Southern Africa is home to incredibly rich and diverse plant life across multiple biomes, from fynbos to forest. Sue van Winsen rounds up some of the best flora routes the region has to offer.
1.Southern Overberg Fynbos Route, Western Cape
South Africa is home to the smallest floral kingdom in the world – the Cape Floral Region – known for its unique vegetation called ‘fynbos’, which directly translated means ‘fine bush’. Over 9 000 species of fynbos can be found in the Western Cape, of which 70% are endemic: existing only within this relatively tiny area. These plants never occur more than 200km away from the coast, and include proteas, ericas and restios. The Southern Overberg Fynbos Route, which stretches along the southern tip of Africa, enables guests to enjoy this unique vegetation, taking in scenic and quirky destinations along the way, including Stanford, Gansbaai, Baardskeerderbos, Pearly Beach, Elim and Wolvengat. Fynbos blooms at different times throughout the year, although the best time to view the flowering plants is from late winter to early spring, between May and October.
Other activities on offer along the route include land- and boat-based whale watching, shark-cage diving, birding, hiking, fishing, horse riding, bird watching, wine tasting and shopping.
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2.Namaqualand Flower Route, Northern Cape
One of the most spectacular flora experiences in Southern Africa is the annual daisy season, when the 3 500 wildflower varieties found along the West Coast in the Northern Cape burst into bloom. While the daisies can be seen in some of the Western Cape towns near Cape Town, they are best seen in the Namaqualand region near the Northern Cape towns of Springbok, Garies, Kamieskroon and Port Nolloth, which are normally arid and desert-like but between August and September, transform into a colourful kaleidoscope of pink, orange, yellow and white. The route includes the Namaqua Nature Reserve, Skilpad Nature Reserve and Richtersveld National Park. The daisy season is dependent on the arrival of the late winter rains and the flowers only bloom when the sun is shining, therefore trips need to be carefully timed to ensure that visitors are in the right area at the right time.
Other activities on offer along the route include hiking, mountain biking, and wine tasting, while the coastal towns nearby are known for their excellent seafood.
3.Quiver Tree (Kokerboom) Route, Northern Cape
The silhouette of the quiver tree is one of the most iconic botanical symbols in Southern Africa, with its thick stumpy branches and succulent leaves, which enable this aloe species to flourish despite the harsh and arid conditions the Northern Cape is known for. The Quiver Tree Route runs along the Green Kalahari region, which provides a stark juxtaposition of the dry Kalahari and Nama-Karoo deserts alongside the green belt of the Great Gariep River. The route includes the towns of Keimos, Kanoneiland, Kenhardt, Augrabies, Upington and Marchand, which offer a number of historic sites and museums for visitors to enjoy.
Other activities along the route include 4x4 trips, visits to hot springs, river rafting, hiking, bird watching, donkey cart rides and wine tasting.
For more information, click here.
4.Welwitschia Route, Namibia
This 60km-long self-drive trail takes visitors through the Swakop Valley in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. It is just a short drive from Swakopmund and will take about four hours to cover from start to finish, allowing for time to get out of the car and explore along the way. The route is named after the fascinating welwitschia plant, also referred to as a ‘living fossil’ and the ‘dinosaur of botany’. These plants have adapted to the extremely harsh conditions found in this part of the world and can live for over 2 000 years. The welwitschia plant found at the end of the route is over 1 500 years old. The route has 13 stone beacons, each marking a site of interest including lichen fields, old ox-wagon trails, the remains of an old South African military camp and the abandoned Von Stryk Mine.
For more information, click here.
5.Mapungubwe Baobab Route, Limpopo
The baobab is the undisputed botanical king of the bush, with its enormous trunk and root-like branches which almost make it look as though the tree has been planted upside down. Mapungubwe National Park is one of the best places to take in panoramic views of baobabs and the surrounding landscape and is also a Unesco World Heritage Site as it was once home to South Africa’s first kingdom, dating back to the 13th century. The baobab route is a one- or two-day guided walking trail where visitors will be able to view some of the most impressive baobab specimens, many of which are over 1 000 years old. The trail can also be explored by mountain bike.
Other activities on offer include bird and game watching, guided walks, trips to San rock art and fossil sites, as well as tours to Mapungubwe Hill, where the famous gold rhino sculpture and other artefacts were discovered.
For more information, click here.
6.Harkerville Forest Route, Western Cape
Situated within the Western Cape’s Garden Route National Park, which traverses Tsitsikamma, Knysna and Wilderness, is the Harkerville Forest Flora Trail. It is an easy 1km circular walk through indigenous forest to the Kranshoek picnic site, with panoramic ocean views. Along the route, visitors can learn more about the some of the 470 species of flora found here. The trail is part of a larger area, which can be explored on foot, horseback or by mountain bike. Other trails in the park include walks around a wet high forest called the Garden of Eden, the 9km Kranshoek coastal day walk, as well as the two-day 24km Harkerville Coast Hiking Trail.
For more information, click here.
