South Africa – Here We Come!
On August 23rd, our adventurous band of travelers will be taking off for South Africa!
One of the first things we will do is visit the fabulous Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, one of the most beautiful public gardens I have seen (after the Washington Park Arboretum, of course!) It has breathtaking displays – and Table Mountain in the backgrounds isn’t too bad either – plus its education and conservation programs are stellar.
We will also be making a stop in Stellenbosch to see the university’s public garden and then on to the lovely Franschhoek Valley to tour a winery that has wonderful gardens, for lunch and wine-tasting. This part of the Cape is known for its excellent (and surprisingly inexpensive) wines. Last time I was there I came back with a suitcase full!
One of the things I am most excited about is seeing the Clanwilliam Wild Flower Society’s Flower Show, which I understand is something like our Flower and Garden Show, but with all the spectacular Cape Region flora. Clanwilliam has a varied topography that leads to incredible diversity of species and is part of the Fynbos Biome. The Fynbos has a very high level of endemism (plants found only there) and includes the highest diversity of the genus Erica (heathers) in the world – over 500 species!
After visits to see penguins, Cape gannet, and Cape fur seals reserves, and spotting baboons here and there, we travel to the small northern town of Springbok, for even MORE wildflowers. This area is especially known for its bulb flora and we should be there at just the right time to see it at its peak.
We end up in Kagga Kamma Reserve in the Cederberg Mountains, where their mini observatory should enhance the star-gazing in this remote area. Some of the rooms are open-air, for the uninhibited. Others are in caves or in huts resembling those used by the native people. There we will go on game drives twice a day.
So check back on the blog as I update you on our adventures and share photos. You will hear about Kagga Kamma after the trip, since they don’t have cell phone or internet connections (totally unplugging in a beautiful place – yay!). Stay tuned!