Mundawanga Botanical Garden

Mundawanga Botanical Garden

Mundawanga Botanical Garden is located in a valley 20 kilometers southwest of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. "Mundawanga" means "my garden" in the local language. This botanical garden, established in the 1950s, was created by horticulturist Sander. Though the park spans just 80 acres, it is home to over 3,000 species of plants, including fruit trees, medicinal plants, oil and grain woody plants, ornamental trees, and various economic crops—most of which are rare species introduced from abroad. Examples include ginkgo from northern China, California poppies from California, USA, pines from the Mexican plateau, and kapok trees from Portugal. The garden features an intricately built rockery, where over 20 species of succulents such as cacti, cereus, echinopsis, and globular cacti are cultivated. Features: The cereus in Mundawanga Botanical Garden are thick, straight, and can grow several meters tall, while cacti segments are as large as palm leaves. At the foot of the rockery along the riverside grows a uniquely Zambian palm tree known locally as "Fweale," which can reach heights of dozens of meters, with trunks measuring 4 to 5 meters in circumference. Its petioles are extremely long, wide, thick, and grayish-white in color, producing a resonant sound when struck, making it a highly durable premium-quality wood. Another notable tree in the garden is the "Muwabu," which stands upright with a flat, round crown. Its wood has fine grain, is solid yet lightweight, and serves as the primary material for crafting "African drums."

Lusaka, Zambia