Braving the botanicals

Hiking in Kirstenbosch Gardens is a picnic with a pair of Hi-Tecs

There’s something to be said for fresh air. It can shake off those spreadsheet cobwebs, and uncurl fingers clenched from typing in its gentle breeze. And, this natural remedy is just 15 minutes from the centre of Cape Town.

Kirstenbosch Gardens, the largest of nine National Botanical Gardens in South Africa, is more than just a place to picnic and hike: it’s also a living museum, a haven for the country’s historic horticulture. The large majority of plants are indigenous, with a few minor exceptions (and with good excuses).

Get nasal in the Fragrance Garden, educated in the Useful Plant section, and blown-away in the Protea Garden. There’s is so much to see, touch, and experience: only a full day’s attention will do.

Today we’ve decided to have a picnic before our walk, Kirstenbosch was after all named one on the best picnic spots in the world by National Geographic—who are we to argue?

We spread our red blanket on the bright green grass by the duck pond; we’ve come with the perfect picnic. Duck pâté (how fitting), baguette, strawberries, Toulouse sausage, and ripe Camembert; all sourced from Italian Deli, Giovanni’s in Green Point.

Fingers feeling appropriately unclenched, I change into a pair of Hi-Tecs. They’re called V-Lite Altitude Ultra Luxe WPi, and are sturdy hiking boots. An odd choice you may think for these lush, garden wanderings, but actually they’re perfect for the diverse terrain. This is after all a bio-diversity epicentre; and that means a multitude of soil types to contend with.

What to bring

• A picnic; and make sure it’s no ordinary one either. Check out our listing of gourmet shops in Cape Town.
• Sketch book; take a leaf out of artist Gill Condy’s book and commit foliage to folio.
• Garbage bag. There are only dustbins outside of the park, keep it tidy and leave no trace.
• Hiking shoes. You won’t know how far you’ll want to venture until you get there.
• Shade, in some form, as although there are plenty of trees to dream under, the gardens are very popular.
• Money, there’s an entrance fee (see in the footer), plus you can buy indigenous plants from the nursery as well as eat in the restaurant. 
• Children of all ages.

Routes

Braille Trail
Easy

This route, which starts and ends at the Fragrance Garden, is suitable for unsighted people to walk unassisted, and the plants are labelled with Braille signs.  It’s a short circular route through a natural forest and patch of wetland. Duration: Shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes.

Boekenhout Trail
Easy to Moderate

Starting at the Old Dam, the wow-factor of this hike is the unusual views of the mountain. It can be steep in some places.

Duration: Just under a kilometre, bank on 30 minutes.

Stinkwood Trail
Easy

Prized for its wood, the stinkwood population has been severely decimated, so although there aren’t many mature stinkwoods, it’s an area of rehabilitation for the species. Still a pleasant forest walk, look out for pioneer forest trees such as, keurboom, bladdernut and wild peach.

Duration: Roughly an hour, unless you decide to read under a tree.

Yellowwood Trail
Moderate

Start at the Fragrance Garden and follow Skeleton Stream to Skeleton Waterfall, cross Nursery stream twice and you’ll end up where you started.

Duration: Clocking in at 3km, this route could take you two hours, depending on your fitness level.

Silvertree Trail
Moderate

Start at Gate 3 and see the beauty of Kirstenbosch in its entirety. This hike crosses the estate via the 300 metre contour path. The views are jaw-dropping.

Duration: three to four hours.

Smuts Track up Skeleton Gorge
Difficult

This one’s for the adventurous. Set off at the Fragrance Garden, and follow Skeleton Stream up Table Mountain. The climb up the gorge is steep and can be dangerous, especially during wet weather. Your ascent is aided by ropes and ladders. (It’s recommend you bring a map of Table Mountain along)

Duration: Up to six hours.

Nursery Ravine
Difficult

A very steep climb heading straight up Table Mountain. Hundreds of steps will lead you through forest and more rocky areas. The cherry on top is Hutchinson Dam.

Duration: Four hours, plus.

What to look out for

The flora is obviously the focus, and be prepared to spend hours in the flowers. But there are also small buck, reptiles and birds. Plus there’s manmade art to admire too.

Trivia: Visit the granite Celtic cross which marks the grave of the garden's first director, Professor Harold Pearson, it reads: 'If ye seek his monument, look around.'

By Malu Lambert, photographs by Antonia Heil

Kirstenbosch Gardens
Rhodes Drive | Newlands | +27 (0)21 799 8783

Opening times: September to March (summer) 8am – 7pm; April to August (winter) 8am – 6pm.
Rates: Adults, R40; SA Students (with card), R25; children (6-17years), R10; Under 6 years, free.

Plus, rock out in the gardens with Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts 2011/12.

Check out our Facebook album of our day, and follow us on Twitter to find out where (and what) we’ll be hiking next. Plus, subscribe to our weekly newsletter for a seven day weather forecast.