OUTFITS,  TRAVELOGUE

Flowers at Kirstenbosch

January 3, 2016 /

Back to my trip to South Africa – we met up with Cand and drove up to the most biodiverse national parks that the country boasts in Kirstenbosch one sunny day. It was pretty glorious… I even got to touch their national flower! The King Protea is a blooming beast with spiky petals for extra ferocity. It’s pronounced pro-tea-uh, but somehow I can’t stop thinking of a king who really loves tea. Anyway, pictures in this wonderful adventuring park!

Entrance to Kirstenbosch, South Africa.Entrance was only 55 Rand (SGD $5).

Glass house at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Plant exhibit at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Glass house at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Signage at the entrance at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Landscape at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.The scenery in this country is ridiculously photogenic. I still can’t get over it.

Foliage at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

We walked across the new Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway:

View from the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Atop the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Underneath the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.The underside of the walkway looks neat too.

The Dinosaurs and Cycads section was super cool. Life-sized, anatomically-accurate dino and pterosaur tin sculptures (by David Huni) populated the area amongst the millions-of-years-old Cycads here:

Dinosaurs and cycads at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Dinosaurs and cycads at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Dinosaurs and cycads at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Dinosaurs and cycads at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Dinosaurs and cycads at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Dinosaurs and cycads at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.Look out, T-rex is coming to terrorize the town beyond!

Last cycad of its kind at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.This Cycad (Encephalartos Woodii) is one of the rarest plants in the world. I believe this is a clone of the only male specimen researchers found in Durban. A female has never been discovered. The cage in here is to protect its suckers from being poached.

Some more interesting plants and sights as we ascended the park:

Nelson Mandela bust at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.Nelson Mandela planted a pepper-bark tree (Warburgia Salutaris), a famous medicinal tree in South Africa, on his visit to Kirstenbosch in 1996. It meant to symbolize his healing to the nation. Apparently, the yellow Strelitzia behind this bust is named after him! It took the park nearly 20 years of selection and cross-pollinating to develop the golden yellow hue of the normally-orange species.

narrow-leaved Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Juncea) at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.Narrow-leaved Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Juncea). So pretty and bird-like!

Mother-in-law's Tongue plant at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.This was too amusing.

Protea flower at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.The Protea flower in bloom!

Landscape at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.We basically climbed to the top of the park.

Mountain at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.The variety of plants was just as breath-taking as the mountain the park rests against.

Fujifilm wefie flatlay at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.Took some selfies atop.

Lastly, what I wore:

Outfit at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Outfit at Kirstenbosch, South Africa.

Wearing
Blue phoenix kimono c/o Dressin
Black side-slit dress c/o Newdress
Owl socks – Tutu Anna
PU sneakers – Zalora

Outfit photos assisted by Ottie.

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