9 Reasons to visit the Montagu Nature Garden
As you map out your road trip adventure along Route 62, be sure to add the Montagu Nature Garden to your list of must-visit destinations. Offering free access, stunning hikes, seasonal photo ops, incredible views and an immersive tranquil escape into the indigenous flora of the Klein Karoo, it's a space that invites you to just breathe.
Any traveller embarking on a Route 62 road trip is in for a treat. There are so many places to visit and things to do. One of these is the pretty Klein Karoo town of Montagu; a must-visit destination and stopover. (And if you ask those who have visited before, they’re likely to tell you that more than 1 night is recommended).
Because this is a town that epitomises slow living, as soon as you’ve unpacked your bags, you may want to first explore one of the charming and welcoming coffee shops on offer. Then, fortified with caffeine and pastries - and weather permitting - I suggest you take yourself off to the Montagu Nature Garden; a hidden gem of serenity and tranquillity (and within walking distance of most everything in town).
You really don’t want to leave Montagu without having wandered into this indigenous wildflower reserve where you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Klein Karoo's fynbos, succulent and renosterveld biomes.
For those of us who live in Montagu, we’re very proud of this horticultural spoil on our doorstep and happy to share it with all who are passing through.
Here are my 9 reasons why the Montagu Nature Garden should make it onto your travel wish list:
1. It’s free
There’s not much in life that's free, but entrance to the Nature Garden is. And with the vibrant showcasing of unique flora and fauna that thrive in this region, you definitely ‘get your money’s worth.’ 😉 (On leaving, and if you feel so inclined, there is an unmanned donation box. As this is a community garden run by volunteers, any and all proceeds go to the upkeep and preservation of the garden).
2. It’s for young, old & anyone in between
The Montagu Nature Garden is for all ages. Little ones will love to run on the lush grassed areas, teens will have plenty of options for IG moments and selfies, and parents and grandparents will enjoy the peace and calm, as well as the opportunity to connect with nature and watch kids just be kids. (Please note that due to the fauna that inhabit this garden, dogs are not allowed).
3. It has a backstory
As is so often the case, a backstory has its beginnings in an idea. For the Montagu Nature Garden, the year was 1954 (Montagu’s centenary year) and an unplanned meeting of three Montagu residents: the mayor, his wife and the town engineer. These visionaries wanted to mark the anniversary with something special, and an indigenous garden was the perfect solution.
The true sense of a place is often rooted in, and enriched by, story.
Here's the abridged version: Even though Montagu was in the middle of a drought, on Tuesday mornings, the mayor's wife, Justine Basson, and her niece, Babsie Van Zyl, literally ‘broke ground’ with pick axes and spades in hand and started laying out and planting the garden. Hence the name on the onsite stone and thatched building is ‘JUSTBABS.’
Their first planting efforts did not survive the drought conditions, but a year later, alongside women volunteers from the community, they valiantly started their Tuesday morning labours. At that time, the town engineer, Mr. McSweeney, assisted in the installation of an irrigation system. Fortunately for Justine and Babsie, and their supporters at the Montagu Horticultural Society, a Mr. Schreiber came to live in Montagu. His claim to fame? He was from the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town and his experience and expertise as ‘curator’ of the garden were invaluable in the layout and planting of the garden.
Today, the current volunteer curator, Hugo De Wet, and his small team of gardeners, are passionate and knowledgeable (the best combination), always ready to answer your questions and enlighten you about the garden’s flora and fauna.
4. It's all about the flora and fauna
The biodiverse plant species is where the Montagu Nature Garden comes into its own. Featuring an impressive collection of indigenous plants, the repertoire of botanicals, herbs, grasses, trees and shrubs will fascinate and delight.
As you wander through the garden, you’ll be greeted by the vibrancy of blooming succulents, the delicate fragrance of fynbos, a cheerful palette of vygies and Namaquland daisies, and the rugged charm of Klein Karoo shrubs.
Each plant tells a story of resilience and adaptation, perfectly suited to the semi-arid conditions of the area.
Springtime (August to October) is the garden’s pièce de resistance where it becomes the stage for a glorious and colourful display that is just wonderful to behold. But Autumn spoils you with lilac water lilies. Basically, whenever you pop in, you won’t be disappointed.
And the fauna? This is a twitcher’s paradise, so download a birding app before you arrive. You will also be shyly greeted by roaming buck, scurrying dassies, elusive tortoises, tentative hares, croaking frogs, and a resident ginger cat. (I do have it on good authority that the wilder rocky sections house scorpions, but apparently they won't bother you if you don't bother them).
5. It’s for hikers and photographers
Just behind the Montagu Nature Garden tea room and seed store is a koppie known as ‘Bessiekop,’ shortened from its original Hottentot name: ‘Noemnoembessiekop’ after the indigenous Carissa Haematocarpa hardy shrub (Natal Plum) we now fondly call ‘noem noem.’
“Leave the road, take the trails.” -Pythagoras
Climbing to the top of Bessiekop is worth it. Depending on your hiking fitness levels, and the ages of those in your group, you have two options to hike the trail. (The words of Robert Frost’s famous poem may be popping into your head at this moment).
Option 1 is a 1.7 km circular walk to the top of Bessiekop and back down. The views from the top over the whole of Montagu are spectacular. You will definitely want to take photographs.
With an elevation of about 83m, this is a fairly easy hike, but you’re welcome to stop awhile on one of the strategically placed benches to take in the vistas while you catch your breath.
If you don't take the shortcut at the top, option 2 is a 4km walk that goes down the southside, loops back up to the top of Bessiekop and then takes you back down the other side to the Nature Garden starting point. This is a favourite trail running route, but due to the views and flora en route, it often turns into a photo walk.
The team at Montagu Trails have done a sterling job in marking out the routes, so you can't really get lost.
Whichever option you favour, and however long it takes you, your Strava followers will still give you kudos. (Please note that the Bessiekop trail is not pram friendly)
6. It’s for those who appreciate seasonal changes
It's no secret that Montagu and the surrounding valleys, farmlands, fruit orchards, vineyards and olive olive groves put on quite a show of cyclical colours and a rich tapestry of flowering plants that dance to the different tunes of the four seasons.
Temperatures vary greatly in this part of the world and this, in turn, means that the Nature Garden has an ever-changing display throughout the year. So a visit in summer, autumn, winter or spring will inevitably result in a completely different experience as the landscape is never the same.
7. It's all about the views
It doesn't matter from which direction you enter Montagu, it’s all about the magnificent mountain views. This scenic narrative continues in the Nature Garden where the panoramic expanse of the towering backdrop of Langeberg mountain range - either from ground level or from the top of Bessiekop - will cause you to pause.
Depending on the time of day, you will be a spectator to how the shifting of light, shadows, clouds and mist all affect the mood of the mountain.
8. It’s all about community spirit
Every Tuesday morning, from April to October (if the weather plays along), there’s an open invitation to ‘T&3’ at the Montagu Nature Garden Tea Room. From 10h00-11h00 you pay R35 for tea/coffee and 3 mini baked treats and savoury eats. This fundraising initiative is for locals and visitors and is all about ‘kuiering’ in nature.
The garden is also host to sunset music concerts and, once a month, Montagu Trails organises a Saturday morning fun run.
Within minutes of setting foot in the Nature Garden you will be exhaling and your sense of calm will be restored.
That's the magic of places like this.
The garden is never crowded and this tranquil haven swaps the hustle, bustle and noise for birdsong, breezes and a ‘whispering’ stream. (One cannot help but get poetic in such a space). In fact, pack your notebook or artist’s sketchbook as this is a muse for writers and painters.
It’s open from 07h30 - 17h00 every day, throughout the year. The well-maintained trails are calling, ready to lead you through a variety of landscapes - from shady groves and streams to sun-drenched clearings and wildflower trails - with each promising a unique and meditative perspective on the natural and seasonal beauty of this area.
This is a protected space where nature, history and community come together to create an unforgettable experience; a place where the beauty of the Klein Karoo is on full display, just waiting to be discovered.
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