A Walk in the Park

This weekend I went for a walk in the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.  They are about a half hour drive from my apartment, but only about a 5 minute drive from my work.  I went right when the park opened in the morning (8am) so it was very quiet when I arrived.  I started with the hike up the "mountain" (not huge, but bigger than a hill).  The views from the top were amazing.  I didn't see anyone else for most of the walk so my pictures are beautifully people-less.  There were a few more people around after I had finished my hike and started walking around the gardens to the waterfall.  I didn't explore the many other, more leisurely walks around the gardens to see all the different kinds of plants this time.  It might be better saved for spring or summer anyway.  Currently (in winter) it is very dry here.  Some of the places I walked by in the park had been systematically burned so that the new grass and plants could grow properly.  Grass fires in the winter are fairly common here.  I've seen lit fires about once a week since I've been here and I've seen the evidence of many others.  I'm looking forward to spring when there will be fewer fires and my hands and lips will be less dry and the scenery will be greener (and my apartment won't freezing at night).

View when entering the gardens

View from the top of the mountain, above the waterfall

Another view from the top

A burnt area on top of the mountain

The Witpoortjie Falls