Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden: Visitor Guide, Fees, Hours and Things to Do

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden: Visitor Guide, Fees, Hours and Things to Do: History & Culture

Discover Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden: Visitor Guide, Fees, Hours and Things to Do

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden sits on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain in Newlands, in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs. SANBI gives the distance as 13 km from the city centre via De Waal Drive (M3). It is one of the easiest big outings from central Cape Town. It suits a slow morning on the lawns, a canopy walk or a hike up the mountain.

This guide covers the 2026–27 entry fees, opening hours, the main attractions, where to eat and the Sunday evening summer concerts. Fees and hours change often, so check with SANBI before you travel.

Quick facts for planning your visit

• Location: Newlands, Cape Town, on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, 13 km from the city centre via De Waal Drive (M3), per SANBI.
• Summer hours (September to March): 08:00–19:00 daily.
• Winter hours (April to August): 08:00–18:00 daily.
• Payment: online through Webtickets only. Cash is no longer accepted.
• Ticket office: 021 799 8782.
• Information line: 021 799 8783.
• Email: [email protected]

Entry fees for 2026–27

These are the fees SANBI lists for 2026–27, as read on 2 October 2026:

• International adults: R270
• South African residents and SADC nationals (18+, with ID): R110
• African nationals: R150
• Students: R60
• Children aged 6 to 17: R40
• Children under 6: free
• South African residents aged 60+: free on Tuesdays only
• SANBI members: free

Fees and hours can change. Confirm them on the SANBI visitor information page before you go. Book online, because the garden no longer takes cash.

A short history of Kirstenbosch

Kirstenbosch was established on 1 July 1913. It is often described as the first botanical garden in the world devoted to a country’s native flora.

Henry Harold Pearson, a Cambridge botanist, championed its creation. He served as the first director without a salary.

Wikipedia also records two recognitions. The garden was named International Garden of the Year 2015 by the International Garden Tourism Awards Body, and it is a Level IV accredited arboretum (ArbNet).

One of the older features in the garden is Colonel Bird’s Bath, also known as Lady Anne Barnard’s Bath. It is a historic spring-fed bath.

Top things to see and do

Walk the Boomslang canopy walkway

The Boomslang, officially the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway, is a 130 m walkway through the arboretum. It was built for the garden’s 2013 centenary and is included in general entry. Hours are roughly 08:30–17:30, but that figure has not been confirmed on a primary page, so check on the day.

Visit the Botanical Society Conservatory

The Conservatory is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00, according to SANBI’s information page. It is a good stop when the weather turns.

Explore the herb garden and trails

The garden has an indigenous herb garden and several trails. Pair them with Colonel Bird’s Bath for an easy loop through the older parts of the garden.

Hike Skeleton Gorge to Table Mountain

The Skeleton Gorge route starts at the garden and climbs to the Table Mountain summit, according to Wikipedia. Plan this as a proper hike and not a stroll between lawns.

Picnic on the lawns

Picnics on the lawns are a popular alternative to a sit-down meal. MOYO also lists a picnic option.

Where to eat at Kirstenbosch

• MOYO Kirstenbosch: African cuisine, with buffet and picnic options. Summer hours (September to March) are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11:00–18:00, and Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday 09:00–18:00. In winter (April to August) it closes at 17:00. These hours come from a search summary, so confirm them with the restaurant.
• Fynkos Kirstenbosch Tea Room: at the Centre for Home Gardening (Gate 2). It serves breakfast, lunch, salads, soups, cakes and tea, listed as daily 09:00–16:00. This also comes from a search summary and is worth confirming.

Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts

The garden hosts the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts on Sunday evenings. A search summary citing InsideGuide gives the 2026/27 season as 25 November 2026 to 29 March 2027. The line-up and ticket prices for 2026/27 had not been confirmed when this page was written, so check SANBI or Webtickets for the current details.

For a sense of how the concerts run, the previous season (2025/26) had 18 performances. Gates opened at 16:00 and the music started at 17:15. Tickets were sold only through Webtickets and the Kirstenbosch Ticket Office.

Getting there and combining your day

A City Sightseeing hop-on stop is listed as Stop 20: Kirstenbosch Garden. Route details have not been verified, so check with the operator.

Constantia and the rest of the Southern Suburbs are natural pairings. Private tours already combine Kirstenbosch and Constantia, though those listings have not been verified. If you want to stay nearby, look at Cape Town stays in Newlands, Claremont and Constantia.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access is limited because of steep gradients in places. If mobility is a concern, contact the information line on 021 799 8783 before your visit.

Tips for your visit

• Book your ticket online in advance, because cash is not accepted.
• Check the current hours and fees on the SANBI visitor information page.
• Allow extra time if you plan to combine the garden with the Boomslang, the Conservatory and a meal.
• Treat Skeleton Gorge as a hike up the mountain and plan it separately from a garden stroll.
• If you are visiting between late November and March, check whether a Sunday sunset concert fits your dates.

Photo: yeowatzup from Göttingen, Germany, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.