哈拉雷植物园(Harare Botanical Gardens)位于津巴布韦首都北部的亚历山德拉公园区(Alexandra Park),距离市中心商业区大约4公里。这座植物园占地将近7平方公里,海拔约1500米,规模在非洲同类园林中名列前茅。这里不仅是当地人野餐和情侣约会的热门地点,更是一处研究非洲植被的学术重镇。园内收集了超过900种津巴布韦本土树木和灌木,几乎涵盖了全国所有的本土树种。
园内最精妙的设计在于它将津巴布韦广阔的生态地貌浓缩在了步行可达的范围内。植物园被划分为多个不同的植物群落区,你可以从模拟的赞比西河低地(Lowveld)草原直接步入东部高地(Eastern Highlands)的常绿林地。最让人印象深刻的是那片人造热带雨林,由于哈拉雷气候相对干燥,园方通过循环水泵维持林内的湿度,虽然偶尔会遇到设施维护导致水量减少,但茂密的林冠层依然能让你瞬间产生身处热带雨林的错觉。
除了占总面积约一半的本土植被,哈拉雷植物园还拥有丰富的引种区。在这里能看到来自南美洲、印度、澳大利亚乃至远东地区的异域植物。对于观鸟爱好者来说,这里更是天堂,约有215种鸟类常年栖息在此。清晨或傍晚时分,紫色冠蕉鹃、白氏啄木鸟等罕见品种常常在树影间闪现。这种自然野趣而非修饰过度的美感,是哈拉雷植物园最吸引人的特质。
如果想看哈拉雷最美的样子,建议选在9月到11月。这个时间段正值旱季末期,著名的蓝花楹(Jacaranda)进入盛花期,虽然植物园内以本土绿植为主,但周边街道的一片紫色浪漫会为行程增色不少。对于想要观察特定植被的旅行者,11月到次年3月的雨季能看到最翠绿的森林景观,不过由于降雨频繁,园内的小径可能会变得有些泥泞。植物园每天早上8点开放至下午5点,早起避开烈日是比较明智的选择。
去植物园最方便的办法是打车,像 inDrive 这种叫车软件在哈拉雷很好用,从市中心过去只需不到10分钟。门票价格通常在2到5美金左右,由于津巴布韦货币汇率波动,建议随身携带小额美金现钞以便支付。园内目前设施略显老旧,指示牌不够清晰,如果你是深度植物爱好者,可以去园内的国家标本馆(National Herbarium)转转,那里保存了多达50万份植物标本。另外,园内大树遮荫虽多,但非洲紫外线极强,防晒霜和饮用水必须带齐。
目前外国游客的门票大约为2至5美元,具体视官方最新定价而定。建议备好小面额的美金零钱,因为售票处有时找不开大钞。当地人票价会更便宜,如果是长期在津巴布韦工作的人员可以出示居留证明。
白天在主干道和游客较多的草坪区游玩是非常安全的。不过,植物园面积巨大且部分区域植被极为茂密,建议不要独自一人前往偏僻的小路,尤其是黄昏时分。最好结伴而行,并随时留意自己的贵重物品。
园内原本设有一家咖啡厅,但经营状况不稳定,有时会关门。考虑到植物园规模很大,步行量不小,强烈建议进园前在市区超市买好充足的饮用水和简单路餐,以便在树荫下的草坪上随时补充体力。
如果只是走马观花地在主要草坪区转一转,大约1.5到2小时就够了。但如果你是植物爱好者或者想进行专业的鸟类观测,预留半天甚至一整天的时间才比较充裕,因为深度探索那些模拟生态区需要走不少路。
Spiros Aliprantis Very interesting plants and trees, good walk overall. The facilities were on the decline apart from the toilets, all else was closed. Not very good signposting of the paths in the gardens either. $2 per person entry ticket. Overall a beautiful place that needs more love to flourish.
Mohammed-Faosy Adeniran This is very inspiring shows how man can conservatives and cohabit with nature! This is something Department of biological sciences (Botany) in every African universities should have! Absolutely beautiful!
Ruvarashe Dahwa Always such a peaceful time at the gardens, lots of greenery and space. One of my favorite go-to place for picnics and nature walks. A lot more can be done to maintain the gardens though, particularly watering the grass. However, kudos to there for restoring the restaurant that at some point was closed. I recommend as venue for large events, also really good for photoshoots and school trips. Entrance fee is very reasonable
Matt Peckham It's looking so much better than a couple of years ago...nice to see the lake being restored. More visitors needed, maybe an app with a map and the tree and plant info. The app could be purchased and could include a weekly family pass.
Rumbidzai Musiwa Wow, so peaceful and relaxing. It's the best place to go for you-time or some picnic. Trust me you will not be disappointed✨ I have been here one too many times!