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Welcome to Paradise: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town
Welcome to Paradise: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town.
The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town consist of around 500 hectares of wild fynbos and 36 hectares of gardened land on Table Mountain’s eastern slopes. The estate is located in the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and borders Table Mountain National Park.
Since it’s a garden, the sights are constantly changing as the seasons bring new flowers and leaves. In addition, there are eateries, streams, concerts, and the most recent addition—the tree canopy walkway in Boomslang!
Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: Fynbos Walk
In terms of plants, the Western Cape is known for its fynbos. In addition to grapes, let’s not overlook our well-known wines. Here at Kirstenbosch Gardens, we are discussing plants that grow organically. the kind that flourishes wildly in the Western Cape’s “non-agricultural” regions. With breathtaking views of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the Fynbos Walk stretches to the top parts of the gardens.
You may anticipate seeing the best that fynbos has to offer, including buchu, ericas, proteas, and restios. Kirstenbosch is crucial to the preservation of these native plants.
Cycads and the Dell
The centerpiece of this garden’s oldest section is Colonel Bird’s bath, which is nourished by natural springs. The location is enchanted, with tree ferns all about. This is the area to search for fairies or to get a glass of clean mountain spring water.
The endangered cycads are housed in a natural amphitheater above the bath; Kirstenbosch has 38 of the 40 species, of which 29 are in the gardens and the remaining eight are housed separately.
Pearson’s Grave is beneath the bath. Kirstenbosch’s initial director was Harold Pearson. Keep your eyes out for the enormous fig tree farther down, with its magnificent trunk encircled by aerial roots.
Kirstenbosch’s Magic Tree and Useful Plants
It’s fascinating to see the practical plant garden. Many of the plants that have been utilized as traditional meals and medicines for hundreds of years are found there. Here, you may learn about both botany and South Africa’s history at the same time!
The sundial is located beneath the practical plant garden. In the peace and quiet of the gardens, it’s easy to lose track of time, so stop by and see how you’re doing.
What Capetonians affectionately call ‘The Magic Tree’ stands next to the sundial. The ‘tree’ was originally composed of two enormous yellowwoods, the branches of which reached the earth and formed a cool grotto beneath them. Unfortunately, one of the trees had to be taken down after being hit by a powerful thunderstorm in 1984.
The remaining tree was cut in two when it was struck by another storm in 2005—we’re not known as the Cape of Storms for nothing. Fortunately, it was saved by the ingenious people at Kirstenbosch, and it is now well on its road to returning to “cavedom.”
Native American Gardening Gardens
There are several little ‘themed’ gardens beneath the Tea Room and near Gate 2. These consist of the Water-wise Garden, the Garden of Weeds, and the Garden of Extinction. Their names are self-explanatory.
The Fragrance Garden, a sensory extravaganza, is also located here. Visitors are invited to touch the leaves, feel their textures, and inhale their wonderful scents, in contrast to the rest of the garden where picking and touching are prohibited. With braille signage and a guide rail throughout, the garden was also created with the blind and visually disabled in mind.
The In-Betweens
There are lovely large trees, streams, and undulating lawns in between all of these well-planned garden areas. You may have a picnic there or just relax on the grass and watch the clouds fly by. Additionally, there is a constantly shifting display of exquisite stone Mambo sculptures. The gardens have paved pathways and are clearly marked.
Delicious Home-Made Food at Kirstenbosch Gardens
It is acceptable for you to bring your own picnic basket into the gardens. To find out what you may and cannot bring in or do, see their website.
There are plenty of ideal picnic areas in the expansive gardens.
The Tea Room at Kirstenbosch
A popular place for breakfast, the tea room offers both indoor and outdoor sitting, light fare, and ‘real’ tea with scones. It is open every day from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
The tea shop also has a picnic takeaway menu if you don’t want to lug your own picnic supplies from home. They even let you rent a picnic blanket.
Moyo
Moyo, which is located near Gate 1 at the base of the gardens, offers both inside and outdoor seating among the trees (or in cute small tents). They provide a variety of light snacks, deli lunches, and substantial main courses. They also provide a picnic meal for takeout.
Fresh food with an African flavor is a specialty of Moyo, and its welcoming staff will apply delicate white spots to your face in the traditional Xhosa fashion.
The restaurant serves dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Dinner reservations are required.
Kirstenbosch’s Hip, Hop, and Happenin’ Summer Concerts
Every year, Capetonians and tourists alike greet summer with open arms as they bid winter farewell. Why? There are a lot of reasons, but the yearly Kirstenbosch summer concert series is one of the most important. In the summer, people stroll up Camphor Avenue and set up their picnics on the concert lawns beneath Mathew’s rockery every Sunday (and on certain other days, for special shows) starting at 4:00 pm.
International and local performers perform at concerts that begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. and go for approximately one to one and a half hours. The scene is breathtaking. This is an experience that should not be missed.
Syne Auld Lang
Every year, Kirstenbosch organizes a concert on unique Year’s Eve if you’re searching for something unique to do to start the new year.
There’s no better way to start the new year than sitting beneath the stars at the base of a mountain while amazing artists perform for you.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens’ Boomslang
The Centenary Tree Canopy Walk is the newest and most exciting addition to Kirstenbosch. It inaugurated in 2014. Constructed from steel and wood, it resembles a snake’s body and winds its way over 130 meters from the forest floor through the tree canopy and out above the trees.
In addition to the amazing views the trees have, both up the mountain and over the Cape Flats, it gives visitors a close-up glimpse at what it’s like to be a tree. I mean, who hasn’t pondered what it’s like to be a tree?