South Africa – Botanical Discovery of the Cape Flora
17 – 28 November 2010
 |
The Western Cape is renowned not only for its magnificent scenery and superb climate but also its unique flora – about 6000 endemic species grow in the region. Deep blue agapanthus and jacaranda herald early summer in the Cape Province, and the King Protea in full flower is a highlight on one of our wild flower walks – a perfect escape from winter in the northern hemisphere.
Our botanist, Adrian Moehl, knows the Cape well and has worked for four winters at Kirstenbosch gardens on their Protea Atlas project.
We have chosen comfortable, good 3-star and 4-star hotels in typical Cape-style. In order to enjoy the flora of different areas we change hotels a couple of times; this has been kept to a minimum to alleviate too much coach travel. For the first three nights we stay at D'Ouwe Werf Hotel, Stellenbosch, a boutique hotel in the heart of this historical town, within safe walking distance of museums, art galleries and shops. We move on to The Alphen Hotel, Constantia, near Cape Town, a most elegant, comfortable, small hotel with pool and delightful garden. Our final three nights are in Hermanus at the Auberge Burgundy, a delightful guest house set above the picturesque old harbour in the historic centre, with views over Walker Bay.
South African Airways' direct overnight flights from London Heathrow to Cape Town. The flights are in economy class – upgrades are available. The Western Cape enjoys a Mediterranean climate and November is early summer. The temperatures are 20–25°C on the coast with pleasant breezes off the sea. Inland is somewhat warmer during the day and cooler at night.
Activity Level: Stony tracks/paths. Ascents/descents on days 3/6.
Itinerary
DAY ONE - WEDNESDAY 17 NOVEMBER
Evening departure from London Heathrow –
overnight flight with South African Airways direct to
Cape Town, arriving in the morning after breakfast.
DAY TWO – THURSDAY 18 NOVEMBER
Arrival at Cape Town airport with a short transfer to
the comfortable Hotel d'Ouwe Werf in Stellenbosch.
Meet Adrian Moehl for a light lunch in the hotel
gardens. Our first introduction to South African flora
with Adrian is an afternoon excursion to the Paarl
mountains and the fynbos vegetation. We return to
the hotel to enjoy dinner together.
DAY THREE – FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER
We spend the day in the small nature reserve of
Helderberg, 'clear mountain', in the Hottentots-
Holland mountain range. In 1960 its lower southeastern
slopes were proclaimed a sanctuary for the
indigenous flora and fauna of the area. We walk
through amazing slopes of proteas and discover
some of the beautiful endemics. Leucospermum
gueinzii, one of the Firework Pincushions should
just be flowering. Many varieties of birds, including
Cape sugarbirds, can be seen, with bontebok and
tortoise. We return to the hotel in Stellenbosch,
and enjoy a delicious dinner together in a local
restaurant.
DAY FOUR – SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER
Free morning to discover Stellenbosch. Afternoon
excursion to the distinctive Lion's Head, one
of three famous mountains near Cape Town.
The gentle walk through stands of silver trees
(Leucadendron argenteum) and swathes of Watsonia
borbonica is to familiarise us with the two main
vegetation types encountered during our stay:
fynbos, rich in proteas, and renosterveld, wellknown
for its diverse range of bulbs. Rare endemics
can be seen. We return to the hotel in Stellenbosch
for dinner.
DAY FIVE – SUNDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Depart from the hotel to spend a full day at
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, worldrenowned
for the beauty and diversity of the Cape
flora. Its setting against the eastern slopes of Table
Mountain is spectacular. In Kirstenbosch only
indigenous South African plants grow and Adrian
will guide us through the gardens. Lunch can then
be enjoyed in the garden restaurant, with free time
afterwards. Late afternoon we leave for Alphen
Country House Hotel in the Constantia winelands.
This evening we enjoy dinner together in the hotel
restaurant.
DAY SIX – MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER
We leave after breakfast for Cape Point National Park
on the southernmost fringe of the Cape Peninsula.
The treacherous cliffs of this most south-western
tip of Africa are where the cold Benguela current
on the west coast and the warm Agulhas current
on the east coast merge. We explore the unique
flora of the national park; perhaps the rare Marsh
Pagoda (Mimetes hirtus) of the protea family will be
in flower. The special flora is highly adapted to the
often stormy conditions and salty soil. Possible to
see carpets of spring flowers. Rock hyrax, ostriches,
bontebok and perhaps tortoise can be seen as well
as baboons. Return along the spectacular coast to
the hotel. Dinner together in the evening.
DAY SEVEN – TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER
Today's excursion is to Silvermine National Park,
walking in the scenic Muizenberg Mountains.
Stunning views and widely diverse flora with
eye-catching pincushions (Leucospermum
conocarpodendron), and probably huge carpets of
Pelargonium cucullatum, the parent of many modern
pelargonium hybrids. The coastal fynbos is rich
in berry-bearing plants attracting so many birds.
Interesting endemics such as Mimetes fimbriifolius,
Erica urna-viridis and striking mountain dahlia
(Liparia spendens) can be found. Return to the
Alphen Hotel before going for dinner on the coast
at Hout Bay.
DAY EIGHT – WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER
We leave after breakfast for Cape Town's famous
landmark, Table Mountain. In the afternoon, the
mountain top is often covered by cloud, forming
the famous 'table cloth'. This cloud is responsible
for the necessary humidity on which many different
plant species depend. Taking the cable car to the
mountain top, we walk through restoid fynbos and
may see species of orchids, ericas and members of
the iris family. The mountain is relatively flat-topped
and we reach the highest point Maclear's Beacon at
3,563 ft. Sunbirds can be seen drinking nectar from
pincushion (Leucospermum) and erica species. A
full day to discover a diversity of mountain flowers.
Late afternoon we arrive at our hotel Auberge
Burgundy at Hermanus overlooking the bay famous
for the southern right whales, which may still be
seen in November. We enjoy dinner together.
DAY NINE – THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER
We spend the day in the biosphere reserve,
Kogelberg, known as the heart of the fynbos – home
to an incredible 1600 different plant species,
making it one of the world's richest sites of plant
diversity! The Palmiet River trail is a good walk
within the reserve amidst stunning scenery and we
picnic on the riverside. We discover many different
erica species, proteas and palmiet (Prionium
serratum). Return to Hermanus for dinner.
DAY TEN – FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER
Morning excursion to the Fernkloop nature reserve
to discover coastal and fynbos around Klein River.
Grey rhebok and Klipsringer can be seen as well
as Cape sugarbirds. After our picnic, we leave
for the mountains and Theewaterskloof dam near
Villiersdorp, where we visit a farm specialising in
the cultivation of protea. The farm manager and
owner warmly welcome us and after a visit to the
fields, we enjoy afternoon tea in the farm house.
Return to Hermanus for dinner together.
DAY ELEVEN – SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER
Relaxed morning with a résumé by Adrian before
we leave Hermanus. We lunch at Harold Porter's
Botanic Garden in Betty's Bay before Adrian's
guided tour: a beautiful, peaceful garden
specialising in the Kogelberg flora, ahead of our
departure for Cape Town airport. Return overnight
flight to London Heathrow with South African
Airways.
DAY TWELVE – SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER
Our flight arrives into Heathrow early morning.
