Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is an important botanical garden founded in 1913 to preserve the Cape’s unique flora. It lies on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. It is one of ten National Botanical Gardens covering five of South Africa’s six different biomes. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is acclaimed as one of the great botanic gardens of the world. The estate, covering 528 hectares, includes a cultivated garden and a nature reserve. The developed garden (36 ha) displays collections of southern African plants including many rare and endangered species. Â
- Look out for the summer concerts. Every Sunday evening in summer.
- The Centenary Tree canopy walkway is a curved 130-metre steel and timber bridge that winds through the treetops.
- Galileo open-air cinema on Wednesday nights from November to April. (screenings of well-known classic movies.)
- The sculpture garden is a permanent, though changing exhibition of African stone sculptures.
- Located on the lower slopes and above the stream, with its large, intertwining branches growing in all directions, lies a section of the Van Riebeeck’s Hedge. This hedge is a series of indigenous wild almond trees that were planted in 1660 by the governor of the Cape to define a boundary between the Dutch and the Khoi-Khoi. The goal was to create a barrier that would prevent any livestock, or people, from getting through. An interesting point about Wild Almonds is that they contain cyanide and are poisonous unless specially treated by soaking and roasting, a technique discovered by the Khoisan people who used to eat them.
- The singular cycad is one of the rarest and most highly prized plants in the world and can be found in the Cycad dell in the garden. John Medley Wood discovered the plant in the oNgoye Forest in KwaZulu-Natal, where it was later identified as a new species and named after him in 1908.
- The Harry Molteno Library/ Kirstenbosch Research Centre. The origins of the library are not documented but the library has been part of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden since 1913 when the Garden was founded. The library developed around the nucleus personal library of Professor Robert Harold Compton. 021 799 8712
- Free to all pensioners on Tuesdays except on public holidays
Here is a South African indigenous nursery that sells a wide range of indigenous plants and products made in South Africa.  phone: 021 797 1305
Hikes in Kirstenbosch
BRAILLE TRAIL
This easy 15-minute route, which starts and ends at the Fragrance Garden, is suitable for unsighted people to walk unassisted, and the plants are labelled with Braille signs. It’s a short circular route through a natural forest and patch of wetland.
BOEKENHOUT TRAILÂ Â Hikes in Kirstenbosch
This fairly easy 30-minute trail of about one kilometre starts at the Old Dam, the wow factor of this hike is the unusual views of the mountain. It can be steep in some places.
STINKWOOD TRAIL
Prized for its wood, the stinkwood population has been severely decimated, so although there aren’t many mature stinkwoods, it’s an area of rehabilitation for the species. Still a pleasant forest walk, look out for pioneer forest trees such as keurboom, bladdernut and wild peach. This hike is easy and takes about an hour
YELLOWWOOD TRAIL
For this reasonably easy hike, start at the Fragrance Garden and follow Skeleton Stream to Skeleton Waterfall, cross Nursery stream twice and you’ll end up where you started. The trail is about  3km long and should take about two hours, depending on your fitness level.
SILVERTREE TRAIL
Start this trail at Gate 3 and enjoy the beauty of Kirstenbosch. This moderately easy hike takes between three and four hours and crosses the estate via the 300-metre contour path. The views are stunning.
SMUTS TRACK UP SKELETON GORGE
This difficult six-hour hike is for the adventurous. Set off at the Fragrance Garden, and follow Skeleton Stream up Table Mountain. The climb up the gorge is steep and can be dangerous, especially during wet weather. Your ascent is aided by ropes and ladders. (It’s recommended you bring a map of Table Mountain along with you)
.NURSERY RAVINE
This difficult hike involves a very steep climb heading straight up Table Mountain. Hundreds of steps will lead you through forests and more rocky areas. It takes about four hours but the cherry on top is you get to paddle in the Hely Hutchinson Dam.
