Wild Life? Kirstenbosch Gardens
By Bronwyn in I love being outdoors with my babe! It’s wonderful to watch his amazement of the creatures and moving things. I can imagine how much good being outdoors does for a child’s senses. The smell of the trees and flowers, freshly watered or rained on grass, some not so fresh smelling animal “remains”… Then or course along with this goes the sight of all things “bright and beautiful”. I feed the birds that use the park behind our house as a runway. The take off of the flock of pigeons has my son mersmorised. He hears them as they circle around us and follows them like a cat follows its prey. The touch of soft grass in the winter and harder grass in the summer. The feel of beach sand through their fingers, through their hands, through their teeth, through their hair, through their bum cheeks…this could go on.
As you can tell, I think nature is a perfect teaching setting where learning takes place through exploration rather than formal repetition! Here are some “to go” places that I’ve either been to, heard about or read about. Enjoy and let us know what you think!
Kirsten
bosch Gardens- Rhodes Drive, Newlands
I really love this place. It’s a perfect place for a “Hens and Chicks” party or gathering. Pack a picnic, blanket and some toys and you’re set for an amazing day. It is even worth the travelling if you live far from it. There are pram friendly pathways although it’s quite a workout pushing the pram on the grass when finding a shady spot.
I however was disappointed with the price. I think there could be SA citizen prices seeing as it is a popular tourist destination with what seems like tourist prices. The entrance fee is R32 for adults and R20 for South African students with student ID cards. Fees for school children (6-17 years old) are R10. Children under 6 years old and Botanical Society members have free entry. Regular outings to the gardens would become quite costly especially for a hen with quite a few chicks.
The Garden is open 365 days a year from 08:00 – 19:00 (September -March) and from 08:00 – 18:00 (April – August).