What to do & see

Tours | Guided Programmes

Guided Tours

A group guided tour can be arranged through the Durban Botanic Gardens Education Office. Prior booking is essential and a fee will apply.

There are a variety of themed walks available. Click here to find out more.

Guided School Programmes

There are a variety of curriculum based schools programmes / tours that can be arranged through the Education Centre. Click here to find out more.

Guided Golf Cart Tours

Take a 30 or 60 minute golf cart tour of the Gardens with a professional guide.

• Very informative and educational way to experience the Gardens
• Suitable for all ages, discounted rates offered for children and pensioners
• A percentage of the proceeds go towards the Durban Botanic Gardens Trust
• Available Monday to Sunday, 08h00 – 16h00
• To avoid disappointment please book: Natasha 074 028 6936 or natashadadoo@yahoo.com

Top attractions

Orchid House

• Ernest Thorpe (a curator of the Gardens 1950-1975) was the main driving force behind starting the Gardens orchid collection and the Ernest Thorpe Orchid House was named in his honour in 1962.
• The orchid collection comprises over 8 000 plants in more than 75 natural and man-made genera, which are grown in large shaded nursery houses.
• Only orchids that are in flower are displayed to the public in the Orchid House. Both indigenous and exotic orchids are displayed.
• The orchid collection is curated by a specialist which is funded by the Durban Botanic Gardens Trust.
• To find out more about our orchid collection click here.

Sunken Garden

• The Sunken Garden is one of the most romantic spots in the Gardens. The garden is mainly for the display of annuals, but perennials are also featured.
• The establishment of this classic English style garden dates back to 1934.
• Constructed by a group called the “Old Man’s Gang” who were unemployed voluntary workers and victims of the Great Depression.

Butterfly Habitat Garden

• The Butterfly Habitat Garden is a new concept conceived with the aim of bringing awareness to the general public and scholars about the local butterfly population of KwaZulu-Natal, in particular around Durban.
• The Butterfly Habitat Garden is an open garden that has been purposefully landscaped around a dome-like structure. The plant species have been specifically selected to attract both butterflies and caterpillars, thus creating a mini ecosystem in which butterflies can thrive.
• To find out more about the history of the dome and the Butterfly Habitat Garden click here.

Lake area

• The Lake area is a popular spot to relax and admire the birdlife.
• It was discovered quite by accident after an old tree stump was removed and the cavity filled up with water.
• The Lake is fed by a natural spring and is home to many aquatic bird species.

Cycad collection

• The Cycad collection is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest in terms of size and age of specimens, the number of plants and diversity of the collection. The central core of the collection consists of an extensive representation of the African cycad genus, Encephalartos, and this is complimented by a selected range of exotic cycads.
• The Durban Botanic Gardens has been curating one of the rarest cycads in the world since 1848, namely Wood’s Cycad (Encephelartos woodii) which can be found growing happily near the old reservoir at the top of the Gardens.

Heritage Trees

• The Durban Botanic Gardens is home to some grand old trees that form part of the heritage landscape of the Gardens and many are over 100 years old. Some of these heritage trees include the jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) which is the oldest in the country, having been planted in 1885, and the Lychee (Litchi chinensis) near the Sunken Garden which was planted in 1880.