Garden sights in Africa
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Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Covering over 500 hectares of Table Mountain, overlooking False Bay and the Cape Flats, these beautiful landscaped gardens merge almost imperceptibly with the surrounding natural fynbos (fine bush) vegetation. The gardens were established by Jan van Riebeeck, who appointed a forester in 1657.
A group of shipwrecked French refugees on their way to Madagascar was employed during 1660 to plant the famous wild almond hedge as the boundary of the Dutch outpost (it’s still here). Van Riebeeck called his private farm Boschheuwel, and most likely it wasn’t until the 1700s, when the gardens were managed by JF Kirsten, that they got the name Kirstenbosch. Apart from the almond…
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Company’s Gardens
What started as the vegetable patch for the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC, or Dutch East India Company) is now a shady green escape in the heart of the city. The surviving 6 hectares of Jan van Riebeeck’s original 18-hectare garden are found around Government Ave, with gates next to the National Library of South African and off both Museum and Queen Victoria Sts.
As the VOC’s sources of supply diversified, the grounds became a superb pleasure garden, planted with a fine collection of botanical specimens from South Africa and the rest of the world, including frangipanis, African flame trees, aloes and roses.
The squirrels that scamper here were imported to…
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Palmeraie
Tozeur's palmeraie is the second-largest in the country with at least 200,000 palm trees (locals claim twice that number) spread over an area of more than 10 sq km. It's a classic example of tiered oasis agriculture. The system is watered by more than 200 springs that produce almost 60 million litres of water a day, distributed around the various holdings under a complex system devised by the mathematician Ibn Chabbat in the 13th century AD.
The best way to explore the palmeraie is on foot. Take the road that runs south off ave Abdulkacem Chebbi next to the Hôtel Continental and follow the signs to the Zoo du Paradis. After about 500m the road passes the old quarter of…
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Koutoubia Minaret
When the present mosque and its iconic Moorish minaret were finished by Almohad Sultan Yacoub el-Mansour in the 12th century, 100 booksellers were clustered around its base - hence the name Koutoubia, meaning 'booksellers'. In the recently refurbished gardens outside the mosque, you might still notice a recent excavation that confirmed a longstanding Marrakshi legend.
The pious Almohads were apparently distressed to discover that their lax Almoravid predecessors had built a mosque that wasn't properly aligned with Mecca, and razed the place to build another. Atop the minaret are three golden balls made of copper. The originals were reputedly real gold donated by the…
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Aburi Botanic Gardens
Just beyond the town of Aburi, the Aburi Botanic Gardens provide a welcome getaway from Accra's bustle. The gardens are well maintained and teem with exotic plant life from around the world. Two tall Brazilian 'monkey pot' trees are supposedly able to trap our tree-swinging ancestors - not that Aburi has too many wild monkeys to worry about.
The oldest tree is an approximately 150-year-old kapok facing the park's beautiful headquarters building. It's the only one the British didn't cut down when they were planting the gardens, which opened in 1890. The gardens are perched on a ridge 32km (20mi) north of Accra.
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Dunas de Maspalomas
In 1994 the fabulous Dunas de Maspalomas were designated a national park. The best view of them is from the bottom of Avenida Tirjana. Stroll through the arches of the Hotel Riu Palace Maspalomas to the balcony, which is surrounded by a botanical garden displaying many shrubs and plants endemic to the Canaries. There is a small information office here with sporadic opening hours.
Although the dunes look too pristine to blight with footprints, you can walk on the sand, but do respect the signs and keep to the designated trails. Alternatively, you can go the full Sahara and opt for a camel trip.
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Ferme de Djibelor
Heading 5km west out of town, you can walk through the vast greenness of the Ferme de Djibelor, which has a large, tropical fruit and flower garden to enjoy (and from which to purchase fresh produce).
It also has a rather bizarre crocodile farm at the back, where you can get close to Nile crocs in all ages and sizes - from tiny babies to 'granddads', though knowing that they're kept to be one day slaughtered for their meat and skin spoils the fun a little (the crocodile products from the farm can be exported legally, as they're not taken from wild animals).
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Ramparts
In the 12th century, the Almoravids wrapped the Medina snugly in 19km of mud brick 5m tall, so that the city doubled as a fortress. But this didn't keep out the Almohads, who considered their predecessors irredeemably corrupt and razed the city, leaving almost no trace of their 85-year rule except for these ramparts. Today the ramparts are for lovers, not fighters, with couples patrolling the rampart gardens at sunset. Calèches (horse-drawn carriages) are available near the Djemaa el-Fna.
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American Embassy Memorial Garden
The well-tended walled American Embassy Memorial Garden occupies the former site of the American Embassy, which was destroyed by the terrorist bombings of 1998. It's a lovely little spot despite being right between Moi and Haile Selassie Aves; the entrance fee pays for maintenance and keeps out any undesirables, but also puts it beyond the reach of many ordinary Kenyans, provoking some understandable anger among locals.
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Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens is a 20-hectare garden with one of the rarest cycads, Encephalartos woodii, as well as many species of bromeliad, and is a pleasant place to wander. On weekends local bridal parties galore pose with their petals for the photographers. The gardens play host to an annual concert series featuring the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and other concerts.
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Palmeraie
The Palmeraie at Beni Isguen is probably the best in the M'Zab. It stretches for a couple of kilometres behind the town. The gardens here are green havens, veritable gardens of Eden. They are difficult to see properly, however, as they are mostly behind high walls. Once behind the wall, the contrast is vivid - you'll find every kind of fruit here, from grapes and figs to bananas and dates.
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Garden of the Stelae
Garden of the Stelae is a garden containing a rather forlorn little sphinx from the time of Ramses II. You need permission from the museum to visit the garden, but you are able to see the unremarkable statue from the street. The attractive grounds of the majestic residence between the garden and the museum belong to the head of the Suez Canal Authority and are off limits to the public.
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Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo
About 9km southwest of the city, just before the village of Tafira Alta, this vast botanical garden - Spain's largest, encompassing 27 hectares - hosts a broad range of Macronesian flora from all seven Canary Islands, including many species on the verge of extinction.
Buses 301, 302 and 303 all pass by the garden's upper entrance. By car, take the C-811 road from Las Palmas.
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Jardín de las Hespérides
Northwest of Aruca, on the road to Bañaderos, the Jardín de las Hespérides botanical garden is owned by the Marquésa de Arucas. Lushly planted with more than 2500 different plants, trees and cacti, there are ponds, places to sit and a greenhouse with banana trees. The admission fee includes a detailed guide identifying the plants on display.
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Ain Bishay
The Roman spring of Ain Bishay bubbles forth from a hillock on the northwest edge of town. It has been developed into an irrigated grove of date palms together with citrus, olive, apricot and carob trees, and is a cool haven amid the arid landscape. Several families tend the crops here; you should seek someone out and ask permission before wandering around.
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Bou Jeloud Gardens
Fassis were overjoyed when Moulay Hassan opened these 18th-century gardens (also known as Jnane Sbil) to the public in the 19th century. They have flocked here ever since to admire the ornamental plantings, relax under perfumed orange trees and wander along the banks of tributaries of the Oued Fez. The gardens were being renovated at the time of research.
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Palmeraie
Down towards the Palmeraie, along the road to the camp site, the old section of town is a maze of dusty alleys and ochre houses. The palmeraie itself is cool and shady, and the individual plots are divided by mud-brick walls. Enter by the road which leads from the main roundabout down past the high school to the camp site and Hôtel Gourara.
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Agdal Gardens
Moroccan sultans have greeted dignitaries here for eight centuries, among fragrant fruit and olive orchards and reflecting pools stocked with psychic carp that sense you and your bread crusts coming. The gardens still serve ceremonial purposes, so they're only open weekends and when the king isn't in residence.
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Formal Gardens
North of Midan Saad Zaghloul on the banks of the Nile two lush Formal Gardens have outdoor cafés where local families and young couples partake of tea and sheesha. Below the gardens, the pedestrian corniche (admission around £E2) is lively in the evenings.
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Jardin Public
If the locals aren't to be found promenading down Ave Hassan II or colonising the terraces at Assouan or Blue Babel, they'll probably be in this manicured public garden close to the Central Market. There's a café, small waterfall, shady trees and plenty of seating.
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National Botanic Gardens
The 58-hectare National Botanic Gardens contain examples of the diverse flowers and greenery that thrive in Harare's pleasant climate. Most Zimbabwean species are also represented, as well as specimens from Southern Africa. It's a great place to spend the day.
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Cotton Tree
The massive Cotton Tree, perhaps 500 years old, in the heart of town, is the city's principal landmark. Thousands of bats fly out en masse at dusk and return in the morning. This beloved tree casts its shadow on the Sierra Leone National Museum.
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KwaZulu Natal National Botanical Garden
KwaZulu Natal National Botanical Garden, 2km west of the train station on the continuation of Hoosen Haffejee St and spread over 42 hectares, has exotic species and a garden of indigenous mist-belt flora.
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Kisanto Botanical Gardens
The botanical gardens in Kisanto are worth a visit. With a collection of 100-year-old trees from all over the world, and gentle rivers in which to swim, Kisanto makes a pleasant break for travel (and world) weary souls.
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Jardínes del Marquesado de la Quinta Roja
On the plaza is the 19th-century Jardínes del Marquesado de la Quinta Roja , a series of orderly, French-influenced flower gardens cascading down the hillside, crowned by a small 18th-century marble temple.
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