The Makana Botanical Gardens are the second oldest botanical gardens in South Africa. The gardens are located right next to  Rhodes University in Grahamstown. The gardens cover an area of approximately 60 ha, and support an interesting variety of both exotic and local plant species, which include aloes, wild fig trees, and proteas on the upper slopes and around the Settlers’ Monument.

The Makana Botanic Gardens is also an excellent birdwatching destination, providing avid birders with over 160 species recorded, which include such species as black-headed oriole, fork-tailed drongo, speckled mousebird, Cape sugarbird, rock kestrel and sombre greenbul. There is a resident African goshawk in the gardens, and a number of other regular visitors include African harrier-hawk, red-fronted tinkerbird, lesser honeyguide, Klaas's cuckoo, olive woodpecker, southern black flycatcher and grey sunbird.

The Makana Botanical Gardens feature an old English-style garden resembling the type found in Britain during the late settlers period of the region.

The gardens are rumoured to be home to the ghost of Lady Juana Smith after whom the town of Ladismith is named. Juana Maria de los Dolores de Leon Smith was the wife of British colonel Harry Smith who was later knighted and made governor of the Cape. Sir Harry died on October 12, 1860, and exactly 12 years later to the day, Lady Smith joined him. Born in Spain, the Lady Juana, is said to still wander through this lovely garden she loved so much, from time to time leaving behind her a hint of her Spanish perfume.

For more information regarding the Makana Botanic gardens, call (046) 603 8240.