Description: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is situated in Cape Town in South Africa. It is run by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.
The entire site consists of a 528 hectare estate on the Eastern slopes of the famous Table Mountain. Only a small proportion of the estate forms the cultivated garden, approximately 36 hectares. However there are lots of access paths into the uncultivated areas that provide enticing walks on the lower parts of the mountain.
The gardens were founded in 1913 and their main purpose now is to ensure the continuation of indigenous South African plants and to provide access to all to enjoy them. The gardens consist of the local fynbos flora and also natural forest.
Entry to the gardens is R35 for adults, R20 for South African students and r10 for children. Senior citizens who are South African can gain free entry on select days each month.
There is plenty of parking near the main entrance. You enter through the visitors centre. Here there are exhibitions about the gardens and plants and also there is a large gift shop selling many things horticultural in nature and also local crafts. The main walkways as you enter are wide and tree-lined providing much needed shade from the South African sun. The gardens have four areas for refreshment varying from formal restaurants to a tearoom. You are allowed to take picnics into the gardens and enjoy them amongst the spectacular scenery. However you are not allowed to take in any picnic furniture and you are not allowed to barbecue. There is also a "no bins" rule which means that you must take all of your rubbish home with you. This helps reduce maintenance costs and also prevents infestations of rats and mongoose.
Walking away from the major paths and buildings leads you into the main gardens. Here the planting has been arranged into different areas and depending on the time of year of your visit the main attractions will change. It is wise to remember that these gardens are on the side of a mountain. They are extremely steep and although a large proportion of the paths would be navigable in a wheelchair it may be very tiring. There are plenty of seats spaced around the gardens to allow one to rest a while and take in the views and appreciate the plants.
The Peninsula gardens contain 2500 species that are native to the cape Peninsula. Many of these can be seen growing locally but the whole collection is quite impressive. There has been a move in Cape Town to remove non indigenous plants from gardens and return to the many glorious species that thrive here.
Water-wise Garden- this area is planted to demonstrate how to make a beautiful garden that does not require so much water or maintenance. Imported species of plants need regular watering to remain healthy in the South African climate and this obviously depletes natural resources so this is an educational area to make people appreciate what would be more suitable for the climate.
Fragrance Garden –this area is home to plants that have interesting textures or unusual aromas. This area is particularly aimed at visitors suffering from impaired vision who really appreciate the diversity.
Medicinal Plant Garden- this is planted with a variety of species that have been used in African medicine. There are descriptive notices explaining the purposes that each was used for. Some have been found to be very effective and are still used widely.
Protea garden- these flowers are absolutely stunning when in full bloom and the multi-coloured flowerbeds are frequented by delicate hummingbirds collecting the nectar. It is a delightful spot to rest and watch these birds at work.
Towards the edges of the cultivated garden you will come across some parts of the original Van Riebeecks hedge. This hedge was made of brambles and was planted by the European settlers in the 17th century to form a boundary to their colony. The hedge acted as a barrier to animals and people.
On returning towards the entrance there are some small glass-houses that exhibit some of the more delicate species that need a more sheltered spot than the slopes of the mountain can provide.
The location of this garden must be one of the most spectacular in the world. The views across the whole of the city of Cape Town and beyond are breath-taking and certainly make the tiring climbs worthwhile.
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