Company's gardens

Situated in the very center of Cape Town is a large and somewhat strangely laid out park. This is because this garden, which is the oldest in the country, was once the only place where food and medicine could be reliably grown by Dutch colonists.    

Established in the mid-17th century by the Dutch East India Company, the garden was first laid out to maximize the growth of various fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants. This was of vital importance, as the cape was a crucial restocking location for ships traveling between Europe and Asia. Its history is a testament to Dutch botanists, who had the entire place up and running in just two years. Discovering when and how to grow different crops in this strange new climate.

However, what began as a utilitarian supply station slowly transformed into a place of ornament and experimentation, as botanists introduced exotic trees, flowering shrubs, and herbs from across the world, transforming it into the garden that it is today.

Now, many historical wonders can be found, from old Dutch cannons to the oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa, which was planted around 1652.  A formal rose garden, designed in 1929, sits nearby, while a fish pond, herb and succulent gardens, an aviary, and a memorial honoring South African soldiers punctuate the grounds. This garden is a perfect metaphor of the city, founded by outsiders but turned into an amalgamation of many different cultures.