Cape Town's botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch
The botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch are one of Cape Town's top attractions. It is well-known for:
36 hectares of cultivated garden
Against the scenic Table Mountain
Some of the Cape’s 2500 plant species
Situated against the slopes of Table Mountain, the Kirstenbosch garden features only indigenous plants. This is especially significant as the Cape province is home to one of the world’s six floral kingdoms, Fynbos. The beautifully landscaped gardens are interspersed by scenic trails and several themed gardens.
In the Peninsula garden, for example, are some of the 2500 plant species of the province, while the Fragrance garden is full of scented plants and flowers. Of special interest is the Medicinal Garden, with many of the plants that have been traditionally used in South African tribes. Look out for Van Riebeeck’s hedge, planted in 1660 by the first settlers in the Cape, of which several stands remain. In summer, Kirstenbosch features regular classical, jazz and popular music concerts in the garden. The restaurant and tea garden is also a popular meeting place while the gardens themselves are an ideal picnic spot.
