By Roxanne Reid
About 90 minutes from Cape Town, in a remote wilderness of steep kloofs and pristine rivers near Kleinmond, South Africa, we’re surrounded by more plant species than you’ll find in any similar-sized area on the planet. It's a botanical wonderland at the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.
About 90 minutes from Cape Town, in a remote wilderness of steep kloofs and pristine rivers near Kleinmond, South Africa, we’re surrounded by more plant species than you’ll find in any similar-sized area on the planet. It's a botanical wonderland at the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.
The Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve’s conservation manager Mark Johns confirms that the area is home to around 1 800 plant species; 150 are ‘rare and noteworthy’, and 77 occur nowhere else on earth.
Once we start fossicking about along the Palmiet River Trail with Mark’s wife, botanist Amida Johns, everything comes into sharper focus. ‘The Kogelberg is a biodiversity and endemism hotspot,’ she says.
‘Although it provides refuge for threatened or endangered species, our large, diverse plant communities and our rare and endemic plants are equally important.’
A doublecollared sunbird makes kissing sounds in a bush nearby and a sugarbird flaunts its long tail as Amida skips along the trail, fizzing with enthusiasm.
Once we start fossicking about along the Palmiet River Trail with Mark’s wife, botanist Amida Johns, everything comes into sharper focus. ‘The Kogelberg is a biodiversity and endemism hotspot,’ she says.
‘Although it provides refuge for threatened or endangered species, our large, diverse plant communities and our rare and endemic plants are equally important.’
A doublecollared sunbird makes kissing sounds in a bush nearby and a sugarbird flaunts its long tail as Amida skips along the trail, fizzing with enthusiasm.
She’s a mine of information about geology, pointing out how succulent daisies grow on tillite but leucadendrons like the shale soils. She also rattles on about laureolums and microcephalums, assuming that we’re as intimately acquainted with these yellow cone-like members of the protea family as she is.
The trail is fairly flat and there are wondrous views of the river, not to mention places to swim in the cool brown water. In winter, the river is wide and moves along at quite a lick over the rocks.
‘In summer the river’s so puny you can hop over parts of it, but don’t underestimate its power in winter,’ says Amida.
She went rafting some years ago, fell out and got sucked into a ‘toilet hole’. ‘It seemed like forever before I got spat out again and I’ve never been back on the river,’ she confesses.
The trail is fairly flat and there are wondrous views of the river, not to mention places to swim in the cool brown water. In winter, the river is wide and moves along at quite a lick over the rocks.
‘In summer the river’s so puny you can hop over parts of it, but don’t underestimate its power in winter,’ says Amida.
She went rafting some years ago, fell out and got sucked into a ‘toilet hole’. ‘It seemed like forever before I got spat out again and I’ve never been back on the river,’ she confesses.
But the Kogelberg is more than the heart the Cape Floral Kingdom and a mind-blowing treasure trove of fynbos species. It's also a fun place to work up a sweat.
Things to do in the reserve and environs
To keep you active and entertained, for instance, there are lots of day hikes, a challenging overnight trail, mountain bike trails, a whitewater kayaking trail along the Palmiet River, fishing, birdwatching and whalewatching.
There's a host of other attractions in the villages nearby: farmstalls, wine estates, restaurants, museums, art/potter’s galleries, Elgin’s open gardens in October, Kleinmond Harbour Road tourism hub, Arabella golf estate, historical Houwhoek Inn, boating, beaches, horse-riding, quad-biking, sand-boarding, etc.
There's just no way you can come here and be bored.
You may also enjoy
21 things to do in Kleinmond in the Cape Overberg
Cape Nature reserves: from Cederberg to Kogelberg and more
17 things to do in Elgin in the Overberg
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
Things to do in the reserve and environs
To keep you active and entertained, for instance, there are lots of day hikes, a challenging overnight trail, mountain bike trails, a whitewater kayaking trail along the Palmiet River, fishing, birdwatching and whalewatching.
There's a host of other attractions in the villages nearby: farmstalls, wine estates, restaurants, museums, art/potter’s galleries, Elgin’s open gardens in October, Kleinmond Harbour Road tourism hub, Arabella golf estate, historical Houwhoek Inn, boating, beaches, horse-riding, quad-biking, sand-boarding, etc.
There's just no way you can come here and be bored.
You may also enjoy
21 things to do in Kleinmond in the Cape Overberg
Cape Nature reserves: from Cederberg to Kogelberg and more
17 things to do in Elgin in the Overberg
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
