Kirstenbosch – the majestic gardens in Cape Town that visitors and locals love to visit – has been voted one of the world’s top picnic spots by National Geographic Magazine.
To enjoy this prime, world-class picnic destination, this is what National Geographic recommends: “Pack a bottle of wine from Stellenbosch and some biltong (it’s like beef jerky)—a lot easier to carry than crocodile meat or ostrich burgers—and hike the trails through natural forests and fynbos (“fine bush” or shrubland in Afrikaans). More than 7,000 plant species and indigenous plants are cultivated in this expansive botanic garden, with exhibit areas dedicated to medicinal and fragrant plants, as well as the king protea, South Africa’s national flower.”
Kirstenbosch has huge appeal to hikers, strollers, concert-goers and picnickers. The gardens attract in the region of 750 000 visitors per year, and about three quarters of these visitors are South Africans. For many years picnicking on the rolling lawns of Kirstenbosch has been popular, particularly during the Summer Sunset Concert months.
Kirstenbosch is also well known for its Braille Trail, a short self-guided trail (15-30 minutes) that allows unsighted people to discover an indigenous forest unassisted. The trail starts and ends at the Fragrance Garden near Gate 2.
Back to picnics: take your own, or buy one from The Kirstenbosch Tea Room, tel 021 797 4883 or from the Silver Tree Restaurant, tel 021 761 2866.
What is the contens and price of you picnic baskets ?
What time do you open and close?
Is there only music performed on sundays?
Hi Lesia, you will find the opening times for Kirstenbosch here: http://www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch And please see their Events tab for what’s on in the gardens and you will find concert details here: http://www.sanbi.org/events/old-mutual-kirstenbosch-summer-sunset-concerts-2013. You could take your own picnic basket, or order one ahead of time from the restaurant in the gardens, Moyo . 021 762 9585. Enjoy!