Harold Porter National Botanical Garden in Swellendam

Peace and tranquility to be found with exceptionally well kept hiking trails, landscaped gardens with fynbos covered mountains and beautiful views over Bettys Bay.

One of the most beautiful botanical gardens in SA. Small but so beautiful and artfully laid out. Lovely hiking routes ranging from easy to very challenging. Glad the restaurant is functioning again.

Beautifull park with a couple of trials, there is a small cafe where you can get a cup of coffee.Wild babboons and amazing nature.Entrance is zar 40 wich is very cheap for what you get! Definetly a must go if youre in town.

While on holiday we visited the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens 🍃🍂🌳🌱🌺🌷🌸What a beautiful Garden with its Majestic Mountains surrounding absolutely breathtaking! theres various walking trails and theres a hiking trail. The gardens are lush and green and there is an array of different plants. Rivers run through the garden. You pay at the entrance. There is a pop up coffee shop and restrooms . The entire place is so serene, tranquil and peaceful. Nature at its Best! Very refreshing just to walk through and see Gods Glorious Work. We will definitely visit soon again❤Thank you H.P

One of the best trails ive ever done. Will be returning soon.

We had a great hike up to the waterfall! So beautiful

It was fantastic. Well kept gardens, paths clear directions posted at the nature trails. Beautiful fynbos. Wonderful birding spot.

Must go back and take photos from hiking the berg and also from the magestic waterfall. You will learn every botanical plant 🌿 in South Africa and more, they are grouped in gardens.... and also historical learning points dotted all around the place.

This place deserves more recognition. It is excellent with several hikes available for different levels of fitness. Really a hidden gem! Only drawback is the lack of a proper restaurant, you can buy take-away coffee but not much else. The restaurant area has so much potential and is very under-utilised. Such a pity. But from a botanical perspective, well worth the effort to stop there. Go and take the hike up to the waterfall - spectacular!

loved it !small but well designed. near mountain, nice variety of plants. bushman history. good restaurant. very clean and organised

Garden nice & beautiful. Trails kept in good condition. Clearly marked signage. Waterfall is a must see. Nursery sell Fynbos & Indidiuos plants. Entrance fee is really affordable.

Amazing hidden gem !!! Fantastic scenery, easy walks and the allow picnics 🤩

The absolute beauty of Fynbos is a discovery that every South African must venture out on. This national treasure is testimony to a phenomenal country with fauna and flora that will surprise you at best.

Beautiful, clean, well-kept! Absolutely loved walking through the gardens.Well done on maintaining the beauty and nature! I also loved the natural medicine garden. Well worth a visit to the beautiful garden

Beautiful!!! 4 settings in 1. Beautiful views from garden to ocean to mountain to waterfalls. Perfect picnic spots while learning about nature with a peaceful walk.

Beautiful, peaceful, lots of birds, well worth a visit!

Amazingly beautiful gardens and even more special as you have ocean views as well. Diffenitely a must visit.

Family hike up to Leopards Kloof waterfall with a few baboons along the way

Beautiful scenery with good walkways and trails for all fitness levels.

A great day out any time of the year. Gorgeous gardens, lovely walks, waterfalls, abundant bird life, entertaining baboons (but cant picnic as a result - best not to try - we have some experience with this).Leopard Kloof is lovely, especially after the rains...make sure to get a key from reception. Otherwise the Disa walk and waterfall is also worth the visit.

Lovely maintained. Best views of mountain and ocean

Beautiful gardens, untouched fynbos.So many trail options to choose from with plenty of escape routes of you need to get back earlier than planned

Public bathrooms along the forest walk are terrible. I couldnt take my daughter in there. Please sort this out as the gardens are amazing but clean bathrooms are a deal breaker, especially for people with young kids.

Fab views and fab service. The menu is to die for but why cant you have mixed mussels and hake chowder. Come on guys. Make it happen!

Wonderful place, full of natural beauty. A must for every nature lover in the Cape region.

A magnificent botanical garden to go visit. Lots of open space to roam around and it boasts 2 waterfall walks to go on. Very easy walks.It does get busy so I would go early in the morning. It can get slippery on the walks so make sure to wear proper shoes.

Beautiful quiet, well maintained gardens. Much smaller than Kirstenbosch gardens, but with sea views ! Also having paths to Disa Kloof and Leopards Kloof hikes

Beautiful botanical garden! Well maintained, friendly staff, great variety of walking trails. Love the fynbos!

Very beautiful. Did the Leopard kloof trail and Disa kloof trail which was beautiful and had stunning waterfalls. A very easy walk, dont have to be fit and trail was well marked. A key is needed to be able to walk Leopards kloof, which can be found at the pay point as you enter the botanical garden. Definitely worth going.

A botanical garden situated on the mountain slope with a view of the ocean.Absolutely spectacular featuring all the local fauna and flora , beautiful waterfalls with easy walking trails around the garden or hiking trails along the mountain slopes.A beautiful spot for families, and ideal for picnics. The restaurant and nursery are now open again after lockdown.Wheelchair accessibleNo dogs allowed due to the wildlife in gardens.Even on a windy day, this is still a great spot to visit

The most magnificent views and walking pathways, wear good walking comfy shoes. You wont be disappointed to go check it out. Only thing to be aware of, no real reasturant open on the premises only a pop up cafe with coffee an snacks (delicious but limited options i.e. muffins, sandwiches and coffee)

A magical experience for all!Reconnect with nature while strolling down the well layed out pathways with interesting facts about our indigenous fynbos,trees and other species.You can pack a picnic basket and relax next to a bubbling stream or order a small snack from the coffee shop.We loved walking to the soft-roaring waterfalls with their amber coloured moutain water.The more adventurous can opt for one of the hiking trails. You can even purchase one of your favourite fynbos species from their small nursery!

The Leopard’s Kloof trail start easily from the garden until you reach a beautiful wooden bridge to the left of the Harold Porter memorial. Once you’ve crossed the bridge, the trail starts with a slow but steady incline with some rocky bits, nothing strenuous. We loved how the views changed from big sky and mountains to more of a Tsitsikamma vibe once you reach the tree line. Don’t turn around when you’ve reached the first waterfall. There are a couple of sturdy wooden ladders that will take you to the crown jewel.We appreciate that they limit the number of people that can access trail at one time but would suggest that the route markings be touched up again.Remember your sunblock and a hat!

We thoroughly enjoyed our day at Harold Porter Bot Gardens! The gardens were very well kept and neat. We decided to go to the waterfall in the left of the Gardens. The walk is beautiful. It was disappointing to see that we could not go all the due to repairs on the bridge. This has been this way for quite sometime and could have been completed. Howeverb the scenary is stunning.

Mr Ebraim (Ebiehas was a great help and an amazing host. The experience was fantastic. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, Harold Porter Botanical Gardens is the place to visit.

Beautiful setting and what I appreciate is the maintenance of the garden. Looking forward to the opening of the new bridge on the Disa walk. I brought my sisters and it was their first.

Special place, so much to see, well worth the time. Allow time to take one or more of the scenic walks 🚶‍♀️

Wonderful botanical garden. Some nice trails and easy walking paths. Some paths are wheel chair friendly. Friendly staff. We definitely go back to do different trails to the waterfalls. Coffee was super!!

My second time here and still beautiful. Its an amazing place and easy hike. Anyone can do it. I love the waterfalls. What is also amazing is learning about the plants. Most of the plants have a plaque where it gives you name and also description of the plants use in medicine. Lastly the staff are so friendly and helpful.

This Place Has So Many Hidden Gems! The Mini Waterfall Was Probably A Sight I Never Thought Id Capture And Live Upto!The Trails Werent That Hard, And Quite Easy To Go Around With Regards To Intensity.The Maps Were Not Really Of Assistance, And The Trails Itself Isnt As Easy To Follow, I Wish They Have More Pinpoints.The Only Worry/Concern I Had Was The Baboons. They Appear To Be Quite Civilized But Haha Its Their Habitat.

What a lovely hidden gem, we honestly didnt know about the garden. We found it upon a Sunday afternoon drive, we were glad we stopped. The gardens were green and vibrant with birds, insects and yes baboons :-). We enjoyed our walk and will be back very soon.

BEAUTIFUL Botanical garden with endless views of the magnificent mountains. Magical gardens and thick green lawns for long lazy picnics. Garden benches on the pathways to just pause for a while. Well marked trails for exploring natures beauty.Remember to get a key at reception, if you want to do the Leopard trail.

Great gardens. Well maintained and excellent display of coastal fynbos. Pleasant staff.

Friendly staff and tour guides. Entry fee not expensive at all. Toilet area and restaurant very clean and tidy. Loved the milkshake I had (coffee milkshake highly recommended). Some loose rocks around so becareful for your step and so many trails so pick one and stick to it. Walking with the river leads you right to the waterfalls. Please continue to the 2nd one. Its such a wonderful and fun experience.

Take note: Currently all three hikes are closed on the date of my post. Various reasons for each, from covid to the fire a few years ago. Personally they are just lazy and its easier to keep the trails closed. Officially the ZigZag trail is also closed (forms part of the main 3), although quite difficult as its not completely fixed it can be done, but do so at your own risk. Ignoring the above, the park is quite beautifull and well maintaned. There is also a small shop where you can buy some cooldrinks and snacks after your walk.

Gorgeous, well maintained Gardens with interesting add on Fynbos and Leopard trail. perfect for picnic and Covid friendly outdoor activity with kids. It is best to call to enquire about whether the trails are open. Some are under construction (repairs after the big fireand some closed based on Covid regulations. There is also a small nursery selling well priced, indigenous plants.

A wonderful garden that contains some almost extinct species. Beautiful layout and gr8 walking trails. I suggest that you get there in time to do the free walking tour (sadly we missed itas otherwise there is a great deal that is missed. Also do visit the nursery. The plants are exceptionally well priced and a true investment in your garden.

Definitely one of our favourite National Botanical Gardens so far! We loved every bit of it. The walking trails are breathtakingly beautiful! You can purchase a map at reception at an additional cost. Gardens are well kept. Well worth a visit.

The gardens are very well labelled with interesting facts about the plants etc. The staff arent particularly friendly or helpful. The walks around the gardens are beautiful and have stunning views. The nursery was under construction construction, so was very small and average. Hopefully they construct something to match the beautiful species of plants.

The gardens are absolutely beautiful. Did the Disa Kloof trail with my family and it was perfect for everyone. Not too long and not too short. My sister could push my niece in her stroller all along the path so its very accessible. The coffee shop had good service and their scones are delicious. Its definitely worth a visit. Whether you want to hike, relax in nature, picnic or get some light exercise - theres something for everyone.