The Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden's three main goals are to promote conservation efforts, academic support, and education.
The Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden is frequently used as an open-air laboratory and plant material from the Botanical Garden is regulary used in various practicals.
Education has always been a part of botanical gardens – often being associated or established with universities in the area. At the Stellenbosch University Botanical Gardens, we strive to make a difference in the lives of those that live, learn and work in the area by providing an experience that not only reconnects people to nature but teaches them about its wonders. Therefore, a few different educational tour options for registered educational facilities have been prepared to facilitate this. Tours can be booked by contacting the garden via phone or email. For pre-booked registered groups, no entry will be charged. Prior booking is essential. Educational tours have been prepared to correspond with the CAPS school curriculum.
Intermediate and Senior Phase (Grades 4-9)
This tour involves discussing things from what makes something alive to the water cycle and plant respiration. The tour will be shaped to the specific group, considering the majority grade present. We hope to inspire and bring things learnt in the classroom to life, helping them engage with topics in a relevant way that invokes the valuing of the natural world.
These tours will typically take under 1 hour.
F.E.T. Phase (Grades 9-12)
There are many different learning styles and, for some, the best way to learn is to experience and see, smell, and feel things for themselves! This tour is designed to be supplementary to high school biology and help make theory a little more tangible and colourful. We will discuss things like the different classification systems of life to biomes and ecology all the way to hormonal plant defense mechanisms. We boast a beautiful conservation collection, an indigenous medicine and food garden as well as an invasive plant display – all helping the knowledge learnt in the classroom come alive. Tours can have highlighted topic areas if desired, but this is not necessary.
These tours will typically take around 90 minutes (about 1 and a half hours).
Visiting University Groups
We love collaboration and invite any travelling academics to contact us directly to organize a personal tour with our curator or assistant curator.
Things worth taking note of:
- School learners enter for free when part of a pre-booked group.
- Take note of the weather and warn learners before the time to prepare appropriately.
- It helps provide a more insightful tour if we have ample warning to prepare, be sure to book well in advance to ensure this.
Contact details:
Email: Subg@sun.ac.za
Telephone: +27 21 808 3054