The unique flora of the Western and Northern Cape
Thursday 14 to Wednesday 27 August
Optional extension: 27 to 31 August
Introduction
This tour will start and finish in Cape Town. Although there are many fine gardens in the area, it will focus on the biodiversity of the unique fynbos vegetation and diversity of geophytes. Members will see familiar garden plants growing in their natural habitat as well as many that are quite new. The Cape floristic region is home to the greatest non-tropical concentration of higher plant species in the world, with 9,000 species crammed into its small area. More than 6,200 (69 percent) of these are found nowhere else in the world.
Our guide
The tour will be led by Frank Gaude. Frank is an experienced guide for the main commercial companies and more can be found about him at www.kapexkursionen.co.za
MPG organiser
For any queries about this tour contact Andrew Mayo at andrewjmayo@gmail.com
Estimated price per person (final price will be confirmed mid 2025 but will be close to this)
Sharing a double or twin room: £2300
Single supplement: £200
This includes 13 nights accommodation, all meals (13 dinners, 12 lunches, 13 breakfasts), transport and guiding in South Africa, entrance fees as per itinerary, aiport transfers (for those on main flight), guides and their accommodation, meals etc.
It does not include air fares, drinks (tap water in this part of South Africa is of drinking quality) personal items, airport transfers for non-main flights and return for those on optional extension
Deposit
A £250 deposit is required on acceptance of a booking of £250. The balance will probably be required in early June.
Flights
Next August’s flights are not available yet but, if they remain similar to this year’s, a suitable direct flight from UK would be BA from London Heathrow, departing at 23.50 on Wednesday 13 August and arriving Cape Town at 11.00 on Thursday 14 August. The return flight for those not taking the extension could be one which departs from Cape Town at 19.00 on Wednesday 27 August, due London at 05.40 the next morning. The economy cost currently for this is around £1300. The best alternative is via Amsterdam. Updates will be provided as new timetables are published).
Fitness
The longest trail is four miles, but on that day there are alternatives. Some trails have uneven ground but most excursions are close to the minibus and are undemanding. No significant climbing required.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Arrival in Cape Town and transfer to our hotel (https://www.medindimanor.com/) then visit the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, which will give an excellent overview of the main families of the Cape flora.
Day 2
Cape Town to Vanrhynsdorp (300 km)
Accommodation: Maskam Guest Farm
We depart for Vanrhynsdorp, the closest town to Cape Town in Namaqualand, a semi-desert area of high biodiversity in the biome ‘Succulent Karoo’.
On our way we will do several stops at good sites, such as Driehoekpad Nature Reserve outside Malmesbury and later along the Olifantsriver as we pass the Cederberg Mountain Range. A few of the plants we may see: Albuca canadensis, Euryops speciosissimus, Drosera cistiflora, Pelargonium lobatum, Gladiolus watsonius, Sparaxis metelerkampiae, Moraea tripetala, Holothrix aspera
Day 3
Vanrhynsdorp and surrounds, Gifberg
From early morning until noon we will explore the closer surrounds of Vanrhynsdorp, which is situated in a low-lying, usually warm and dry area. We hope to find large fields of colourful annuals, mainly members of the daisy family.
After lunch we drive up the iconic Gifberg or Maskam Mountain, a flat plateau where we find a very different habitat, complete with orchids, succulents and interesting bulb species. A few of the plants we may see: Braunsia maximilanii, Conophytum obcordellum, Massonia depressa, Didelta carnosa, Crassula columnaris, Drosera alba, Babiana sinuata, Ferraria ferrariola, Gladiolus orchidiflorus, Disa biflora, Protea glabra
Day 4
We leave Vanrhynsdorp to drive to the town of Springbok, the capital of Namaqualand. (300km). Accommodation: Springbok Inn or similar.
On our long drive north we will stop at the Namaqua National Park where we will hopefully see carpets of orange daisies and many other interesting plants. A few of the plants we may see: Lachenalia framesi, Dimorphotheca sinuata,Colchicum capense, Pelargonium incrassatum, Ixia ramulosa, Lapeirousia silenoides, Romulea namaquensis
Day 5
Springbok and surrounds
We will look for the specials in the area. Depending on the particular season, we are likely to visit Goegap Nature Reserve, where we will be able to walk and also do a circular drive through the reserve which will take us to interesting sites where we can see wild flowers and possibly some animals, too.
A few of the plants we may see: Conicosia elongata, Gazania lichtensteinii, Pelargonium echinatum, Moraea falcifolia, Grielum humifusum
Day 6
Springbok to Nieuwoudtville (Driving distance ca 330 km)
Accommodation: The 1897 Nedersetting Guest House and Restaurant.
We leave Springbok in the morning and retrace our steps from two days previously, with a detour over the scenic Studer’s Pass, if the road is in a suitable condition. Apart from beautiful views we will be able to see yet another different assortment of plants growing amongst granite bolders. We then cross the Knersvlakte, where we hope to get a glimpse over the fence of the interesting dwarf succulents, which are unfortunately out of bounds, since they are lucrative targets for plant-smuggling poachers.
We head on to Nieuwoudtville, which claims to be the bulb capital of the world. A few of the plants we may see: Malephora purpureocrocea, Dimorphotheca pinnata, Lachenalia carnosa, Pelargonium pulchellum, Babiana curviscapa, Gladiolus saccatus, Romulea kamisensis, Jamesbrittenia racemosa
Day 7
Nieuwoudtville
The Bokkeveld escarpment, the area around the small town of Nieuwoudtville, is home to very many bulbous plants. Several habitats overlap in the greater Nieuwoudtville area making this one of the richest areas in South Africa.. The bulb families Asparagaceae, Iridaceae and many others are extremely well represented and we will see many of them during our stay in the area. Also flowering fields of annual daisies and special succulents are to be seen.
There is lovely scenery around this town, including a Quiver Tree Forest. A few of the plants we may see: Daubenya capensis, Lachenalia elegans, Bulbinella cauda-felis, Trachyandra falcata, Colchicum burchellii, Gladiolus watermeyeri, Hesperantha cucullata, Lapeirousia oreogena, Nemesia cheiranthus.
Day 8
Nieuwoudtville – Northern Cederberg (120 km)
Accommodation: Travellers Rest
We drive from Nieuwoudtville over untarred roads to our accommodation in the Northern Cederberg. On our way the road will be rough, but with beautiful vistas over these vast stretches of Succulent Karoo. The Cederberg is a mountain range consisting mainly of sandstone of various ages, harbouring a range of vegetation types from demi-desert to mountain fynbos. In the afternoon we will walk on the Sevilla Rock Art Trail, where we will see – apart from ancient San paintings – many beautiful plants in flower. A few of the plants we may see: Lachenalia nardousbergensis, Massonia bifolia, Ornithogalum maculatum, Crassula umbella, Melianthus major, Pelargonium magenteum, Chasmanthe floribunda, Melasphaerula graminea, Ferraria crispa
Day 9
Excursion to Biedow Valley
The Biedow Valley is known for its dazzling spring display of mainly annual flowers, but also some endemic bulb species. We will go for an easy walk in the Cederberg in the afternoon if there‘s time. A few of the plants we may see: Osteospermum monstrosum, Senecio arenarius, Heliophila arenaria, Lapeirousisa divaricata, Cyanella alba flavescens.
Day 10
Cederberg – Langebaan (175km)
Accommodation Glenfinnan Boutique Guesthouse
We will drive from the Cederberg to Lamberts Bay on the west coast from where we follow the coast south to the town of Langebaan. We can stop at Bird Island Nature Reserve, where we can observe thousands of cape gannetts in their breeding colony. We will have the chance to visit Cape Columbine Nature Reserve. A few of the plants we may see: Lachenalia pallida, Euphorbia capeut-medusae, Euphorbia mauritanica, Babiana odorata, Nemesia affinis, Zaluzianskya affinis.
Day 11
Langebaan / West Coast National Park
We will spend the day in the West Coast National Park, where the privately owned Postberg section is one of the flower highlights of the West Coast. We may further explore in the vicinity of our guesthouse. A few of the plants we may see: Jordaaniella dubia, Arctotis hirsuta, Felicia elongata, Pelargonium fulgidum, Gladiolus caeruleus, Romulea hirsuta, Salvia aurea,Disperis villosa, Pterygodium volucris, Diascia capensis, Hemimeris racemosa
Day 12
Langebaan – Darling – Cape Town (180km)
Accommodation: Medindi Manor
We leave Langebaan and head for the little town of Darlöing in the Swartland. Around this agricultural centre are some protected areas, both publicly and privately owned, where we can see some of the most beautiful bulbs endemic to the area. We may see: Zantedeschia aethiopica, Lobostemon fruticosus, Heliophila africana, Wurmbea marginata, Pauridia canaliculata, Wachendorfia multiflora, Babiana rubrocyanea Geissorhiza aspera, Gladiolus alatus, Moraea tricolor, Romulea flava, Hermannia pinnata
Day 13
Cape Peninsula
One day to explore the highlights, including the touristic ones, of the Cape Peninsula.
We will see penguins and, with luck, chacma baboons, ostriches and antelope. An obligatory visit to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point will be part of the day, as well as the Chapman’s Peak Drive, the most famous coastal road in South Africa. Of course we will keep an eye out for interesting plant species and some we may see are: Erica abietina, Erica cerinthoides, Pelargonium myrrhifolium,Satyrium coriifolium, Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron, Protea repens,Serruria villosa.
Day 14
A botanical excursion to a nearby nature reserve (Rondebosch Common) where we will find many interesting species growing and flowering on some of the last remnants of Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. Possible species amongst many are: Lachenalia quadricolor, Babiana villosula, Moraea fugacissima, Oxalis obtusa. O. versicolor.
Airport transfer to Cape Town International Airport.
Optional extension
For members who would like to see more of the Cape area and its history, a four-day extension has been arranged. This will include the sights of Cape Town, Table Mountain, Stellenbosch Estate and Winery, whale watching, and half day options such as Robben Island.
Staying four extra nights at the Medindi Manor, the cost for this extension will be in the region of £550 (+ £60 single supplement) excluding meals, gratuities and airport transfer, depending on how many people sign up for it.
Further details
It will be early spring and temperatures will be in the higher teens and lower twenties, but cooler at night. We can expect some sunny days and a high chance of rain showers. More practical details will be provided to those signing up for the tour or, if you need to know anything in advance, please contact the organiser.
Booking Form
Please note that MPG events are open to members of MPG and its sister organisations only.
Bank Transfer
By bank transfer with reference CAPE
Sort Code 40 40 32
Account 5161 4002
Account name: Mediterranean Plants and Gardens
IBAN GB63 HBUK 4040 3251 6140 02
Euros
For those wishing to pay in euros, payment can be made directly into our euro account. If you wish to pay by this means please contact the treasurer, David Mason, for an exchange rate and payment instructions. If paying from a bank in the euro zone into our euro account, this can be done with minimal bank charges provided you use a SEPA (Single European Payments Area) payment method.