Kleinmond - Harold Porter National Botanic Garden

At the foot of the Platberg (917m/3,009ft), to the north of Betty's Bay, is the Harold Porter National Botanic Garden (area 189ha/467ac), which is famed for its beautiful wild flowers. Only 5ha/12.5ac of the garden are cultivated; the rest of the area consists of typical Cape fynbos. In January the rare red disa orchids flower here, in March the nerines. Two mountain streams flow through the gardens. During the main flowering season, between October and February, large numbers of birds are attracted to the gardens, including the Cape thrush and various species of woodpeckers and cuckoos. Also to be seen in the gardens are porcupines, mongooses, baboons and (more rarely) leopards.