Reflecting pool

Another of those butterflies in Kirstenbosch

Natal Francolin, Pternistis natalensis, picking and pecking its way along a path in Kirstenbosch

Ensete ventricosum, the false banana.
There was a similar plant on display at RHS Garden Wisley only that was ensete glaucum, the snow banana that is found in Yunan, China.

King of the Fynbos

Protea Cynaroides is South Africa's national flower. Only found in the Eastern and Western Cape, it is pollinated by the long-tailed Sugarbird and the small Sunbirds that feed on nectar, as well as the Protea Beetle that feeds on the pollen

Yellow pin cushion protea against the mountains

Helmeted guinea fowl, Numida meleagris, resting in the dirt.

Silverboom, Leucodendron Argenteum

Looking down to Cape Town from high up in Kirstenbosch

Flame colours in the shade

Kirstenbosch

A Hadada ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) showing off its iridescent wing feathers.


Kirstenbosch, Cape Town

Looks like an artichoke

Kirstenbosch, Cape Town

. . . and another protea

Kirstenbosch, Cape Town

Vibrant protea

Kirstenbosch, Cape Town

This one looks like an exotic heron

Coffee time

'DIY' caffe latte served with muffins. Very sophisticated!

There were lots of these butterflies with half their wings transparent.

Strelitzia Parvifolia var. Juncea
Reed or Rush Strelitzia

A place for breakfast or lunch in the garden.

Cheetah sitting in a tree by Dylan Lewis

Welcoming visitors to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

Plenty of space for a gallop.

Table Mountain with stunning Protea

Monsieur Biltong

A red-winged starling, onychognathus morio

The 'station' at the top. Cable Car 2 is on it's way down.

View from the cable car up Table Mountain. You can even see the stadium they built for the World Cup Footie 2010 (64,100 cap).

The dassies, or hyrax (procavia capensis) enjoying the precipitous view from the edge of Table Mountain, South Africa.

Also known as Jackass penguins, these South African penguins were spotted at Boulders Beach, Simon's Town,

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

A South African penguin