

+27137528880

Website

http://www.sanbi.org.za/gardens/lowveld/visitor-information

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