Whether you are only passing through or spending a few days exploring the area, no visit to Worcester would be complete without a stop at the South African National Institute for Biodiversity’s (SANBI) Karoo Desert Botanical Gardens (NBG).
Also read: Kirstenbosch Garden named the best botanical garden in Africa
This diverse and unique garden, nestled at the foot of the Hex River Mountain range, cultivates and displays a wide variety of arid and semi-arid plants and is a mere 120km from the Mother City.
The 154 hectare gem of the Boland is also home to several interesting mammals and reptiles.
If you want to spot one of the larger mammals, the Grysbokkiel and the Shale trails, in the natural area are perfect for you, especially during the cooler parts of the day.
Ninety-five bird species have been identified in the garden so far and the 1km Desert Birds trail is a must for any fan of feathered friends.
Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under R100 000. Find car listings here.
The storyboards on the trail cover various related topics such as feather and flight, gardening for birds and how climate change affects arid-zone birds.
The most important animals in the Karoo Desert NBG are the little ones like the bees, beetles, butterflies and the small sunbirds. These pollinators make it possible to give visitors a spectacular display of flowers year after year.
However, it’s the flora that steals the show, especially during flower season when the namaqualand daisies are in full bloom, turning the landscape into a cacophony of colour.
As the mercury rises during the summer months, most of the geophytes (bulbs) and succulents are in resting but some fascinating species, including the architectural caudiciform plants are in abundance.
Impressive clusters of red flowers from the Karoo boer-bean (Schotia afra) and the weeping boer-bean (Schotia brachypetala) produce copious amounts of nectar, attracting many nectar seeking birds, such as sunbirds, to the garden.
You may feel a bit peckish from all the fresh air and a bit of exploring but fortunately, the garden’s Kokerboom Restaurant has you covered.
Should you wish to take some of the splendour home, a visit to the nursery is an absolute must and you are unlikely to leave empty-handed.
During our recent visit, we were welcomed at the nursery by Tsepo Tstotseti, a member of staff whose knowledge and passion for the biodiversity of the area is truly palatable.
His outstanding service, accompanied by extremely reasonable prices, made it all but impossible to limit our purchase to a single plant but ensured that our garden back home remains a spectacle for years to come.
The R50 entry fee was certainly money well spent as a visit to the stunning reserve is sure to be a highlight of any roadtrip.
Details:
- Cost: R50 for adults, R20 for children
- Hours: 7am to 6pm daily
- Location: 8 Roux Rd, Panorama, Worcester
- Phone: 023 342 1298
- Email: [email protected]
For more information visit the SANBI website
Cape {town} Etc discount: Enjoy the most worthwhile one-night stay in Cape Town with the best seaside views for R1 699 (valued at R 2 620). Get it here.
Also read:
Picture: Murray Swart/ Cape{town}Etc