Few gardens can match the beauty & grandeur of the magnificent setting of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. With Cape Town’s imposing Table Mountain as the backdrop, the gardens are now viewed as one of the great botanic gardens of the world.
The area used to be a run-down farm with pigs snacking on acorns. The current existing Gardens were established as long ago as 1913. The first part of the garden, now called “The Dell” was developed by Prof. Harold Pearson where he planted rare and slow growing cycads of which the caged Encephalartos woodii is already extinct in the wild (Source: Key to Cape Town).
Table Mountain alone has more plant species than the whole of the United Kingdom.
How to get there
From the city, take De Waal Drive (M3) in the direction of Muizenberg, at the Rhodes Drive (M63) traffic light intersection turn right (west/towards the mountain) and follow the signs to Kirstenbosch. Free parking is available at Gates 1, 2 and 3.
GPS Co-ordinates: E 18°26’06.48″ 33°59’15.76″ S Long 18.43209 Lat -33.99039
What to expect
Today the gardens cover 36 cultivated hectares and the peninsula garden contains over 2500 plant species. Here you will come across the Van Riebeek’s Hedge which was poisonous to eat and it was therefore planted in 1660 to demarcate the then limits of the fledgling colony.
Kirstenbosch is a great place to find out “the name of that one – the plant you have always liked so much”, but there is much more to this beautiful spot. The gardens offer a peaceful haven for walking or relaxing with a book for a few hours in the sun or birdwatching and it is of course also a perfect place for a romantic picnic. The Silvertree restaurant & Fynbos deli provide fancy picnic hampers or simply get a take-away from the Tea Room.
The Facts & Figures
Entrance Fees:
- Standard Adult: R 220
- Discounted fee for South African Residents & SADC Nationals South African Residents & SADC residents 18 years and older (with ID/proof of residency): R 100
- Discounted fee for African residents outside SADC 18 years and older (with ID/proof of residency): R 140
- Students/learners of 18 years and older from a South African institute (with student card): R 60
- All children from 6 to 17 years: R 40
- All children under 6 years: Free
- BotSoc members (with membership card): Free if membership renewal was done by 31 March 2023 (only until 31 March 2024) or less 10%
- South African residents over the age of 60 (with ID): Free on Tuesdays except on public holidays
Opening hours:
The garden is open every day from 08:00 to 19:00 during summer (Sep-Mar), 08:00 to 18:00 during winter (Apr-Aug).
- The Conservatory is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00.
- The Curator’s Office is open Monday to Friday only, from 07:30-16:20, except on public holidays.
Contact
Ticket Office: 021 799 8782 / 021 799 8602
Information Office: 021 799 8783 / 021 799 8773
Concert Information: 021 799 8620
Email: KirstenboschInfo@sanbi.org.za
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