Spring has sprung, and with it an array of gorgeous fauna and flora to be explored as well as many springtime activities to be enjoyed. Explore Kirstenbosch Gardens, it’s the perfect time to discover our national botanical garden, Kirstenbosch.
Spring has sprung, and with it an array of gorgeous fauna and flora to be explored as well as many springtime activities to be enjoyed. In fact, it’s the perfect time to discover our national botanical garden, Kirstenbosch.
This beautiful 36 hectare garden is actually part of an incredible 528 hectare estate situated at the eastern foot of Table Mountain. Depending on your natural inclination, there are many aspects of the gardens to be enjoyed ranging from hiking, to observing, to dining.
EXPLORE KIRSTENBOSCH
TOURS
Kirstenbosch Gardens offer free educational guided walks and tours that give insight into the many different flowers and vegetation there, as well as information about the seasonal changes and their effects on the abundant plant life. The walks happen daily and while the tours are indeed free, one will still have to pay the entry fee upon visiting the Gardens.
HIKING TRAILS
The Kirstenbosch estate has five hiking trails of varying degrees of length and difficulty, which means there is a path suitable for all kinds of ages and fitness levels. All are well sign-posted, marked and well-maintained throughout the year, making it an ideal option for visitors unfamiliar with the terrain and amateur hikers. For those looking for a quick trail exploration, the Braille Trail and the Boekenhout Trail are ideal as they are both relatively short forest walks. An intermediate hike is that of the Stinkwood Trail which takes you through the oldest part of the forest that exhibits some of the oldest and largest trees. For the more advanced walkers, the Yellowwod Trail and Silvertree Trail take you along the estate through fynbos and forest and up to the waterfall – definitely worth all your efforts and exertions.
Adventurous types can opt to reach Table Mountain from Kirstenbosch along Skeleton Gorge or Nursery Ravine but take note, these are only for the experienced climbers and hardy hikers.
BOOMSLANG CANOPY TRAIL
A fairly new highlight and attraction to the Garden is the aptly-named Boomslang Canopy Trail. A 130m elevated walkway that winds and curves though the magnificent tree tops. Built as a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in 2013, it has become a firm favourite amongst tourists and locals alike.
TEA ROOM/MOYO
The Kirstenbosch Gardens offer two very different dining options; that of their Tea Room and that of the Moyo Restaurant. The Tea Room menu has the typical delights one can expect from a garden café, with standard selections such as baked goods, breakfasts, lunches and teas.
Moyo, meaning heart, offers a truly African experience with unique Afro entertainment and cuisine. A chain of restaurants that sees establishments in other locations such as Blouberg and other venues across the country, Moyo was a welcome addition to the Kirstenbosch Gardens.
THE CONSERVATORY
Being home to a third of the world’s succulents with over 1400 species of bulbous plants, The Conservatory is a unique place of interest that even introduces visitors to plants that don’t typically grow in the Western Cape. One such spectacle is the impressive Baobab Tree.
CONCERTS & MOVIES
Photocredit: https://www.capetown.travel/
Although not happening in these lovely Spring months, something to look forward to in the Summer season are the highly popular and anticipated Summer Concerts and movies at the Galileo Open Air Cinema. The Sunday night concerts showcase some of the very best of our local SA talent and the Galileo cinema takes us for a walk down memory lane, with a revival of some older movie classics.
Some important information to take note of if you want to explore Kirstenbosch:
Entrance fees cost R60 for adults, R30 for students (with student card), R15 for children ages 6 – 17 years and FREE for children under the age of 6. BOTSOC members are also free and SA Senior Citizens (with ID) are free on Tuesdays except on public holidays.
Operating Hours are: 08h00-19h00 during the months of September – March, 7 days a week and 08h00-18h00 during the months of April – August. The Conservatory is open from 09h00 -17h00 everyday.
