Skip to main content

Enjoy an exotic escape in the dog-friendly Arderne Gardens in Claremont

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. 

Arderne Gardens, a magical place to connect with nature

Zoom in to see Kygo

Some calm reflection time

A tropical paradise


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. 


How beautiful?


Kygo enjoying Arderne Gardens

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.

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.


What the duck

Some golden bamboo 

Strolling among the giants

Sitting pretty by the hydrangeas


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


Labels:
Location: Arderne Gardens, 222 Main Rd, Claremont, 7708, South Africa

Comments

Post a Comment

I'd like to hear what you think about my posts, so leave me a comment...

Popular posts from this blog

Hiking the Noordhoek Peak Circuit in Silvermine

An easy 7km trail that is kid and dog-friendly My love affair with Silvermine Nature Reserve, part of the Table Mountain National Park, started four years ago when we hiked the Noordhoek Peak Circuit. I absolutely fell in love with the place - so much so that almost every Sunday, come rain or shine, you can find us exploring one of the Reserve’s trails.  Naturally when we got Kygo, our exuberant Rottweiler, we took him along on our hikes. Kygo was built with adventure hard-coded in his DNA. He absolutely loves water, swimming and outdoor adventures, and Silvermine offers all of this.  Kygo and I at the Noordhoek Peak Circuit looking out over Hout Bay About the Noorhoek Peak Circuit The Noordhoek Peak Circuit is a 7km hike that you can comfortably complete in about 2 and a half hours. With an elevation of 754m at the Peak, it offers spectacular views of some of Cape Town’s most amazing beaches. This hike is incredibly beautiful and as you are walking there are so many different...
3 comments
Read more

Pumpkin-spiced enrichment stuffing recipe for dogs

Sneaking in extra veggies and micro-nutrients Finding treats that are healthy, don’t break the calorie bank, are packed with nutrients and delicious too, sounds like a tall order. But it is within reach… This enrichment stuffing recipe was created with fussy eaters in mind, where you are able to sneak more veg and fruit into their diet and contains some great ingredients for dogs with allergies.   It is really simple to make and because you are freezing it, it can keep for a long time. Although I make a batch at least once a week. And I’m sure you will be too, because your dogs will love it. Ingredients 1kg pumpkin (can be substituted with butternut or sweet potato)  2 tablespoons of coconut oil (Coconut oil is good for a shiny coat, for allergies and itchy skin, boosts their immune, improves cognitive function and treats arthritis and ligament issues, according to Rover.com ). 4 tablespoons of peanut butter (a dog-friendly variety, preferably one that has no added sa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Klaasenbosch is a delightful trail for a walk with your dog

People often ask how I know about so many trails and the truth is some of them are discovered in a serendipitous manner. Klaasenbosch was one of those amazing ‘by chance’ discoveries and has quickly crept up our favourite list.  We were doing the Alphen Trail one day, and we usually start at the bottom of Alphen Drive and walk all the way to the top of the trail. As we came out on the other side at Hohenort Avenue, we saw another trail board across the road and decided to try it. The rest is history... Waleed and Kygo exploring in the early morning light Walking the Klaasenbosch Trail For the Google Maps directions to Klaasenbosch - click here As you start the trail, the verges are the backyards of properties that have stables and depending on the time of day that you walk, we often see people horse-riding. There are no cyclists allowed, which makes it a popular spot for dog walking and trail running. The view of Klaasenbosch A great place to take your dog for a walk It is a short ...
2 comments
Read more