Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

Where: Cape Town, South Africa
When: November 30, 2012
With: Dave, Nic and Divya

One night, before heading out for dinner, the four of us decided to take a stroll through the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. In addition to being one of the few gardens that's classified as a World Heritage Site, theses gardens are unique for a couple reasons. 

First off, they lie in the slopes of Table Mountain which provides a stunning backdrop no matter where you are in the garden. This also allows the garden to contain five of South Africa's six ecosystems as it's elevation ascends up the mountain.

And second, almost all the plants that are grown here are indigenous to South Africa. This one  was the weirdest, all spiny and furry and flowery and bushy. 

Some of the more colorful ones. 

As it was the end of the day when we went and the sun was setting, we had almost the whole place to ourselves. Cobblestone pathways wove every which way, through gardens and across grass and under trees. We all just ambled in different directions, occasionally crossing paths to tell each other about what we saw before we moved along. 

Nic and I enjoyed playing with the settings on our cameras and taking pictures of the flowers. 

 

At one point, we came upon a couple of guinea fowl. While they mostly lazed around, they would occasionally stand and scratch at the ground with their feet, searching for bugs to eat.  

As the sun set, the four of us enjoyed the last views of Cape Town from above and enjoyed the peace of the garden. An absolutely beautiful place. 

For the rest of our trip in South Africa, click here.