Welcome to Kirstenbosch, our National Botanical Gardens is a place you can visit time and time again… because there is just so much to see there. Good news for Cape Town families is that Kirstenbosch is absolutely free for school children during the winter school holidays…
There is a lot to see and do here, you can be busy for hours… there is a tea room, but we always take a snack… because is there anything better than a picnic.
Se7en + 1 Reasons to Visit Kirstenbosch Right Now
- Art Installation: William Sweetlove’s Water Wars:
- The Gardens:
- The Plants and Animals:
- The Boomslang above the Treetops:
- The Dinosaurs amongst the Cycads:
- Medicinal Plants:
- The Braille Trail:
- The Conservatory:
- Se7en+1 Set Out As Citizen Scientists in the Fynbos…
- Se7en + 1 Meet the Dinosaurs Amongst the Cycads at Kirstenbosch…
- Se7en + 1 Discover the Boomslang at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens…
- Adventure Trails in Kirstenbosch.
- Kirstenbosch’s Winter Wonder Program.
- Kirstenbosch and the Braille Trail…
- Kirstenbosch for kids…
Last weekend we were invited to visit Kirstenbosch, to take a look at the Belgian Artist, William Sweetlove’s Water Wars Exhibition…
The sculptures are made from.amongst other things, plastic reclaimed from landfills. The artist is making a statement about our environmental impact… and he hopes to inspire critical thinking…
The art at first looks like bright funky toys… but look again, the colony of penguins in the vlei garden are all carrying water bottles on their backs… indicating that the water they are in is no longer fit for consumption.
Interesting and thought provoking work.
There is a third sculpture in the Old Dam, that we totally missed after much exploring, so it is good to be a little prepared beforehand. Here’s a great link, including a video, to everything you need to know. We will definitely be going back in the holidays to find the third sculpture.
There is a reason Kirstenbosch Gardens is rated by National Geographic as one of the top ten picnic spots in the world… the gardens are incredible, full of carefully created corners to explore and wide open lawns to spread your picnic blankets.
The rolling lawns… with shady spots…
The beautiful sculpture…
And of course the interesting places to explore…
These are our National Botanical Gardens, and one would expect to find a whole lot of plants… but here you will discover a magical world of plants and animals that you could never have imagined. There are plenty of sign posts with interesting facts, it is quite impossible to go there and not learn something new…
Intriguing plants to learn about are everywhere…
This is where you discover all the weird and wonderful things of this world…
There is a whole miniature world ready to be examined in the head of any protea…
Not to mention, well camouflaged animals on the ground.
We absolutely love taking a walk along the elevated walk way, through the tree tops…
It is even better if you can take a rest and stop for a moment… and notice all the birds dashing by.
This is an incredible display of life size dinosaurs that are not at all out of place in this corner of the garden. One can quite easily imagine these giant beasts roaming through the ancient plants.
There is a whole area of the garden devoted to beautifully smelling plants that are used for medicinal purposes…
Honestly, I think we could devote an entire day to learning amazing things in just this little spot…
This is as close as you get to an actual hike whilst in the gardens, of course you can step out onto the mountain at any time… but the Braille Trail is something quite magical.
It is a short easy walk for little legs and yet within meters of the start you find yourself lost in a quite jungle.
There is a rope path to guide your way…
And lots of information boards to look at along the way… Well look at and feel… because all the information boards are write-in braille.
And the Se7en + 1th Thing…
It is the middle of winter over here, but never fear should the day you choose to head for the gardens, and it decides to rain… head for the conservatory, we have spent many a rainy day there with sketchbooks, drawing and waiting for the passing rain, to move on.
The Kirstenbosch Market
Last weekend I was invited to pay a visit to the Kirstenbosch Market. As Autumn leaves swirled overhead, it was the last market of the season before the market closes for the winter and re-emerges again in the Spring. I can that that is well and truly something to look forward to. It is a great family outing with plenty for folk of all ages and stages to enjoy…
You can’t miss the market, there is an unmissable great spray at the entrance…
First things first put something delicious in your tummy… there are plenty of choices to choose from…
Then wander around and take in all the sites… the market is packed with innovative stall holders full of creative goodies to look at…
Toys and baskets…
Beadwork…
And bottles…
And baskets…
Teeny tiny magical worlds…
And baskets…
Even puppies to play with…
And the darling hats…
Sweet treats…
What can I say, fudge…
Lots of delicious treats to choose, to take on a picnic into the gardens….
And a place to stop for a cup of tea…
And baskets… Oh the baskets!!!
I may have had to take one of these home with me… I have no idea what to put in it… but I couldn’t leave the market without a basket!!!
Previous Kirstenbosch Posts
Huge thank you to Hippo Communications for a fantastic day out, we loved it. This is not a sponsored post, we were not paid to write it, but we were given entrance tickets and a collection of delicious picnic treats from the market.
How beautiful!!! I feel like I’m walking there along side you… Didn’t know it was so highly rated
You had me at fudge 🙂 And those striped baskets!!!!
I can totally see one of those in the new house holding blankets for winter lazing 🙂
We won’t mention the fact that we missed going to Kirstenbosch in Jan due to a heat headache, thanks to CT’s 30-something degree weather 😮
Anytime you share about Kirstenbosch it increases my wanderlust tenfold! One of these days…
Hay MrsFF, I am so glad you enjoyed your virtual visit… Yes, Kirstenbosch is right up there with best days out in Cape Town. Hope you have a beautiful day!!!
Oh Marcia, The fudge… I have to come and teach you how to make fudge, actually hood 2 is the fudge champion of the world!!! Meanwhile you missed Kirstenbosch… gasp!!! You will have to come back… in the autumn, you will loveour autumn weather, right now we are ranging between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius, endless pleasant cool weather. Perfect in every way… not too hot and not too wet, yet!!! Hope you are having a great week!!!
Oh Christi… You would love Kirstenbosch… really worth traveling across the world for!!! Have a fantastic week!!!
Thanks for the visit and the gorgeous pics! I truly believe that Kirstenbosch is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Hi Lynne… you are so right about Kirstenbosch… it is a Treasure indeed. Thank you, we had an absolute blast, we love that place for so many reasons, there is something for every mood and weather and well everything!!!