The Company Garden is the green heart of the city. Spend some time exploring because there is a lot to discover. The garden contains a rose garden, Japanese garden, fishpond, aviary and tea garden. But also contains a lot of hidden gems that you don’t want to miss.
The establishment of the garden go way back in time, 1650 to be exact, when the Dutch decided they needed a refreshment post for the seafarers that travelled along the Cape of Good Hope. A lot of hidden gems are from that historic time. Like the oldest cultivated tree in South Africa, named the Saffron Pear that you can find just in the middle of the garden. The old slave bell, which hung in Greenmarket Square to be used as an alarm in the event of fire. Keep an eye out when you’re looking out to these hidden gems. It is hard to imagine but real lions once lurked behind the impressive gate flanked by two sculptures of lionesses. A part of the garden was used as a menagerie; the government enslaves were housed alongside lions and a tiger. Also when you walk along Paddock lane you will find paddocks, which used to house the game animals.
 
Today the garden is a popular venue for festivals, as well as being the home to South African National Gallery and many other museums. Just take a look around, there is lots to see!
Photo 1: by Mpaskevi - http://www.bluelightdistrict.org/wp/?p=3248 licenses under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo 2: by Jorge Lascar - Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0