South Africa’s famous National Botanic Garden Kirstenbosch is known as the most beautiful garden in Africa. Its diverse collection of plants and amazing location make it one of the most stunning gardens in the world.
The garden is situated on the imposing eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the iconic mass that defines Cape Town and its mountainous peninsula. Castle Rock and Fern Buttress’s green cliffs tower above the sloping lawns of the garden (left) and far, far below, lie the Cape Flats, running all the way to the distant Hottentots Holland Mountains on the horizon.
Kirstenbosch's name, which means Kirsten's forest, was first documented in 1795. In 1902, the land was bequeathed by Cecil John Rhodes to the South African government. In 1911, Harold Pearson, a botany professor at the South African College, fell in love with the site and transformed it into South Africa's first botanic garden, with the garden's board holding its first meeting on June 16th, 1913.
