Established in the 1870's the Pietermaritzburg Botanical Gardens are one of 8 national botanical gardens in South Africa. Placed on an ancient floodplain and hillside on the edge of a mist belt, the botanical gardens are filled with lush vegetation and brightly coloured seasonal blooms.

The gardens main purpose is to promote the conservation and propagation of rare and indigenous plants. The gardens are known for the long avenue of trees, planted in 1908 at the end of which is a bell tower where a ship bell from the HMS Princess can be found. The HMS Princess is the ship used by King George V when he crossed the channel in 1918.