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Johannesburg Botanical Gardens main entrance by Hentie Joubert from
Top 10 Incredible Facts about Johannesburg Botanical Gardens & Emmarentia Dam
Johannesburg Botanical Gardens is rightly called a vital green lung of Jo’burg. This public space is dedicated to nature evident in its various gardens. The gardens consist of bunches of indigenous and exotic roses, herbs, different woods, succulents, and hedges to name a few.
The Botanical Gardens are among the youngest in South Africa. The area residents consider the landmark one of the best passive recreation facilities in the city according to a 2004 vote by the locals. Hence, often you spot runners, picnickers, and dog walkers.
This zone hosts occasional concert season and kite-flying competitions. It overlooks the Emmarentia Dam where you can observe canoeists and boaters having a field day.
This park is in a convenient location, within the city limits of the northern suburbs. About 6 kilometers from the city center. Thus many Gauteng weddings are held on the property. Complemented by its picturesque nature, it makes a perfect backdrop to capture any special day events.
Here are the Top 10 surprising truths about Johannesburg Botanical Gardens & Emmarentia Dam.
1. Johannesburg Botanical Gardens covers 81 hectares
Johannesburg Botanical Gardens by NJR from
This perfectly trimmed grass, towering trees, and marshlands are in the Emmarentia suburb in South Africa鈥檚 Johannesburg city. The gardens were given about 81 hectares at the stage of mapping out the area.
2. Johannesburg Botanical Gardens was a sports field
The present-day large and grassy open spaces scattered with trees are thanks to a successful seed exchange program. The strategy is conducted by the institution in partnership with over 300 other gardens across the globe.
The project aims at preserving threatened tree species from extinction. As well as increasing the garden鈥檚 variety to include a world representation of different variants. Before the area became a garden, it served as a sports field and golf driving range. It lay bare with no trees at the time.
3. Land for the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens was set aside in 1969
Witwatersrand National Botanical Gardens by Chris Eason from
Though there had been pleas as early as the 1920s for a botanic garden in Johannesburg, the idea fruited in 1969. Throughout the years Joburg remained the only city among important world cities without a botanical garden.
On 19 November 1968 relief came through the director of the parks and recreation department at the time. He tabled a report to the management committee of the Johannesburg city council.
The proposal detailed the feasibility of putting up a botanical garden. The council agreed to issue 81 hectares of land in the Jan van Riebeeck Park in 1969. This elevated the pride of the city but it happened after the excitement of 19th-century botanical gardens had waned.
4. Emmarentia Dam preceded the Botanical Gardens
The area occupied by the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens & Emmarentia Dam was part of the Braamfontein Farm from the 1850s. Louw Geldenhuys who was a farmer bought a piece of the farm and called it Emmarentia. He named it after the woman he married in 1887.
After the Anglo-Boer War in 1902, many farmers returned home landless so Geldenhuys hired them to construct the dam. Around 1939 the 7,5hacteres dam was built. The botanical gardens came later in the 1960s.
5. Johannesburg Botanical Gardens are organized in themes
There are several gardens on this site and each relates to a particular theme. The Chapel Garden for instance is an affordable wedding venue with an altar, benches, and footpaths. The indigenous flowers and trees complete the ambiance for a wedding setup.
Shakespeare Garden is another attraction filled with herbs that Shakespeare referenced in his plays. All plants have labels and include a quote that refers to individual plants. Every year there’s a Shakespeare festival held in the garden’s amphitheater. The ceremony involves music, comedy, and other arts in commemoration of Bard鈥檚 birthday.
The Rose Garden has sloping terraces with over 10000 roses. The Herb Garden is home to an array of herbs like cosmetic, medicinal, culinary, oil-yielding, and dye-producing herbs.
There are over 50 types of hedges in the Hedge Garden. Some require trimming while others grow in free form. The Arboretum provides a view of woods from different parts of the earth like Californian Redwoods and Spain鈥檚 cork oaks.
A desert feel is in the Succulent Garden. It opened in 2006 and has over the years generated over 80 species of succulent plants. Its design of a dry river bed and the use of silica sand gives the imagination of a desert environment.
6. Emmarentia Dam is 20 metres deep
Emmerentia Dam at Johannesburg Botanical Gardens by NJR from
The dam鈥檚 wall was constructed with blocks fitted together from the nearby Melville Koppies. The center of the dam has a depth of 20 meters.
7. The Dam is fed by the Westdene Spruit
Emmarentia Dam receives water from the Westdene Spruit catchment. This water source covers the Westdene suburb area on the south side of the dam.
The stream beside the Parkview Golf Course at some point led its water into the dam through a furrow. But the cleft is no longer existent so surrounding roads drain their stormwater into the dam.
8. Emmarentia Dam is clean for swimming
Emmerentia Dam at Johannesburg Botanical Gardens by Alandmanson from
There are plenty of water recreational activities you can engage in at the Emmarentia Dam. Water sports such as sailing, canoeing, and swimming are a few of the fun undertakings available at the dam because of the clean nature of the water supply.
9. The botanical park has vigilant security
Top-notch security is available within and around the park to ensure visitors enjoy their trip. Besides the fence that goes around the park, the entrance gates have security guards at all times.
10. There are several designated parking areas in the gardens
With the availability of ample parking space, the main parking area stands out. The entire place where this parking sits was excavated and the soil was used to create a berm. Thus, acts as a barrier, concealing the parking zone whether looking from within or outside the garden grounds.
Explore the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens & Emmarentia Dam on your preferred route. You have the choice of either long or shorter passages.
Make use of the map available at the offices in the garden. It lists all key highlights on this site. The best part is that all pathways have unique designs that allow you to visit all parts of the garden without having to backtrack.
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