Kirstenbosch Gardens Hiking Cape Town
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Kirstenbosch Gardens Reopens for Outdoor Exercise and picnics

**Note: This article was last updated on 26/09/2020 as per current Lockdown Alert Level 2 guidelines. It is therefore subject to change in accordance with future Lockdwon regulations.

There’s no doubt that we’ve all been missing the unapologetic natural beauty of the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens! The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is acclaimed as one of the great botanic gardens of the world. Not only has it won the highly esteemed ‘International Garden of the Year’ award, very few gardens can compare to the sheer grandeur of the setting of Kirstenbosch. Located right at the base of the glorious Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch is one of the most beautiful displays of indigenous natural beauty you’ll find in the city.

Now to get to the exciting news! The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens will reopen on Monday, 3 August 2020, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Following the announcement by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy, all national botanical gardens are set to open on Monday. While the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens initially re-opened solely for outdoor exercise as per the original announcement on the 3rd of August by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy, it has since been announced that picnics are also permitted due to the easing of National Lockdown regulations.

Kirstenbosch Gardens Reopens for Outdoor Exercise

“We are pleased to reopen and ready to welcome back families to enjoy our open safe space” – Sarah Struys, Events and Tourism Manager, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.

In order to ensure the health and safety of visitors and staff, all visitors to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are required to wear a mask and requested to maintain safety by practising sanitation and abiding by strict social distancing guidelines as indicated by National Lockdown regulations.

“The welfare of our visitors and staff are of paramount importance, and therefore we urge our patrons to follow the regulations” – Ms Carmel Mbizvo, SANBI Acting Chief Executive Officer.

In accordance with the outlined Lockdown regulations and guidelines, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens has implemented strict health, hygiene, and safety protocols to ensure optimal standards are upheld and a safe environment is created for all visitors and staff.

KIRSTENBOSCH GARDENS HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

  • Visitors to Kirstenbosch Gardens are expected to wear masks at all times. The wearing of masks in public is mandatory – No mask = NO entry!
  • Screening and contact tracing will be done upon entry into the Gardens.
  • Physical/social distancing guidelines will be strongly enforced and must be adhered to at all times.
  • The use of kid’s jungle gyms is prohibited.
  • Limitations of visitor numbers may be imposed.

To add some more excitement to this amazing news, the Kirstenbosch Tea Room, Vida e Caffè and Moyo Kirstenbosch are open for sit down meals and take-aways. The Kirstenbosch Garden Centre, Bookshops and Giftshops are also open to visitors.

To ensure the optimal health and safety of staff members and visitors, the layout of these establishments have changed to reduce the number of customers in each space as well as to ensure social distancing guidelines are adhered to and upheld. All visitors and patrons are required to wear masks, except while eating and drinking.

Kirstenbosch Gardens Reopens for Outdoor Exercise - Hills