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- Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens -
A section of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.
A section of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town.
Overview
The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (Kirstenbosch NBG) in Cape Town is one of South Africa's top 20 tourist attractions. The Namaqualand section of the Kirstenbosch Conservatory.Cecil John Rhodes originally donated the Garden, created by him in 1895, to the residents of Cape Town.  Its setting in the shade of Devil's Peak and its vast array of plant species make it quite special.

The estate covers 528 hectares and supports a diverse fynbos flora and natural forest. The cultivated garden (36 hectares) displays collections of South African plants, particularly those from the winter rainfall region of the country. The Garden features over 22,000 indigenous plants.

Amongst others Kirstenbosch has a section especially for the blind focusing on herbal plants with its qualities relating to touch and aroma. The Garden's myriad of paths link up with hiking trials that run almost the full length of the Table Mountain range.


Facilities
In the lower part of the garden, near the main entrance gates, you will find the Visitors' Centre, which includes an information desk, the Kirstenbosch Shop with a wide range of gifts, the Botanical Society Bookshop and a coffee shop. A tea garden and restaurant are located nearby. The Gardens also has a nursery cultivating indigenous plants, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. A research unit and library attract researchers and botanists from all over the world.


Concerts & craft markets
On Sundays during the summer months from December to March, musical sunset concerts are held on the lawns. Visitors are welcome to bring picnic baskets and blankets to the open-air concerts. Craft markets are also held at the Stone Cottages, opposite Kirstenbosch, on the last Sunday of every month (except June, July & August).


The Gardens

Camphor Ave in the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden near Cape Town.
Kirstenbosch's Camphor Ave.

The Garden is open 365 days a year from 08:00 - 19:00 (September -March) and from 08:00 - 18:00 (April - August). Pathways are well signposted and plants identified. In addition to the Braille-marked route for the blind mentioned above the garden also features various other sections. Plants that come from different climatic regions to that of the Cape Peninsula are housed in a climate-controlled conservatory. Between the outside gardens and the conservatory Kirstenbosch NBG features sections for 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.
  • The Peninsula garden displays some of the 2 500 plant species found on the Cape Peninsula.
  • A water-wise garden demonstrates how to create a garden that needs far less water and maintenance than a conventional garden.
  • The fragrance garden features plants with interesting textures and scents.
  • The Medicinal garden focuses on the many medicinal uses of South African plants.
  • The Dell is the oldest part of the Garden, featuring Colonel Bird's Bath, tree ferns and a variety of shade-loving plants.
  • The Protea garden features members of the protea family (Proteaceae). ProteasThis part of the Garden is most magnificent in winter and spring, when the proteas, conebushes and serrurias are in flower. Pincushions provide a colourful display in early summer.
  • The Restio garden focuses on the incredible variety of texture and form found in the reed family (Restionaceae).
  • The useful plants garden is an extension of the Medicinal Plants garden.
  • Van Riebeeck's hedge, which was planted in 1660 to protect cattle of the Cape colonists, is a special historic feature of the gardens.

Kirstenbosch NBG offers guided themed walks through the gardens at scheduled times. If required Africa Deluxe Tours can arrange a specialist botanist guide for our clients.

(source: some of the above information was taken or adapted from the National Botanical Institute of South Africa's website, see link below.)
Internet resources: National Botanical Institute of South Africa* - Kirstenbosch | Cape Town Tourism* | City of Cape Town* | Western Cape Tourism* - Cape Town | South African Tourism* - cities & towns - Cape Town | Fodors.com - Cape Town* | Rough Guide* - destinations - South Africa - explore | Frommer's* - cities - Cape Town
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