Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
/Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, founded in 1913 is world renowned for the beauty and rich bio diversity of the Cape flora it displays against the grand eastern slopes of Table Mountain.
Spread over 528 hectares, it is the largest of South Africa's 8 national gardens and one of the world's leading botanical gardens. It is a living display featuring 4 700 of the estimated 20 000 species of indigenous South African flora, and close to 50 per cent of the Peninsula's floral wealth dotted all over its rolling lawns, intermingled with streams and ponds and well-laid out pathways for easy walking.
A great favourite with both locals and visitors alike, Sundays in summer sees hundreds of visitors, picnic basket and blanket in hand, converge on its lawns for magical sunset concerts. In winter, Silvertree Restaurant in the gardens have weekly concerts with local musicians. Their winter line-up runs until mid-October. Equally popular are the craft markets held at the Stone Cottages on the last Sunday of every month (except June, July and August) and the walking and hiking trails criss crossing the terrain.
A year round drawcard, the garden is as busy when the days turn cooler when it becomes the favourite haunt of horticulturist from around the world and flora-knowledgeable visitors eager to see fynbos in its natural habitat. The months between August and October are considered by those in the know to be the best time to visit as the king of fynbos, the King protea is in full bloom and can be seen in all its splendour.
The cultivated garden covering 36 hectares displays collections of South African plants, particularly those from the winter rainfall region of the country.
The Botanical Society Conservatory enables Kirstenbosch to display South African plants which cannot be grown in the outdoor gardens. Here, under one roof, you will find plants from high mountain peaks, shady forests and hot, dry deserts. The main house, dominated by a large baobab tree, features succulents from the arid regions of southern Africa. Special collections of bulbs, ferns and alpines are displayed in smaller corner houses.
A major tourist attraction and a pleasure on the eyes, it is not hard to understand why Kirstenbosch has won 29 gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, or why visitors keep returning to its rich diverse green slopes.
It is nature at its most splendidly beautiful.