Attraction
Table Mountain
Cape Town's flat-topped mountain rises above the city, reached by a cableway with rotating cars from Tafelberg Road or on foot via routes such as Platteklip…
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Founded in 1913 on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch displays South African plants, from proteas and fynbos to cycads, across landscaped gardens and trails.
At a glance
- Type
- Botanical garden
- Area
- Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa
- Official site
- sanbi.org
Good to know
- Tree Canopy Walkway
- Conservatory
- Restaurants
- Free parking
- Online tickets
- Wheelchair-accessible entrances
Why we recommend it
Kirstenbosch was founded in 1913 and covers 528 hectares on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, making it one of the largest and best known botanical gardens in the world. Unlike many botanical gardens, it concentrates on indigenous plants, and the cultivated sections give way to natural forest and fynbos that climb up towards the mountain cliffs behind.
Highlights include the protea collections, the cycads in the Dell planted by the garden's founding director Henry Harold Pearson, the Camphor Avenue planted in 1898, and Colonel Bird's Bath, a small pool fed by a natural spring. The Botanical Society Conservatory shows plants from drier regions such as the Karoo and savanna. The most popular feature is the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway, a curving steel and timber bridge nicknamed the Boomslang, which winds through the treetops of the arboretum with views towards the mountain.
Kirstenbosch is also a starting point for walks and hikes. Gentle trails loop through the lower slopes, while Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine climb steeply to the top of Table Mountain for experienced hikers. In summer, Sunday sunset concerts on the lawns are a Cape Town tradition, and people bring picnics and blankets.
The garden opens daily from 08:00 to 19:00 between September and March and from 08:00 to 18:00 between April and August, while the conservatory opens from 09:00 to 17:00. Tickets are sold online through Webtickets and cash is no longer accepted, so buy before you arrive. Allow at least two to three hours, more if you want a meal at one of the restaurants or a longer walk. Spring, roughly August to October, is a good time to see many plants in flower.
Kirstenbosch is about 13 kilometres from the city centre, reached by De Waal Drive and Rhodes Drive, and there is free parking at Gates 1, 2 and 3. The City Sightseeing bus stops at the Visitors' Centre at Gate 1. Entrances, restaurants and shops are wheelchair accessible, but the garden is on a slope and some areas are steep. It is an easy pairing with Groot Constantia and the Constantia valley wine farms nearby.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden FAQs
Can I pay cash at the gate?
No. Tickets are sold through Webtickets and cash payments are no longer accepted.
What are the opening hours?
Daily from 08:00 to 19:00 in summer (September to March) and 08:00 to 18:00 in winter (April to August).
What is the Boomslang?
The nickname of the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway, a raised walkway through the treetops of the arboretum.
Is there parking?
Yes. Free parking is available at Gates 1, 2 and 3.
Is Kirstenbosch wheelchair accessible?
Entrances, restaurants, shops and venues are accessible, though the garden is steep and some areas are not.
Can I hike up Table Mountain from Kirstenbosch?
Yes. Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine both start here and climb to the top.
When was Kirstenbosch founded?
In 1913.
Can I get there by tour bus?
Yes. The City Sightseeing bus stops at the Visitors' Centre at Gate 1.