Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

The Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden is one of the great escapes of Johannesburg. The gardens are nestled in Roodepoort, Gauteng, which  is a haven for birds and a popular picnic spot for Gautengers. In recent years, there is an urban development on this beautiful garden, set against the backdrop of the magnificent Witpoortjie waterfall. However is still the home of a breeding pair of Verreaux’s Eagles that nest in the cliffs alongside the waterfall and no visit is complete until they have been sited.

Most of the tourists come to the garden with telephoto lenses and tripod stands in an effort to capture the beautiful birds, and sit for hours until they appear. Over 600 plant species and 220 bird species, as well as a number of reptile and small mammals such as antelope and jackal, occur naturally in the Nature Reserve and there are several wonderful walks through the garden and a trail up alongside the waterfall for the not so faint hearted.

There are guided tours along the Roodekrans Ridge and through the Nature Reserve part of the garden, and the dam and wetland area with its bird hide alone is worth the visit, particularly at sundown just before the gates close. The gardens are also dotted with shaded lawn, where visitors can relax and have picnic. The gardens have adopted a ‘carry-in carry-out’ litter policy that means you take home any rubbish with you, and an outcomes-based schools’ environmental education programme that caters for school groups in the garden.

There is also a wonderful nursery, a gift and book shop and a restaurant; and over Christmas and on selected weekends, the grounds play host to sundowner concerts. But the star of the show is the garden itself with a succulent rockery, a cycad garden, the water garden with water-loving.