Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden

02/09/2026

The wild olive, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, is indigenous to our area and is one of the 2026 Trees of the Year. The posters are available for download from the SANBI Bookshop page on the SANBI website (https://www.sanbi.org/gardens/pretoria/sanbi-bookshop/)

01/09/2026

31/08/2026

27/08/2026

Yesterday our garden had the privilege of hosting the SANBI board. Thabang Makola, acting Garden Manager, took them on a guided tour of the garden. All staff also had the opportunity to interact with them and share what we do.

18/08/2026

There’s something really lovely about learning something you genuinely didn’t know and suddenly looking at the world around you a little differently.

That’s what SANBI does so well.

You see one of their posts, stop for a second and think, “Wait… really?” Like learning that bats are actually more closely related to dogs, cats and whales than they are to rodents. Who knew?

It might seem like a tiny thing, but those little moments of curiosity matter. Because the more we understand the incredible plants, animals and ecosystems around us, the more we care about protecting them.

And in a country as ridiculously rich in biodiversity as South Africa, we reckon that’s pretty important.

Link to the full story here: https://www.goodthingsguy.com/organisation-turning-biodiversity-science-facts/

17/08/2026

The common tentfig, Ruschia caroli, flowering in the natural area of the garden.

06/08/2026

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲
The Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden proudly congratulates our participants who have successfully completed their one-year contract under the Forestry and Greening Programme. Throughout the programme, participants gained valuable practical experience and developed a range of horticultural and environmental management skills that will support their future careers. Their training included general nursery maintenance, plant propagation, pest and disease identification and management, plant identification, soil sieving, and maintaining estate trails and firebreaks. Their commitment, dedication, hard work, and willingness to learn have made a positive contribution to the garden during their time with us.

We extend our sincere thanks and congratulations to:
• Vuayni Mbuso Baxa
• Shaun Mgoboza
• Portia Mantanta
• Gift Kowa

We thank each staff member at the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, especially the Plant Production Nursery team, for making special efforts to impart their valuable experience, knowledge and skills to the participants. We wish them every success and are confident that the knowledge and experience gained at the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden will serve as a strong foundation for their future as they embark on the next chapter of their journeys.

Congratulations on this important milestone, and best wishes for a bright and successful future!