Today was to be one of extreme contrasts starting in the magnificent beauty of Kirstenbosch Gardens to the extreme poverty of the Townships and ending in the stunning and tasty wine country of Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl.
Table Mountain National Park is the only natural World Heritage Site that includes a botanical garden - Kirstenbosch National Botanial Gardens, considered to be among the world's top three botanical gardens. Established in 1913, the Gardens is one of Cecil Rhodes great legacies. When he died at age 49, he bequeathed the land for the Gardens to promote and conserve the flora of southern Africa. Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch Gardens are the richest corner of the Cape Floristic Region and the single richest floralistic area in the world with over 4,500 plant species in cultivation including many that are endangered. The number of species per genus and family are the highest given for various species-rich regions of the world, and the density of species is also among the highest. It displays the highest levels of endemism (species that occur nowhere else) at 31.9% and has been identified as one of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots.
Heath, reeds and proteas are found in abundance, including the King Protea, which is South Africa's national emblem. The Gardens also boast an extraordinary display of cycad (tropical plants resembling palms but reproducing by means of spermatozoids). Cycads are the oldest family of plants in the world dating back 250-300 million years. The weather cooperated and the clouds cleared for a marvelous Andrew-guided tour of the Gardens. One can only imagine the Gardens' spring spendor under beautiful blue skies!
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