The botanic garden is maintained for education and research purposes as well as for the benefit of the community. Our Garden is named after Professor Manie van der Schijff, a former head of the University's Botany Department and Vice-Rector of the University.
Botanic gardens have an important role in studying and conserving rare plants.
Our Garden has more than 3000 species on its database and we are particularly well-known for our complete collection of cycads, including Wood's cycad, which is now extinct in the wild. We are involved in propagating many of the other scarce cycad species, which are available to the public from time to time. The garden has an interesting collection of indigenous trees, including several very large specimens that were planted over 60 years ago. We also provide plant material for several Botany courses as well as related disciplines. A Garden Trail covering the entire garden will be opened by the Rector in September this year.