"If you seek his monument, look around. These slopes and the area around is one of the largest and most famous of the world's reserves of local flora, and this is the best memory of it! "- the inscription is carved on the tombstone, the first Director of Kirstenbosch Botanical garden, Professor Harold Pearson.

Founded in 1913, Kirstenbosch lies on the Eastern slopes of table mountain in Cape town. It consists of landscaped gardens of native flora through which flows the river Lasbek, as well as natural forests, extending to the lower slopes. Kirstenbosch covers an area of 528 hectares, of which only 36 ha care workers of the garden, the rest of the garden - the natural reserve of flora.

There is only 4700 of about 20 000 species of indigenous South African plants, and 50% of the floral wealth of the Peninsula.

Among the interesting areas of the garden, with great interest, eager to see visitors, is a Cycad Amphitheatre, where the majority of rare plant species found in South Africa. Most of the upper slopes of the famous Protea Garden is covered with shimmering silver forest - evergreen silver tree height of 5-7 meters, is a rare and endangered species due to the large demand for wood and the mass felling its forests. Garden Mathews JV Rock Garden (named after the first curator) contains succulents, aloe and other plant species. Also a very beautiful Garden and Erica Pelargonium Koppie.

You can hide in the shade of the camphor and Fig trees planted by Cecil Rhodes in 1898. Nearby there is a small area of wild almond trees planted by Jan van Riebeeck in 1660, during the Dutch settlers.

In Kirstenbosch is the head office of the National Botanical Institute, which manages a national network of gardens and associated research institutes. One of them, Compton Herbarium, located at the top of the Avenue of camphor trees in the heart of Kirstenbosch. Named after the former Director, it is intended for scientific research.

All of the tracks of the main Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens are paved. Recently opened a 128-metre air bridge Boomslang (in Afrikaans means "tree snake"), with a maximum height of about 11 meters, which passes through the arboretum. It was created by architect mark Thomas. There are also two special routes for disabled people and three tracks that are designed for a three-hour brisk walk extending up to 6 km.

Fragrant garden adjacent, has a fine collection of aromatic plants, with explanatory plates, written in Braille and large print for people with vision problems.

Kirstenbosch can be visited in spring and summer when the gardens are glowing from Namaqualand chamomile, and winter is the best time to see the amazingly beautiful Protea. Visitors can purchase their chosen native plants, books and Souvenirs in a small shop at the exit of the Kirstenbosch Botanical garden and enjoy a Cup of aromatic coffee in the restaurant in the fresh air.