Gauteng Tourist AttractionsThe Johannesburg Botanic Garden
The Johannesburg Botanic Garden is also one of the youngest gardens in the country at only just over 30 years of age. It was voted the best passive recreation space in the city by its residents in 2004 that make use of the greenery to escape the drudgery of city living, and is involved in a seed exchange programme with another 300 odd gardens throughout the world.
Where? Olifants Road, Emmarentia, Johannesburg, 2195
How? Call +27 (0)11 782-7064
When? The Gardens are open from sunrise to sunset every day
Overnight? See Emmarentia accommodation, Johannesburg
Set on the western shores of the Emmarentia Dam, Johannesburg Botanic Garden is one of the city’s parks - a green space in the middle of Jo'burgs northern suburbs about 6 kilometres from the city centre - with over 30 000 trees, a large rose garden, the site of over 4 500 varieties, and a space through which Jo’burgers can stroll and meet to relax for picnics and play with children.
The Johannesburg Botanic Garden has one of the finest plant collections in the world that include indigenous trees and succulents, and its herb garden contains a surprising collection of traditional African medicinal herbs, culinary, medicinal and cosmetic herbs.
The gardens are used by many Gauteng weddings for capturing those special moments and has now opened its own wedding venue, the chapel Garden - specially revamped to provide a sumptuous setting for wedding photographs.
Summer Sunset Concerts have proven to bring the crowds to the Johannesburg Botanic Gardens and have been touted as a ‘weekly humdinger of a party’, featuring a variety of local and international artists in similar style to the summer concerts held at Kirstenbosch in Cape Town.
