Following the resounding success of its inaugural edition, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is proud to announce the return of National Gardens Week, taking place from 9 to 15 March 2026.
This year, SANBI will offer free access to South Africans and residents to its national botanical and zoological gardens to showcase some of the lesser-known gardens.
Kirstenbosch, Walter Sisulu, Pretoria National Botanical Gardens, and the Pretoria Zoo National Zoological Garden will offer free entry for South African citizens and residents.
This year, the celebration returns with a renewed invitation to explore South Africa’s extraordinary biodiversity under the theme: “Your free passport to nature: celebrate, restore, and protect all life.”
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden - nature, culture, and music under the mountain
Set against the iconic eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden remains a firm favourite for local and international visitors alike. During National Gardens Week, weekday visitors can enjoy free access to explore the celebrated Boomslang treetop walkway, ancient cycads, proteas, and world-renowned fynbos displays. The garden’s broader visitor experience, including the ongoing Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts, continues to add cultural vibrancy to the setting throughout March.
Visitors are also encouraged to connect more deeply with indigenous plants through Happy by Nature, an indigenous nursery and botanical studio based at Kirstenbosch. As part of National Gardens Week, Happy by Nature will offer 5 per cent off all indigenous plants from 9 to 13 March (not valid in conjunction with other offers). Secondly, there will be a free five-minute talk on indigenous plants on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 11:00 and 14:00, offering practical guidance on choosing, growing, and caring for plants that support local biodiversity.
In addition, the Kirstenbosch Gift Shop will host an end-of-range and seasonal clearance sale with discounts of up to 50 per cent, while the Kirstenbosch Bookshop will offer 15 per cent off selected books, available in-store only.
South Africa third most biodiverse country in the world
As the third most biodiverse country in the world, South Africa is home to over 95,000 known species, many of which are found nowhere else. National Gardens Week offers an opportunity for South Africans of all ages and backgrounds to experience this natural wealth first-hand, while learning why biodiversity conservation matters for our wellbeing, livelihoods, and future generations.
National Gardens Week 2026 builds on the momentum of last year’s debut, which saw more than 126,000 South Africans step into SANBI’s 11 national botanical and two zoological gardens to reconnect with nature, families, and local communities.
WHAT: National Gardens Week
WHERE: SANBI national botanical and zoological gardens | Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town 7700
WHEN: 9 to 15 March 2026
INFO: South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) VISIT see also Free Entry at SANBI | Kirstenbosch VISIT | see also MapMyWay
