Bakau Botanical Gardens

The botanical gardens at Bakau were laid out in the colonial period as a trial ground for economic plants and now function mostly as a quiet green space near the coast, with old mango and silk cotton trees, ornamental beds and a nursery. Birders come for the species that use the mature trees, which include kingfishers, hornbills and sunbirds, and it is a short walk from the Kachikally crocodile pool. The site slopes down toward the shore, so the sea is audible from the upper beds even though it is not visible through the trees.

What you actually see

• The mature trees - old mango and silk cotton left from the trial plantings.
• The birding - kingfishers, hornbills and sunbirds in the canopy.
• The nursery - the working propagation area within the grounds.
• The colonial layout - the trial ground plan still visible in the beds.

When to go

November to February is the cool dry season. Early morning is best for birds. The gardens are greenest after the rains end in October.

Honest expectations

Maintenance is patchy and parts are overgrown. It is small and an hour or two covers it. Guides at the gate expect a fee.

Nearby

Kachikally is nearby, and Bijilo is south.