Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden — Sculpture of Walter Sisulu at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens (WSNBG), located in Roodepoort Johannesburg, is an incredibly beautiful garden filled with indigenous gardening inspiration. The nature reserve covers over 300 hectares and was established in 1982. While there are several hikes and trails through the reserve the 25 hectares that are cultivated as gardens gives one ample opportunity to explore this botanical beauty. A highlight of visiting this garden is the beautiful Witpoortjie Waterfall which cascades into a calm stream that meanders through the gardens.

History

In the later 1800s the nearest stop for people to visit the gardens was the railway station in Krugersdorp named Witpoortjie Railway Station, which is believed to be where the waterfall received its name. The gardens were first known as the Transvaal National Botanic Garden and could only be visited by special arrangement. In 1987 it was opened to the public daily as the Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden. In March 2004 it was renamed the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in honour of the late ANC stalwart Mr Walter Sisulu (1912-2003). Walter Sisulu is best known for leading the struggle for a democratic South Africa together with former president Nelson Mandela. (SANBI)

Upon entering the WSNBG one is welcomed by circular stone clad walls surrounding a water feature and statue of Walter Sisulu. We visited in December when they had festive light displays and you could visit the garden in the evening to see the Christmas lights. They often have other events and festivals which are popular and well attended.

Gardens

Following the path past the concert lawn you will be enticed to explore several planted areas off the main path including the Geological Garden, People’s Plants Garden and the Succulent Rockery. The Geological Garden has some interesting and beautiful rocks on display. In the Succulent Rockery you will find many different types of succulents. with stone pathways meandering its way through. Throughout the garden there are information boards with explanations to learn from. The Waterwise Garden also has educational information on how to conserve water in your garden.

Restaurant

If you continue on the main path you will arrive at the restaurant on your left and children’s play area on your right and if you carry on further you will reach the waterfall area. The restaurant has a tea garden where you can sit and relax and this venue can also be hired for functions. This is a lovely place for a picnic below the large trees.

Waterfall

The Witpoortjie Waterfall is a natural waterfall fed by springs upstream and is 70m high. It is regarded as the source of the Crocodile River which flows into Hartebeespoort Dam. Picnicking on the lawn at the waterfall is not allowed because of the high foot traffic in this area. A remarkable Olinia emarginata (Mountain Hard Pear) is in the centre of the lawn and although struck by lightning several years ago it is still alive and being supported to prevent it from falling over.

Birdlife

Over 240 bird species have been recorded in the gardens and it is a renowned breeding spot for Verreaux's Eagles (formerly known as Black Eagles) and popular with birding enthusiasts. The bird list can be requested from sisulugarden@sanbi.org.za

Vegetation

The Garden consists of three main natural vegetation types: Northern Afrotemperate Forest, Egoli Granite Grassland and Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld. This variety of habitats includes over 600 naturally occurring plant species. There are incredible specimens of trees throughout the garden and some impressive examples of Celtis africana and Combretum erythrophyllum can be seen along the Forest Walk that follows the Crocodile River running through the reserve.

If you are interested in indigenous gardening (and I hope you are!) then you will not leave this garden without learning something new or seeing something inspiring. There is always something new to discover.

Visiting the Gardens

The garden is open every day from 08h00 to 17h00.

Remember that there are no bins and you need to take everything that you bring home with you again and No Cash Payments are accepted.

Read more about other Botanical Gardens:

SANBI Website - Walter Sisulu - SANBI

Beautiful *Buddleja saligna* (False Olive) in flower

Beautiful Autumn Colours at Emmarentia Dam

Most people know the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens as ‘Emmarentia’ and think of it more as a Park than a Botanical Gardens. I certainly was not aware of the behind the scenes operations of this green space – there are greenhouses, a herbarium, administration offices, and a compost site all hidden from view to the average user.

Recreation

Emmarentia is a beautiful, well loved park in the heart of Johannesburg. You will find people of every age and culture enjoying this green space – runners, cyclists, families with kids riding bikes or feeding the ducks (actually Egyptian Geese but most people call them ducks), young adults picnicking, yoga on boards on the dam, people searching for Pokemon, bridal parties taking photos in the rose gardens, dog walkers, Frisbee or volleyball players, market goers (The Linden Market is held here once a quarter), and music lovers (the park is also a venue for several concerts including Joburg Day).

Maintenance

Lindelani Nwedo from Johannesburg City Parks, in charge of operations and maintenance at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, explained that the Park has 14 full time employees (I thought it would have been much more!) but makes use of co-operatives such as Jozi at Work together with EPWP for additional manpower to tackle the enormous task of maintaining the 81 hectare park. There are six shed houses that contain mother plants so that all plants in the Gardens can be replaced should they be lost due to fire, flood or drought. The nurserymen who grow the plants in the sheds have green fingers and although the plants are not for sale to the public they are often donated to schools or used for environmental education. Rare or special plants are also exhibited at certain show days such as the Succulent, Horticultural or Bonsai Societies Shows.

Alien invasive control is an important part of the Park’s maintenance programme although the task is often too great for the maintenance team. The Emmarentia Residents Association provides assistance where possible and on 20 October 2018 almost 100 people were involved in removing poisoned invasive alien plants, clearing a clogged dam and cleaning up litter.

Succulents housed in Greenhouses - viewing by prior arrangement with JHB City Parks

History

I was interested to learn more about the Park and its surrounding suburb’s history from a book written by Lucille Davie called “A Journey through Johannesburg’s Parks, Cemeteries and Zoo”, published by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo. Here are some insights from the book: “The botanical garden was originally part of the large farm, Braamfontein, named after the Spruit running through the area. The farm belonged to Gerrit Bezuidenhout, one of the first Boer farmers in the area, who received the title deeds in 1858. The farm was sub-divided several times and the Eastern part bought for £4500 by Lourens Geldenhuys in 1886, the year the main gold reef was discovered in Johannesburg. Lourens had three sons, namely Frans, Dirk and Louw. Frans and Louw divided the farm in two, the division running along the present day Orange Road. The each built themselves a farmhouse, both of which still exist, while Dirk went farming at Ermelo. Frans married Judith Grobbelaar and built what is now Marks Park Sports Clubhouse. She gives her name to Judith Road in Emmarentia, while Louw’s wife, Emmarentia Botha, gave her name to the suburb. Over the years Louw sold portions of his farm, which became the suburbs of Melville, Richmond, Braamfontein, Parkview, Forest Town, Westdene, Parkhurst and Parktown. Louw gave to the community in several ways: he founded the Langlaagte Kindertehuis for Boer War orphans in 1902 (now the Abraham Kriel Maria Kloppers Kinderhuis), founded the Braamfontein Government School (present day Louw Geldenhuys School) allowed Boers returning from the was to settle on his land paying some of their profits to him in exchange for land, and he was also actively involved in politics.

The Dabulamanzi Canoe Club is situated on the opposite side of Emmarentia Dam. The clubhouse was built in 2004 and has an active membership from recreational paddlers to world champions. The club has a development programme in the form of the Soweto Canoe Recreation Club which is beautifully captured in the film “Beyond the River”.

The Park consists of some 8000 trees, large lawn areas and a network of pathways that connect the various themed spaces. There is a Shakespeare Garden containing herbs referred to by Shakespeare in his plays; the Chapel Garden where bridal couples can take their vows; the Western Walk; the Herb Garden filled with traditional culinary herbs as well as African medicinal herbs; the Succulent Garden that was established in 2006 and contains Aloes, Cactuses and Pelargoniums; and the firm favourite by hundreds of visitors every weekend - the Rose Garden - laid out in 1964 and planted with over 3000 roses in several terraces.

Certainly this Park has so much to offer and gives one a break from busy city life and is dearly loved by all those that frequent it. I know my daughters particularly love the soft serve that can be bought at the kiosk and enjoyed in the children’s play area.

More Information:

Davie, L. (2014) “A Journey through Johannesburg’s Parks, Cemeteries and Zoo”, published by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo

JHB City Parks Link - http://www.jhbcityparks.com/index.php/2015-04-29-12-30-27/find-a-park-contents-64?task=view&id=123

Emmarentia Residents Association - http://era.org.za/

Dabulamanzi Canoe Club - http://dabulamanzi.co.za/

The Linden Market - https://thelindenmarket.com/

Joburg Day - http://www.947.co.za/joburgday/