Profile
The Park is noted for its wide collection of indigenous and exotic plants, and owes its origin to the late Mr. Harold Basil Christian. Mr. Christian came to the then Rhodesia in 1914 as a farmer.
He later turned his attention to botany and horticulture. It was in the field of botany and in the study of the genus aloe that he made some valuable scientific contributions.
Building on his success in aloes, he later turned his attention to cycads collection. In his garden which covered, 1,5 hectares, a very comprehensive collection of aloes, cycads and many species of small succulent plants was acquired, ail of which were planted with considerable care and particular attention, in several cases taking care in geographical arrangement.
Some months prior to his death, in 1950, he donated his garden with some additional land to the Government. |
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The cultivated area was very small, comprising some l.ôha. During the past 40 years, considerable development has been made. When the garden was eventually opened to the public and became more widely known, the need for expansion was later felt in order to capture the interest of visitors throughout the year. With this in mind many hectares of land were brought under cultivation incorporating several features that included spacious lawns with grouped trees and shrubs, a water garden and collections of cacti and bougainvillea. Progress made over the past few years has brought 100 hectares under cultivation.
The garden has become widely known abroad and possibly the most favourable outcome of Mr. Christian's work has been the Garden's capacity to create meaningful plant specie exchanges with other botanical gardens and numerous plant collectors as well as create a richly endowed botanical habitat for both indigenous and exotic species that few would readily see elsewhere.
Ewanrigg is easily one of the largest aloes and cycad gardens in the world.
Vegetation
The area is predominantly a habitat for the indigenous miombo woodland, which is the most common in the Garden, with brachstagia species and parinari species appearing here and there. Exotic species hâve also been introduced in the landscaped regions of the Garden.
Facilities
PICNICSITE
The serene, calm and scenic environment of the Garden make the place a very ideal peaceful picnicking area. Picnic parties can be thrown around the sheds of some of the fully formed tree canopies in the park. The sites are well serviced with ablution facilities, braai stands and water points. For those that may need to sweat out a little there is an open ground where visitors can play a game or two of volley bail or many other bail games.
ACTIVITIES
Garden viewing - aloe viewing is ideal from May to
September when the aloes are in bloom
Winter time bird watching - aloes and cycads attract a wide
variety of bird species. When in bloom aloes and cycads
become a special.
Fascination for sunbirds, which at times concentrate in
large numbers to obtain nectar. Because of this bird watchers
should make this a key port of call.
Picnicking
Photographing
Walks - guided and unguided
WHY VISIT EWANRIGG?
• One of the world's largest aloe and cycad gardens
• Calm and peaceful environment
• Scenic view
• Wide variety of plant species |
