Arderne Gardens, in the Southern Suburbs, provides an exotic escape for anyone craving some fresh air and a walk in nature. The great news is that the Gardens is open under the National Lockdown Level 3 restrictions for walking and is dog-friendly, provided your pooch is on a lead.
Situated at 222 Main Road Claremont, just opposite the Life Kingsbury hospital, the Gardens is a national heritage site with a rich history dating back to 1845. While they are keeping the gates closed, it is not locked and you can push it open to go for your walk. With the current restrictions, they are limiting the number of people and there are security guards at the entrance to monitor this. You aren’t allowed to sit on any of the benches or picnic.
I haven’t been to these gardens in years. The last time to be precise, was when I was part of my aunt’s bridal party and we took some photos there. It still remains a very popular spot for wedding photos.
I was struck by the beauty of the gardens anew. It was humid and drizzly this morning and the Gardens, with its trees from all over the world, evoked memories of a tropical Thailand.
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| Arderne Gardens, a magical place to connect with nature |
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| Zoom in to see Kygo |
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| Some calm reflection time |
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| A tropical paradise |
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The circuit in the Gardens is about one kilometre and flat. This is a great walk to do with children, even with a stroller. There are so many tall, gorgeous trees that provide a shaded canopy and different varieties of flowers and plants that line the paths which lead to beautiful ponds with Japanese-style bridges. |
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| How beautiful? |
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| Kygo enjoying Arderne Gardens |
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| Can you count the leaves? |
The Gardens is home to quite a few Gondwana trees, resembling a palm tree with fern-like leaves that sprout from the top. This tree species has been around since the Jurassic period, during a time when South America, Africa, India, Australia and Antarctica were still interlinked and called Gondwanaland, more than 200 million years ago.
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| The Gondwana trees |
We meandered around for an hour, walking the circuit a few times and reading the info boards about the vegetation. It was so tranquil and besides us, there was another couple walking their dog and a lady walking her Beagle.
Kygo, our three-year-old rottweiler, was so excited about being in a new location and getting to sniff all the flowers and plants. He spent some time watching a duck in a mossy pond, from one of the wooden, arched bridges. He was also stalking some guinea fowl. The beautiful flowers, like the lilac and purple hydrangeas, are the perfect backdrop for some pictures.
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| What the duck |
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| Some golden bamboo |
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| Strolling among the giants |
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| Sitting pretty by the hydrangeas |
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| Watching the guinea fowl closely |
The Garden is maintained by the City of Cape Town with the help of The Friends of Arderne Gardens. If you would like more info on the Gardens or to donate to its upkeep, click here.
To follow Kygo's adventures around the Cape, click on the links Facebook and Instagram.
Feel free to share this blogpost with your friends.
Take care,
Imtithaal
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