Botanical garden · Cidade do Cabo, Cabo Ocidental

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Botanical garden from 1913 on the eastern slope of Table Mountain, dedicated to native plants, with proteas, a suspended walkway and trails up the mountain.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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About Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 on the eastern slope of Table Mountain, on a former farm of Cecil Rhodes. It was the world’s first botanical garden dedicated solely to the country’s own plants, and covers about 528 hectares, most of it preserved forest and fynbos. It is part of the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage Site.

The cultivated area has beds of proteas (the king protea is the national flower), bird-of-paradise beds, medicinal plants and succulents, plus a conservatory for dry-climate plants. The Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway, nicknamed the Boomslang (snake, in Afrikaans), runs among the tree canopies with views of the mountain.

The garden also contains an 18th-century stone bathing place known as Colonel Bird's Bath and a hedge of bitter-almond trees planted by Van Riebeeck in 1660 to mark the colony’s boundary. Trails that climb Table Mountain, such as Skeleton Gorge, start from here.

In summer there are outdoor concerts late in the afternoon on Sundays on the garden lawn.

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Before you go

Practical information

Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.

How much time to set aside

2 to 3 hours.

Best time

Spring, from August to October, usually has more flowers; proteas bloom at different times throughout the year. In the morning the garden is quieter. In summer, Sunday concerts fill the lawn.