Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

flower-beds blend into the natural surrounding fynbos and the yellowwood forests of themountain slopes. This botanical garden, which contains only flora indigenous to SouthernAfrica, boasts over 5 000 species. Footpaths meander through the garden, leading up into themountain slopes above and eventually to the top of Table Mountain. The Braille Trail and theFragrance Garden - filled with fragrant plants that visitors are encouraged to touch and smell -have labels in large print and Braille. Musical sunset concerts are held on the lawns insummer and exhibitions of African sculpture may be found competing for attention with theflowers. Kirstenbosch also hosts specialised plant exhibitions. There are restaurants, and anewly established Botanical Society Conservatory displays succulent plants from drierregions of the country, as well as specialised collections of alpines, bulbs, ferns and stoneplants(small succulents). The Kirstenbosch nursery is deeply involved in the propagation ofindigenous plants, particularly endangered species, and in promoting their cultivation inordinary home gardens. For more information on Kirstenbosch, consult the article onbotanical gardens. The gardens also form part of the Cape Peninsula National Park.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREJosephine Mill: Situated on the Liesbeeck River in Boundary Road, the mill is the onlyremaining working watermill of the nine that used to provide the Cape area with flour morethan 150 years ago. It was built in 1840. The Cape’s industrial past comes to life for visitorsas they are shown the mill in operation. The flour used by the mill’s restaurant, is ground atthe mill itself and is also on sale to the public. Guided walks, Sunday Summer Concerts andthe Winter School also attract visitors.Obelisk: The Obelisk marks the site where Herschel’s telescope was erected in 1842.Ohlsson’s Brewery: Guided tours are conducted of the oldest brewery in the country, locatedin Main Road, Newlands.SA Rugby Museum: Situated in Boundary Road, the museum is one of the largest rugbymuseums in the world and its exhibits date back to 1891. This museum is next to theNewlands Rugby Stadium.NYANGA / CROSSROADSThis township dates back to 1975. It started as an informal settlement for Xhosa migrants tothe city. Today, Terminus Road, from the KTC camp to the taxi ranks, is a hive of activitywhere informal traders sell everything from food to pins.OBSERVATORYThis residential area is named after the SA Astronomical Observatory and lies east of the citycentre between the Liesbeeck and Black Rivers. The area is inhabited mainly by students andits many cafés, pubs and live music venues make it a popular entertainment venue.ADVENTURE AND SPORTHiking: Guided walks can be undertaken along the Liesbeeck River, which meanders throughthe southern suburbs of Cape Town, areas rich in bird life. The lower section, particularly theRaapenberg Bird Sanctuary, is very popular among bird-watchers.59