The Botanical Gardens Rock! Multi-Cache

A stroll through Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens.

One for the family - unfortunately not the 4 legged members.

A hidden gem in the middle of an already picturesque Boland town.  It’s a place I only really discovered after living near, and passing through, Stellenbosch for more then 20 years.  While working locally, I took to spending lunch hour lying on my back on the grass or reading near the pools – perfect for restoring soul and sanity.

1. Admission:
   The Botanical Garden is open to the public and admission was free, is now R15.00/person. No cash is accepted. Larger groups are welcome with prior-arrangement.

   Opening hours:
   The Botanical Garden is open seven days a week from 8:00 to 17:00. The Garden is closed on certain public holidays.

2. Park in either at the cheap parking between Piet Retief and Louw [S 33°56.375', E 18°51.619’] or in the more expensive parking (except Sundays when apparently it is free) where Drostdy meets Plein st / Van Riebeek street [S 33°56.183', E 18°51.823’] and take a pleasant stroll to Het Molen Water [S 33°56.204', E 18°51.856' ] where you will find panels depicting agricultural scenes from Simon van der Stel’s days.
   Count the panels (=A).
   
   Now count the number of water wheels in the middle panel (=B). Your next destination is deep within the gardens at S33°56,17B’ E18°51,9A0’. You should pass the office/shop and restaurant on your way. You will need to pay a nominal fee of ZAR15.00 to enter via credit card as they do not take cash
   
   Stop in at the office, pick up a map (it’s free) and take in some of the rich diversity of flora as you go. Management is well aware of the geocache and is very supportive of its presence. They love having visitors and are only too happy to share their knowledge of the place.
   
   The hot house opposite the office holds the oldest cultivated specimen of the Welwitschia in the world, dating back to the 1940’s (the key is available at the office if you’d like a closer look). The Welwitschia is endemic to the Namib desert within Namibia and Angola. As you pass beyond the restaurant (a nice place for a quiet meal) keep a lookout for the 3 tall sequoias to your left, a Dawn Redwood (native to the Sichuan–Hubei region of China), a Californian Redwood and a Giant Redwood. Depending on the time of year, you may get to see some King Proteas!
   
3. At S33°56,17B’ E18°51,9A0’ you should find a memorial plaque to a woman who was only 45 years old when she passed. Born in 196D, she passed in 201C.
   
   Your next destination is S 33°56.15(C-1)', 018°51.D92' - the Hopsbeuk near the ponds, which, if you are there between November and February may well hold Victoria, the giant lilypads which can hold the weight of a small child. The leaf can grow up to 3m in diameter, on a stalk 7–8 m in length. They are native to the shallow waters of the Amazon River basin. The flowers are white the first night they are open, becoming pink the second night and are up to 40 cm in diameter. These are being reintroduced to the gardens after a long absence, the gardens being the only place in South Africa where they have been successfully cultivated. The small building at the end of the ponds was the furnace room used to heat the water to the temperature at which the Victoria thrive.
   
4. You can find the final clue in a secret compartment at the Hopsbeuk. Take a seat. Gaze out at the fountain. You’re very close. The compartment should contain the final clue, which will give you a good idea of where the GZ is and the how to know you’re at the right place. Beware of muggles here; you may have to wait a while until the coast is clear. Fiddling with a bag at your feet may disguise why your head is between your knees!
   
5. Slide out the container. Note the clue you should find there. Slide the container back into place.
   
   
6. Near an exhibition of some small trees you will find an area where the workers store some trolleys. You may need to stub your toe to find the Cache Container. As they say, leave no… (‘nuff said)