KIRSTENBOSCH
NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN
Cape Town, South Africa
Rhodes Drive, Newlands
Private Bag X7, Claremont
Tel: +27 21 799 8899
Fax: +27 21 797 6570
INFORMATION OFFICE: (021) 799 8783
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is world-renowned for the beauty
and diversity of the Cape flora it displays and for the magnificence of
its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.
Kirstenbosch grows only indigenous South African plants. The estate covers
528 hectares and supports a diverse fynbos flora and natural forest. The
cultivated garden (36 hectares) displays collections of South African
plants, particularly those from the winter rainfall region of the country.
It was founded in 1913, read about the History of
the Garden.
- Take a virtual tour and enjoy the different sights this magnificent garden has to offer.
- Or if you prefer, view the seasonal highlights, starting with early spring.
- To take a look at what is flowering in Kirstenbosch this week - see the Plant of the Week
- Kirstenbosch also has an active Environmental Education Programme.
- Looking for a Venue to hire at Kirstenbosch?
- Read more about early plantings, wildlife and geology from old journals in From the Archives.
The Visitors' Centre includes an information desk and various retail outlets and a coffee shop. The Centre for Home Gardening has outlets for plants and other services to support the home garden. For details of all the retail outlets at Kirstenbosch see Shopping at Kirstenbosch. In addition, the Kirstenbosch Garden Fair takes place each year in March.
There are also several Restaurants at Kirstenbosch.
For the policy on picnics, dogs and other issues, please see the Dos and Don'ts page.
On Sundays during the summer months from December to March, musical
sunset concerts are held on the lawns. Craft markets are also held at
the Stone Cottages (opposite Kirstenbosch) on the last Sunday of every
month (except June, July & August). See the What's
On pages for events taking place in the Garden.
If you would like to know more about our flora try one of our Guided Tour.
Physically challenged visitors should contact the information office in advance to book a wheelchair or one of the golf cart/shuttle tours.
A number of trails lead through natural forest and fynbos surrounding
the developed garden. A map is obtainable from the Information Office
for R2.
Download:
- Lists of the plants found on the Kirstenbosch Estate (.pdf file)
- Lists of the plants found on the Kirstenbosch Estate (MS Excel)
- List of animals found on the Kirstenbosch Estate as a .pdf files
- List of animals found on the Kirstenbosch Estate as a (MS Excel)
- Havens of Biodiversity - a booklet describing biodiversity in the 9 National Botanical Gardens (.pdf file)
To read more about the Geology of Kirstenbosch visit this link on the University of Cape Town's website.
| Hours and fees The Garden is open 365 days a year from 08:00 - 19:00 (September -March) and from 08:00 - 18:00 (April - August). The entrance fee is R32 for adults and R20 for South African students with student ID cards. Fees for school children (6-17 years old) are R10. Children under 6 years old and Botanical Society members have free entry. SA senior citizens have free entry on Tuesdays, if it is not a public holiday. |
How to Get There
Map
By bus - There is a bus service to Kirstenbosch
from Cape Town and Mowbray Station on working weekdays and the CitySightSeeing busses also visit.
By car - Kirstenbosch lies 13 km from Cape Town city centre. From
the city, take De Waal Drive (M3) in the direction of Muizenberg, at the
first traffic light intersection turn right (southwards) into Rhodes Drive
(M63) and follow the signs to Kirstenbosch. See map
Special Features
The Botanical Society Conservatory
- enables Kirstenbosch to display South African plants which cannot be
grown in the outdoor gardens. Here, under one roof, you will find plants
from high mountain peaks, shady forests and hot, dry deserts. The main
house, dominated by a large baobab tree, features succulents from the
arid regions of southern Africa. Special collections of bulbs, ferns and
alpines are displayed in smaller corner houses.
Peninsula garden - displays some of the
2 500 plant species found on the Cape Peninsula.
Water-wise garden -
demonstrates how to create a garden which needs far less water and maintenance
than a conventional garden.
Fragrance garden - features plants with
interesting textures and scents.
Medicinal garden - Find out about the
many medicinal uses of South African plants.
The Dell - the
oldest part of the Garden, featuring Colonel Bird's Bath, tree ferns and
a variety of shade-loving plants.
Protea garden - features members of the
protea family (Proteaceae). This part of the Garden is most magnificent
in winter and spring, when the proteas, conebushes and serrurias are in
flower. Pincushions provide a colourful display in early summer.
Restio garden - focuses on the incredible
variety of texture and form found in the reed family (Restionaceae).
Useful Plants garden (UPG) - the redevelopment and extension of the Medicinal Plants garden
Van Riebeeck's hedge - planted in 1660 to protect cattle of the Cape colonists.
