A not so wintry day at Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden

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It is supposed to be mid-winter in South Africa, but with daytime temperatures in the comfortable low 20’s centigrade recently, we just couldn’t pass on the opportunity to visit the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Johannesburg again this past Sunday. We enjoyed a lovely day walking and picnicking with good friends, soaking up the glorious sunshine under a cloudless sky, and of course our cameras went along!

Even in winter the garden is a feast for the eyes, and especially the winter-blooming aloes and carpets of daisies are a sight to behold. You are seldom far from water anywhere in the garden, with the Crocodile River flowing serenely through it and the Witpoortjie Falls being the focal point for all visitors to the gardens.

Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid gardens at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Bee on succulent flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Splendid flowers at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Yellow Pansy
Leopard Tortoise
Leopard Tortoise

Anyone with a love for or interest in birds, especially photographers, will really find a visit to the gardens worth their while. Apart from the highly visible nesting pair of Verreaux’s Eagles, the garden absolutely abounds with birdlife, even now in winter when so many of the summer migrants have departed for warmer climes. The hide at the Sasol Dam in a quieter corner of the garden must surely rank as one of the best facilities of its kind in the country in terms of the variety and quality of sightings on offer.

African Black Duck
Amethyst Sunbird
Blacksmith Lapwing
Bronze Mannikin juvenile
Cape Robin-chat
Cape Sparrow male
Common Moorhen
Dark-capped Bulbul
Egyptian Goose
Green-backed Heron
Grey Heron
Hadeda
Hamerkop
Kurrichane Thrush
Laughing Dove
Pied Kingfisher
Red Bishop female
Red-eyed Dove
Reed Cormorant
African Sacred Ibis
African Sacred Ibis
Southern Boubou
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Verreaux’s Eagles at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens
African Wattled Lapwing

If you’d like to know more about the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens, have a look at our post about our visit in November 2014 or visit their website.

 

30 thoughts on “A not so wintry day at Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden”

  9. John

    Amazing pictures, Dries! 🙂 It´s a wonderful place you live in. I love the waterfall and your picture of the beautiful birds, especially the hamercop that you shot so good!

    Liked by 1 person

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