Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Cape Town, South Africa: The Company's Garden

Welcome to the oldest garden in South Africa. We're at more than 370 years and counting, which is a long time for anything to survive. 

This dates back to 1652. The first European settlers here were the Dutch, who thought the area would be a nice place to stop on their way to and from the Far East. The Dutch East India Company set up the area as a garden in Cape Town to grow vegetables for the crews that resided here or were visiting. 

It didn't take long for the place to become relatively famous. A variety of plants grew here in the late 1600s, to the point where writers thought the area had the greatest cross-section of products in the world. The purpose has changed at this point, as it serves as a nice spot for relaxation and recreation. There also are several monuments on the grounds.

This massive fig tree shown here is a nice feature of the area. Here's a chance to take some of the grounds:

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