Cape Town and its surrounding mountains contain the highest density of plants species in the highly diverse global biodiversity hotspot, the Cape Floristic Region.  Over 2200 species are found in the Table Mountain National Park stretching from the City centre with its iconic flat topped Table Mountain to Cape Point at the southernmost tip of the peninsula.  October, our southern Spring, offers an ideal time to visit Cape Town and experience the diversity of flora and their remarkable pollinators since many of the plants are in flower and the weather is generally mild and sunny.  With accommodation along the shores of False Bay you may be lucky enough to spot the Southern Right Whales who overwinter in this area, or you may want to pop-down to the penguin colony near Simon’s Town.

This tour will be hosted by the South African Environmental Observation Network’s (SAEON) Fynbos Node.  While visiting some of our research platforms we will provide expert insight into the diversity and ecology of this wonderful region.

Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, established in 1939 is the oldest part of the Table Mountain National Park.  It offers magnificent scenery of rugged landscapes, pristine beaches and the often stormy ocean. The reserve contains permanent vegetation plots, established in 1966, that are one of SAEON’s prime sites for unravelling the diverse drivers of global change and their impact on the ecology of fynbos.  Although the wildlife-viewing does not rival that of the Kruger National Park, one may spot some of the local antelope, mischievous baboons, sun-bathing rock hyrax, or tortoises warming after the cold winter. Both marine and terrestrial birdlife may present some surprises:  the iridescent sunbirds and Cape sugarbirds will be out collecting nectar, and a multitude of seabirds will provide good use for your binoculars.

Notes on route: Stop at Silvermine on the way to introduce them to fynbos, its fire ecology and look for pretty flowers. Continue to Cape Point. Stop at view point midway down the main drag to get a feel for the reserve and discuss the plots and the “global change” findings. Depending on timing, either head to Gifkommetjie for lunch or head to the lighthouse to walk up to the lighthouse and discuss some of the history of the area etc (swap order as appropriate). Drive to Olifantsbos (thicket, forest and fynbos dynamics) and walk the Sirkelsvlei circular route (~1.5-2hrs with chatting). Those not keen can hang out on the beach.

Jonkershoek and the Winelands. Jonkershoek, near the historic university town of Stellenbosch, is the site of streamflow monitoring experiments set up from 1938 onwards. Evidence emanating from these experiments showed that the non-native pine plantations used more water than the indigenous fynbos, leading to the establishment of Working for Water, one of the biggest poverty-relief based biodiversity conservation programmes in the world. Jonkershoek is now instrumented with modern climate and streamflow equipment to continue this long legacy of monitoring so that we can explore climate change trends and its impacts on streamflow.  In the second spring since a wildfire, Jonkershoek will present a diversity of flowering geophytic plants, against a background of spectacular mountains. Jonkersheok also provides the opportunity to explore the role that fire plays in maintaining the balnce between fynbos and forest.  A visit to a wine farm will provide an opportunity to taste some of the local wines (and lunch) and learn about business-conservation partnerships to secure remnants of threatened lowland fynbos and renosterveld

Lowland vegetation and township biodiversity initiatives. In a growing city, saving natural vegetation, no matter how rare and unique, from bulldozers is a major challenge.  Visit one of the City’s lowland reserves and meet some of the dedicated staff(Follow this with a visit to a township biodiversity project, the Seawindsmedicinal plant project (herbanisation) , where members of the local community use surplus land to cultivate medicinal plants.

• Comfortable shoes for walking
• Stout shoes for walking on rough paths
• Hat for sun
• Raincoat and fleece or jacket for possible wet or cold weather
• Other equipment
• 1 litre water bottle
• Small backpack
• Sun protection cream
• For personal preference - binoculars, camera, magnifying lens

• Four nights accommodation in Simons Town on a bed and breakfast basis based on two people sharing a room.
• Transporation in an airconditioned vehicle and drive from 05 October (Cape Town Airport) to 09 October (Cape Town Airport) as per the itinerary
• Entrance Fees as per the programme
• Packed lunches on 6 & 8 October
• Wine Tasting and picnic at a Wine Estate (Weather permitting)
• Visit to Kirstenbosch Gardens and Hike

Domestic Flights

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