KIRSTENBOSCH

Kirstenbosch is an important botanical garden nestled at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town. The garden is one of 10 National Botanical Gardens covering five of South Africa's six different biomes and administered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. It was established in 1913 to promote, conserve and display the extraordinarily rich and diverse flora of Southern Africa, and was the first botanic garden in the world to be devoted to a country's indigenous flora. Kirstenbosch displays a wide variety of the unique plant life of the Cape Flora, also known as fynbos, including Sugarbushes (Protea spp.), Pincushions (Leucospermum spp.) and Heaths (Erica spp.). Plants from all the diverse regions and biomes of Southern Africa are also grown at Kirstenbosch, including a near-complete collection of Cycads (Encephalartos spp.). The 36 hectare garden is part of a 528 hectare Estate that contains protected mountainside supporting natural forest and fynbos along with a variety of animals and birds. The Kirstenbosch Estate borders the Table Mountain National Park, and the Garden merges seamlessly with the natural fynbos and forest of the mountain.