Kirstenbosch Garden faces challenges amid climate change and staffing pressures
Yet recently, a growing number of visitors have expressed concern that this cherished garden is no longer at its best.
What was once a pristine tourist attraction now shows signs of neglect, labels marking long-dead plants, and dominant species have been allowed to overwhelm weaker varieties.
The succulent house, a popular attraction, has suffered too, with many older plants having been left untended, and the glass barriers meant to protect the displays are broken or missing.
The curator of Kirstenbosch, Werner Voigt, openly acknowledged the issue in a recent interview with John Maytham on CapeTalk. Without making excuses, Voigt attributed the current state of the garden to the combined effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and staffing shortages.
He reassured listeners that steps were being taken to restore the garden to its former glory.
'Whilst I agree that the standard, just in terms of maintenance, hasn't been up to the standard that people have gotten used to, that has changed in the last three months or so,' Voigt said.
He added that this period of adversity was being treated as a learning opportunity for the team and promised a noticeable improvement by the end of August or September.
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