Walking Through the Gardens

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Geo: -25.4797, 30.9699

This morning we had a slow start to the day. We started the day with enjoying a huge breakfast on the deck. Today was planned to be more relaxed than yesterday. On the way to the National Botanical Gardens we stopped at a large Cape Union Mart store. Here we bought few things that we would need for our upcoming camping trip to Mana Pools National Park.

We arrived at the gardens at about 1pm. The next three hours were spent slowly walking around and enjoying various themed gardens. I really enjoy visiting parks and gardens, a very peaceful time. Among the plants there was a sculpture exhibition of large, metal bugs. At the Nels River viewpoint we could see where the Nels River meets with the Crocodile River. There were also many Strangler Figs – each tree is very unique from another, an interesting sight.

We also walked to the viewpoint, this time we saw the cascades with water flowing over rocks in the Crocodile River. The last place we visited was the African Rainforest Area which was reached by walking along an elevated walkway.

On the way back to the BnB, we stopped at the supermarket and bought some things to make a barbecue dinner. That evening we sat on the deck and enjoyed our simple, but delicious dinner.

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Photos

01 Giant Bug
On this tree there was a giant Praying Mantis.

02 Round
Looking up I saw these round, green fruits.

03 Strangler
A strangler fig has taken over this tree.

04 River
Where the Crocodile and Nel rivers meet.

05 Mountain Fig
A Mountain Fig growing on a dead tree.

06 Scenery
The scenic gardens.

07 Prickly
The prickly trunk of this tree.

08 Prickly
These two trees were full of prickles.

09 Spiky Prickles
I would hate to bump into these!

10 Taking Over
A Strangler Fig taking over this tree.

11 Climbable
This tree would have been a great tree to climb.

12 Little Fruits
Lots of little fruits on a Common Cluster Fig.

13 Little Fruits
Lots of little fruits on a Common Cluster Fig.

14 Tree Trunks
An old tree.

15 Twisted
The branches from this tree are twisted.

16 Prickly
Another prickly plant we came across.

17 Prickly
Another prickly plant species.

18 Unique
This plant has a unique design.

19 Leaf
Looking down a long leaf of a plant.

20 Cascades
The cascades area of the gardens.

21 Cascades
The cascades area of the gardens.