The Pretoria National Botanical Garden in Brummeria holds 50 hectares of indigenous South African flora, from the arid succulent Karoo to the lush subtropics of KwaZulu-Natal, all growing within one site. The garden was established in 1946 and today maintains a living collection of around 5,000 plant species, with a particular focus on species threatened in the wild.
The cycad collection is one of the best in the world — many species here are effectively extinct in the wild. The aloe koppie is spectacular in winter (June–August) when dozens of aloe species are in bloom. The garden is large enough to feel genuinely wild in places, and the bird life attracted by the indigenous plantings is excellent — over 230 species have been recorded. A restaurant overlooks the lawns. Weekends bring local families and photographers.