Exploration time…we visit Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, Mauritius

October 31, 2014

1939

The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden,

Commonly known as the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden,
is near Port Louis, Mauritius,

It claims to be the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere.
Mauritius also claims to have the oldest golf course AND horse racing track.

As if falling coconuts are not a problem!

The botanical garden was initially opened as a private garden
by the French governor of Mauritius nearly 300 years ago

It is populated with more than 650 varieties of plants among which are Baobabs, the Palmier Bouteille,
and the ineluctable Giant Water Lilies.
There are dozens of medicinal plants as well as a large spice garden

http://mauritiusattractions.com/mauritius-national-botanical-garden-p-63.html

“Hiding” amongst the roots?
My wife takes a moment to re-enact a scene from a Tarzan movie

Although I am not usually a “let-me-visit-and-look-at-flowers” type of person,
I thoroughly enjoyed the hour that we spent in the Gardens

There is beauty is almost everything I turned my lens towards

An unlikely pairing…
Fallow deer and a crow.

There is a pen full of Giant Tortoises.
The oldest being 150 years and the youngest is currently 4!

For some reason, it seems that most of the plants I photographed
were in shades of red and purple

Across the way from this was a tree planted by Robert Mugabe.
There is also one that has Thabo Mbeki’s name attached.
I saw nothing with our current President’s name…

There is an abundance of bird life

As well as insects,
for obvious reasons

Several of the large ponds contained schools of fish

One of my two favourite flowers…

This is the other.

There are many varieties of water lilies

And some well protected plants

Visitors come from all over the world to see these…

Hanging around, waiting for the Bat signal…
There are two large colonies of Fruit Bats that live near the entrance.
Unlike other bat species, these are active both day and night.

The main gate and fence was made and imported from Newcastle.
I recommend that you find the time to visit this gem.

I can highly recommend SummerTimes

Vinay was with us for the day.
Our excursion took us to the botanical gardens as well as Port Louis
He was punctual, knowledgeable and passionate.
A good combination for a driver/guide.

Aside from airport and inter hotel transfers,
they also offer a variety of excursions around the island
And considering that Mauritius is only 45km across and 65km from top to bottom,
nothing is more than an hour in almost any given direction.

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