Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden — Attraction in Isle Mauritius

The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden in Pamplemousses, Mauritius, is a captivating destination that offers a serene escape into nature’s wonders. Each visit unveils new facets of its rich biodiversity and historical significance.

One of the garden’s most enchanting features is the giant water lily pond, home to the Victoria Amazonica lilies. These colossal lilies, native to the Amazon, can reach up to 2 meters in diameter, creating a breathtaking sight that leaves visitors in awe.

As you wander through the garden, it’s essential to look upwards occasionally. The towering trees are adorned with intricate spider webs, adding a touch of natural artistry to the lush surroundings. These webs, often expansive and shimmering in the sunlight, highlight the diverse ecosystem thriving within the garden.

Historical Background:

Established in 1735 by French Governor Mahé de Labourdonnais as a private estate, the garden was transformed into a botanical haven in 1767 under the guidance of botanist Pierre Poivre. Over the centuries, it has evolved into a repository of exotic plant species from around the globe. In 1988, it was renamed in honor of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the first Prime Minister of independent Mauritius. 

Practical Information: • Opening Hours: Daily from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.  • Admission: • Foreign Visitors: Approximately 200 MUR (about 5 euros).  • Mauritian Residents: Free on Sundays and public holidays.  • Guided Tours: Available for a fee. Rates start at Rs 50 per visitor for groups of up to eight, with a reduced rate of Rs 40 for each additional person. 

Visitor Tips: • Best Time to Visit: Mornings are ideal, offering cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, allowing for a more intimate experience with nature. • Amenities: While there are no official restaurants or snack shops within the garden, local vendors often sell refreshments in the parking area. 

In summary, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Each visit promises new discoveries, making it a place worth returning to...

An absolutely splendid way to spend a couple hours. It brings to light so many wonderful flora and fauna that grow on our planet.

Park Details: (5/5) There is a parking lot just outside the entrance of the garden. There is ample parking and shouldn't be too difficult to locate one. There is a ticketing booth just as you are about to enter the gate. There one needs to pick up the ticket and there will be tour guides who take different batches of people around the entire park. Group sizes vary from 10 to as many at 20. The guides are very knowledgeable and are open to clarifying multiple questions that may arise. They are also usually fluent in multiple languages and many a time they also speak in multiple languages during the tour. Ours spoke, English, French, German and Hindi.

Park Experience: (5/5) The tour takes one across multiple different types of plant life. Plants are showcased for different use cases like catching water or even different medicinal purposes. The tour guide stops at each place to explain. Interesting set of different animals like fish, birds, turtles and the like will be seen during the tour. The Giant water lilies were absolutely breathtaking and clearing are the start attraction of the garden. (Refer my pictures for a size comparison where I placed a mobile phone on one to show the actual relative size). Good amount of walking is done and recommend carrying a bottle of water as it can get quite warm.

Summary: (5/5) Overall had a wonderful experience here as it was a really well maintained botanical garden with a wide spread of flora and fauna. Great way to really appreciate the diversity...

This is a large botanic gardens that is (sadly) showing its age. At the entrance you will be greeted by guides who want you to allow them to guide your tour. We opted to go it alone and rely on the map and our eyes. Overhearing some of the other guides, we made the right choice for us. The range of trees is impressive and the lily ponds are beautiful. The rectangular pond with giant lily pads is fascinating and there are lots of large dragonflies to be seen here. The monuments to heads of state and royalty that have visited the gardens provides an insight into the importance of these events to a relatively small nation. The medical garden is somewhat run down - maybe a sponsored research project to re-invigorate this area would be a lovely idea as the importance of plant life to the medical industry is easily overlooked. Having animals on display in the garden is not to my taste, but I can understand that they will be a draw for visitors. The gardens requires some serious work to bring it up to world class standard: a lot more signs identifying specimens, more flowering plants, repairs to the structures especially the large lily with bridges and decorative water feature next to the Chateau. As the oldest botanic gardens in the southern hemisphere these gardens deserve some investment and improvement. Worth visiting as they are beautiful, spacious and provide a good insight into the plants of the region and...