Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens and World of Birds. Cape Town.

I travelled to Cape Town in August 2014 with my teenage son. He moved back to boarding school in the UK the year before and we'd never got round to taking him to CT when he lived here. Having made a 27 hour journey by train, the last thing he wanted to do was get on a bus and tour the City. He did come out with me on the 2nd day and the 3rd day we hired a car and drove to Hermanus to whale watch and see the penguins at Betty's Bay on route.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are located at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town and is one of nine National gardens with five of the six different biomes in South Africa. Founded in 1913 to preserve the unique flora.

I visited on a very wet and windy day. I bought a two day pass with City Sightseeing on the Hop on Hop Off bus. Kirstenbosch was my first stop so I took a photo of the time table at each stop. Unfortunately I confused the photos and ended up waiting an hour at World of Birds.

The newly opened Centenary Tree canopy Walkway or Boomslang, meaning tree snake, is 130 m long and 12 m above the ground, and has wheel chair access is a fab way to view the scenery.

Kirstenbosch contains many plants, including my favourites the Protea, the national flower of South Africa and the Strelitizia regainae 'Mandela's Gold' or more commonly known as the Yellow Bird of Paradise. It symbolises liberty, magnificence and good perspective.  


Returning to the entrance, I'd just missed a bus, so I opted for a walk round the gift shop and a coffee.

Hopping back on the bus, my next stop was World of Birds, it was still raining and the attraction did have some shelter from the rain with the trees. I was overwhelmed by the smell and wasn't too impressed with the hygiene and the layout. Also there were peculiar combinations of birds in the enclosures and chickens seemed to feature in large numbers. 

There was also a monkey enclosure and other animals. However I didn't want to go in there, again due to the smell. There was a large school group in at the same time and the air was filled with teachers yelling at the kids and blowing whistles. 

I walked round to reach the exit to discover I'd misread the timetable for the bus and waited for 30 minutes in the bus shelter, it's not somewhere I'd be visiting again in a hurry.

My top tips for visiting Cape Town

In my opinion it is essential to never leave your hotel with the following items. I've also added toilet roll and hand sanitiser to my ruck sack along with a couple of snacks and drinks.

Walking boots

Camera

Binoculars
Umbrella
Coin purse, keep this in your pocket as you will often require small change but don't want to keep getting your purse out your bag.
Cape Town Red Bus Ticket and Map

Take a photo of the departure times of the Red Bus when you get off so you know what time to return for the next bus. But make sure you are then looking at the right photo, unlike me who missed 2 buses until I realised my error.


I've been to Cape Town on previous occasions and never thought to check if all the attractions were open in the winter. The Table Mountain Cableway is closed due to annual maintenance, but with this weather I'm beginning to suspect they've actually taken the mountain away.

Kirstenbosch and World of Birds on the Hop on Hop Off City Sightseeing Bus – blue route.

An overpowering of the senses hits you on arrival at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The smell of the misty air, the plants and the trees. The sounds of running water and birds and the sights of the misty mountains, the forest and a view over Cape Town and the ocean.

Despite the rain, it was definitely worth getting off the hop on hop off bus at this stop. I only stayed for 40 minutes but that was enough time for a gentle stroll and a walk through the treetops on the Boomslaang, Tree Canopy Walk. 

There are information signs along the route telling you about healing and medicinal properties of the plants, labels naming trees and a section of rare and endangered plants and what is happening to cause this effect and how their decline can be prevented further. 

Plenty of benches and lapas along the route for you to sit, relax and enjoy the views, when weather permits you’re welcome to picnic on the lawn. There is also a café and a well stocked gift shop.

Next stop was the World of Birds and for me I wasn’t too impressed. Too many different varieties of birds were all mixed up.

The map didn’t match the actual layout and for me there were too many chickens, ducks, ha de dahs and common garden birds we have back home in Pretoria. 

It wasn’t particularly very clean and a sign said the penguins were fed at 11.30am but I sat there and waited for 20 minutes and no one came.

However this is a sanctuary for ill and rescued birds and relies 100% on public donations costing R500, 000 per month to run. Having read this my opinion changed, it is not an aviary with birds bred in captivity, it is the intention for these birds to be rehomed in their natural environment where possible.

See Cape Town with the City Sightseeing Red Bus

This is my 3^rd visit to Cape Town and having travelled here by train, I’m without transport, but what better way to travel than by the City Sightseeing Hop on – Hop off Red Bus.

I will add at this point that this is NOT a sponsored post, and although I’m from the UK, I’ve lived in Pretoria for nearly 4 years and being able to walk around safely and travel on public transport, it has become a novelty to me, to be enjoyed.

The teenager did his best today with Mum in Cape Town, he wasn’t too enthralled with the idea of going on a bus tour and even less about a guided walk, but he showered and trudged after me to Long Street to the Hop on - Hop off Red Bus.

I booked a 2 day adult ticket the night before online, but when I reached the payment page, it only charged me for 1 adult ticket. On arrival at the ticket office I was informed that on weekends, U15s travel free. Although they don’t get the benefit of all the extras included with the 2-day ticket.

We got on the blue route bus at 10am, we got off at Hout Bay and saw seals. Walked from stop 10 to stop 11 at Sea Point, disembarked at the 2 Ocean aquarium at the V & A Waterfront, had a spot to eat and then travelled to the CTICC by boat along the canal and walked the short journey back to the hotel arriving back at 2.30pm.

I’m afraid I left the teenager in the hotel and returned to Long Street to join the Bo-Kaap walking tour for 3pm, which lasted an hour.

The commentary on the bus was informative and easy to listen to, head phones were provided free of charge and a new pair was issued to each passenger, there was also a commentary available on the canal trip and the guide on the walking tour was knowledgeable and engaging.

The cost of my ticket was R230 and I have a 2^nd days use left for me tomorrow and an additional R20 for sons canal trip. I had a latte at the end of the tour and I’m using the free Wi-Fi to write this blog post and upload the photos.

I will be booking the Johannesburg & Soweto tour for when my eldest son and his girlfriend come to visit in September and I look forward to seeing how the 2 tours differ.