Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Fun-filled holiday in full swing
KIRSTENBOSCH, the city’s world-famous botanical garden at the foot of Table Mountain, celebrates its 100th this year.
The official birthday is on July 1 which is in the middle of the school holidays, and the garden’s staff have lined up several events to celebrate.
There will be no time for boredom with the variety of activities, such as puppet shows, treasure hunts and making crafts, with special events on Monday.
Entry to the garden is free for children aged between six and 17 until Friday, July 12, and on Monday, July 1, entry is free for everyone – Kirstenbosch’s gift to you.
Look out for the special birthday activities in the shop and at the various restaurants that can make this a special family day.
It’s hard to believe that 100 years ago, Kirstenbosch was a rundown old farm full of pigs, alien vegetation and an abandoned homestead.
Now, it is one of the most beautiful gardens in Africa. Exploring the garden allows you to learn more about our Cape Floral kingdom. There are so many plants in a small area that it has become a major tourist attraction.
Kirstenbosch spokeswomen Beryl Eichenberger says there will be activities where you can create your own treasures, learn about the garden and its history, take walks, listen to stories and have some fun.
“It’s simply the best time to bask in the beauty of Kirstenbosch’s winter coat and become an eco kid,” she says.
“We’ll introduce you to the wonderful characters who inhabit the garden at our story time, let you watch the antics of our crazy puppets at the puppet shows, or take you on a treasure hunt as part of an exciting adventure walk – a parent or grandparent can come, too – or you can simply create a beautiful piece of craft using things from the garden. This is the time to explore the garden and learn more about the environment we live in.”
Visitors can discover all the secret places in the garden with their qualified guides. The Dell is one of the oldest parts of the garden and forms the natural centre – this shady place has all sorts of stories around it.
You’ll visit other parts and be introduced to the magical trails, learn about the wonder of leaves, Spiderheads, Silkypuffs and Pagodas and, of course, some of the centenarians – plants that have been there for 100 years.
Come and listen to story- tellers in the bookshop. “There are activities with every story, so you could find yourself planting, drawing or frogging.” The walks and the storytelling are free, but booking is essential. Call 021 799 8783. See www.sanbi.org. za for dates, times and venues.
● If you loved the millions of minions who starred in the first Despicable Me movie, you will be delighted to know that they are back in full force, and getting up to even more crazy antics, in Despicable Me 2.
This delightful animation, which promises fun for the whole family, will be prescreened at Ster-Kinekor cinemas on Wednesday and Thursday, before it is released countrywide on Friday.
Fans of the movie can catch the minions and other characters in Cape Town at movie theatres this weekend.
Today, they will be at Promenade from 9.30 to 11am, Tyger Valley from noon to 1.30pm and at Grand West from 3pm to 4.30pm. Tomorrow, they will be at Cape Gate from 9.30am to 11am, Canal Walk from noon to 4pm and at V&A Waterfront from 5pm to 6.30pm. Despicable Me 2 opens at cinemas on Friday.
● Ratanga Junction will open for a “10-day jol”, from Friday to Sunday, July 14, from 10am to 5pm daily. Tickets cost R162 for Adventurer Rider tickets, for those 1.3m or taller, R80 for Mini Adventurer Rider tickets, for those under 1.3m, and R55 for a Fun Pass, which includes entry and transport by boat. Ticket prices exclude the slingshot, which costs R55 a person. Booking at the slingshot on the day is essential as numbers are limited.
There will be live entertainment for the whole family, which will be announced next week.
For more information, visit www.ratanga.co.za