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 by horticulturist Sand, covers an area of just 80 acres, yet it houses over 3,000 species of plants, including fruit trees, medicinal plants, woody oil and grain plants, ornamental trees, and various economic crops. The majority of these are rare species introduced from abroad, such as ginkgo from northern China, California poppy from California, USA, pine trees from the Mexican plateau, and kapok from Portugal. The garden features a meticulously built rockery where more than 20 species of succulents are cultivated, including cacti, cactus whips, cactus fists, and cactus balls. Features       The cactus whips in Mundawanga Botanical Garden are thick, straight, and can grow several meters tall, while the cactus segments are as large as palm leaves. At the foot of the rockery by the riverside grow Zambia’s unique palm trees, locally called “Fevala,” which can reach heights of dozens of meters with trunks 4 to 5 meters in circumference. Their petioles are extremely long, wide, thick, and grayish-white in color. When struck, they produce a resonant sound, and they are considered premium-quality, highly durable timber. The garden also features another notable tree, the “Muwabu,” which has a straight trunk, a flat and round canopy, and fine, dense wood grain. It is solid yet lightweight, and serves as the primary material for making “African drums.”

　　 Lusaka, Zambia