Different in All Respects
The peace and tranquillity in Kirstenbosch, snuggled up against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, is almost spiritual. Lush green lawns are flanked by more than 6 000 species of trees and plants that, of course, attract hundreds of birds. Pack a picnic basket, blanket and a good book and relax in the shadow of the mountain.
Although it is connected to Newlands Forest, Kirstenbosch is very different in all respects. It's all cultivated for a start, and it's so very special that it deserves separate treatment. The formal garden is 36 ha, but it is part of the larger 538 ha estate that includes research facilities, nurseries and entertainment areas.
Horticulturists and Botanists
The garden was started in 1913, with the aim of representing all of South Africa's plant communities. There are something around 7 000 species on and what a show it is.
Three great ways to appreciate it are: have a picnic in one of the glades, walk around, and take in one of the summer evening concerts. As the sun sinks behind the mountain and the music pulses, you'll get an idea of what heaven might - or should - be like.
The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens are the pride of local horticulturists and botanists, where glorious displays of indigenous flowers, shrubs and trees create a floral wonderland. Up the east-facing slopes of Table Mountain, the gardens blend into the natural Afro-montane forests that festoon the mountain. This is a rambler's paradise.
If you have only a day or two in Cape Town on your South African holiday, this self-drive route around the Cape to Cape Point covers the gre...