Travel Snippets from around the World: spring in cape town

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24 September 2019

Cape Town - Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Cape Town, South Africa

Whilst the gardens are beautiful all year round, springtime is an absolute delight as the gardens are just ablaze with spring flowers .

The burst of colours is so splendid that one's eyes are not sure where to focus next!

"Regarded as one of the great botanic gardens of the world, Kirstenbosch—or rather, the land on which it sits—was bequeathed to the government by Cecil John Rhodes. At the time, it was nothing more than ramshackle farmland overrun with pigs. In 1913 a botanist called Harold Pearson set about transforming the land into a botanic garden devoted to the country’s indigenous flora. It now contains over 7000 species of plants from southern Africa. The 528-hectare Kirstenbosch Estate (which includes the Garden) falls under the Cape Floristic Region, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site"

"Situated on the slopes of Table Mountain, just 13km from the city centre, Kirstenbosch includes a fragrance garden, a medicinal garden, 2,500 species of plants found on the Cape Peninsula, a Protea garden (best seen in spring!), a braille trail, and a cycad amphitheatre. There is also the Botanical Society Conservatory, which houses plants from the continent’s more arid regions"

Shady paths give one shelter during our hot summer days

Benches are dotted all over the gardens.

Kirstenbosch is an absolute "must visit" for any visitors to Cape Town, no matter what the season.

The Garden is open every day from 08h00 to 19h00 during summer (Sep-Mar), 08h00 to 18h00 during winter (Apr-Aug).
The Conservatory is open every day from 09h00 to 17h00.

"Van Riebeeck's hedge was planted in 1660 to protect cattle of the Cape colonists".
Take a walk and see if you can spot this ancient hedge!

Baby Egyptian Geese

"On Sundays during the summer months from December to March, musical sunset concerts are held on the lawns at Kirstenbosch. Craft markets are also held at the Stone Cottages (opposite Kirstenbosch) on the last Sunday of every month (except June, July and August)"

Arum Lily Kirstenbosch

In one section of the garden, there are numerous statues/art forms - do take a wander to find these.

For the hungry, there are restaurants in the Gardens - one near the top entrance and one further down. Open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon teas.

Moyo Kirstenbosch Gardens

There is often an Art Exhibition in the hall - free entry and incredible art works.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Cape Town

"A highlight for visitors to Kirstenbosch in Cape Town is a steel and wood canopy stands in amongst the trees of Kirstenbosch. Erected to celebrate Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden's centenary the 'boomslang', as it has become known, rises from the ground at a gentle incline to carry visitors out above the trees to views over the eastern slopes of Table Mountain across the Cape Flats to the Hottentots Holland Mountains in the distance.

Though shorter than originally intended, the canopy's 130 metres length encompasses a carefully planned route through the arboretum, taking the slope, existing pathways, mature trees and their longevity into account.

Despite the almost 20 tons of steel, 5.36 km of steel rod, 12 columns and 23 sections of walkway that went into making the canopy, people still manage to miss it, so well is it disguised.

There are over 400 trees in and around the walkway, in line with the intent to bring those on the boomslang as close as possible to as many different trees and plants as possible. Around you are Cape saffrons, hard pears, white stinkwoods and a grove of tall forest myrtle quince. The forest below and around the walkway is young for a forest at twenty-five years of age.

The walkway has a fair amount of give that can feel particularly daunting if you are not used to it, but this is all part of its design and nothing to worry about. From underneath its snake-like design is even more clear, the curved railings acting like the ribcage of a snake, the pipe that runs along its length its spine. Even the diamond-shaped steel mesh suggests a snake's skin".