Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Kirstenbosch is South Africa’s world-famous national botanical garden, set against the backdrop of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, and home to more than 22 000 indigenous plants.

Kirstenbosch is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to protect the immense floral wealth of the Cape. Located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, this 528ha (1 305 acre) botanical wonderland is magnificent in any season. Paved paths make walking around a pleasure, and plaques and signboards provide information on the trees and plants. There is a free daily walking tour at 10h00, and visitors can enjoy golf cart tours every hour for R50 (additional to Garden entry fee).

The glass-topped conservatory is home to numerous plants – including an enormous baobab tree – from different South African habitats. If you’d like to go back in time some 3.2-billion years, the Gondwanaland Garden displays types of plants that were present when there was only one continent on Earth.

The Cycad Garden shows off a family of plants that date back some 200-million years and the Fynbos Walk takes one through vegetation unique to the Cape Floral Kingdom and the Western Cape. The Useful Plants Garden has a selection of medicinal plants used to treat a number of ailments.

If you’re a keen hiker, you’ll enjoy two popular paths, the Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine, which wind their way up Table Mountain. You’ll need to be fairly fit, and to set aside the better part of a day for either of these hikes. Afterwards you can refresh and replenish your energy at the Botanical Café (open from 08h00 to 17h30). The Silver Tree Restaurant (open from 08h30 to 22h00, and contactable at +27 (0)21 762 9585) can arrange a picnic lunch and also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In summer there are open-air concerts on Sundays, and it’s best to bring a loaded picnic basket and enjoy the gardens at your leisure, as you sip Cape wines. Get there early, as the concerts are particularly popular. The Silver Tree Restaurant also hosts a popular winter concert programme.

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