Extraordinary landscapes, rock formations and wild flowers

[Ritsgaai]

Hi @Zim Girl, lovely to hear of your planned visit. I'm positive that November should present you with much warmer weather during the dry summer months. For how long and where are you planning to go?

Edited November 17, 2018 by Ritsgaai

[Ritsgaai]

15 minutes ago, Ritsgaai said:

Hi @Zim Girl, lovely to hear of your planned visit. I'm positive that November should present you with much warmer weather during the dry summer months. For how long and where are you planning to go?

One more image to wet your appetite ?

 

[xelas]

5 hours ago, Ritsgaai said:

Absolutely.  You are always welcome. 

 

Uh, be careful, last time someone was nice to me he found me on the backseat of his vehicle  .

[Ritsgaai]

It was good to wake up after an excellent nights' rest in comfortable beds with electric blankets and down duvets. The cottage on the farm called, Cloudskraal was modern and beautifully appointed. It was still cold but at least the sun was breaking through nicely. 

 

 

Our friendly hostess, Frances, suggested to first explore the little tracks on their farm and surrounding areas before leaving. The show started just a few hundred meters from the cottage and proofed to be an excellent idea.  Fields and fields of Marsh Bulbinella, (Waterkatstert)

 

Cat's Tail Bulbinella (Katstert)

 

 

Rain from the previous day was evident everywhere. We followed a gravel road to sort of a dead end between the farms and saw many beautiful flowers and landscapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the gravel road we came to the beginning of Hel se Pas (Hell's Pass) - a surprise discovery to us. Hel se Pas dates back to 1853 and the design was approved by Thomas Bain. It is suggested that the pass only be driven very slowly in the descending mode in a vehicle with good ground clearance, as your vehicle could sustain some damage whilst navigating across the difficult Knersvlakte plains below whilst attempting to find your way back to any main road from the foot of the pass.  Apparently the pass has fairly easy gradients and is only 6,6 km long, but takes a fair bit of time to complete.

 

Once again we got a stunning view over the Knersvlakte below. It was evident that this road is not traveled often. Unfortunately our time was limited and giving us another good reason to visit again in future. 

 

 

We had to turn around, because we still had a long list of places to explore for the day. We left Cloudskraal through this corridor of trees leading to the entrance gate.

  

Edited November 17, 2018 by Ritsgaai

[Ritsgaai]

2 hours ago, xelas said:

 

Uh, be careful, last time someone was nice to me he found me on the backseat of his vehicle  .

 

Hehehe, @xelas. Unfortunately (or is is fortunately??? ) we do not have a rear seat to offer... but you are always welcome to join in your own 4x4.  Seriously. 

[xelas]

1 hour ago, Ritsgaai said:

but you are always welcome to join in your own 4x4.  Seriously. 

 

Thanks for your kind invitation. Duly noted. 

 

That is one hell of the pas, I think that any rental car company would prefer me to give it a pass .

[CDL111]

The wife and l are really enjoying the photographs of the flora and the scenic views.

[Ritsgaai]

It is always heartwarming to see a whole community pulling together to make things work out to the best of their advantage - during good and bad times. This is exactly what you will find when you visit the small town of Nieuwoudtville. During the short tourist season this community works together like crazy to take advantage of the good things coming their way. 

 

You will especially experience a buzz at the local Dutch Reformed Church hall in the centre of town, that also serves as the tourist information centre. It is a hive of activity where the local inhabitants serve tea, coffee and light lunches. Their pancakes with sugar and cinnamon are not to be missed! There are also books, maps, dvd's and locally manufactured arts and crafts for sale.

 

Nieuwoudtville is considered the bulb capital of the world because it supports the world's richest concentration of geophytes, with around 309 species. Within just one square metre of Renosterveld an impressive up to 50 species can be found! The Bokkeveld Plateau is a transition area for two internationally unique biodiversity hot spots, namely the Fynbos Biome and the Succulent Karoo Biome. This is what makes Nieuwoudtville botanically different to the rest of Namaqualand.

 

Our first stop after pancakes and tea was the Quiver Tree Forest on the R357 to Loeriesfontein. It was evident that the area was much drier than closer to town. Please excuse the poor quality photos in the harsh noon light.

 

Next up was the Nieuwoudtville Waterfall (which was bone dry the previous year). Along the route and closer to town there were some colourful patches.

 

 

 

Nieuwoudtville Waterfall

 

 

 

The last circular route of the day before we headed to our camping spot for the night, took us to Willemsrivier...and was another stunningly beautiful area!

 

 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed the flower overload!!!  

 

Steal yourself for more with the next post. 

 

Edited November 17, 2018 by Ritsgaai

[Ritsgaai]

2 hours ago, CDL111 said:

The wife and l are really enjoying the photographs of the flora and the scenic views.

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read the TR and for your kind comments, @CDL111.

There is much more to come as this is the halfway point of the trip.

 

[Ritsgaai]

Also a BIG thank you to:  

@Caracal, @Thursday's Child, @michael-ibk. @Kavita, @janzin, @Tdgraves, @duenelle, @Hads and @douglaswise for  taking the time to read this and your "likes".

 

I really appreciate your effort.

[Treepol]

@Ritsgaai this is such an amazing trip - wildflowers, waterfalls, stormy seas and mountain passes. Wow and double wow.

 

I don’t have to steel myself for the next instalment - it’s only a pleasure to read along.

 

Would you say that 2018 was an exceptionally good year for the flowers?

[michael-ibk]

Really thank you, this is a delightfully colourful report.

[Ritsgaai]

28 minutes ago, Treepol said:

@Ritsgaai this is such an amazing trip - wildflowers, waterfalls, stormy seas and mountain passes. Wow and double wow.

 

I don’t have to steel myself for the next instalment - it’s only a pleasure to read along.

 

Would you say that 2018 was an exceptionally good year for the flowers?

 

Thank you for your very kind comments, @Treepol. 

 

A drought that lasted for over 3 years and even longer in some areas, was broken in many areas this year. It was still very dry in some of the areas we passed through. The areas around Springbok did not get a lot of rain and compared poor to what we saw in 2011. On the other hand we barely saw any flowers in Nieuwoudtville and Clanwilliam last year and hold no comparison to our experience this year. Many farmers confirmed that they did not receive sufficient rain to sustain them until the next rainfall season. So, that said, we had a wonderful show in Nieuwoudtville and the West Coast National Park, but according to average rainfall figures it can still gets a lot better. 

 

[Ritsgaai]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

Really thank you, this is a delightfully colourful report.

 

Thank you for your kind comments, @michael-ibk. You are welcome.

[Treepol]

@Ritsgaai thanks for your reply - really, I find it hard to imagine how it could be any better.

 

Your TR is a real inspiration for my 2021 trip!

[xelas]

19 hours ago, Ritsgaai said:

Please excuse the poor quality photos in the harsh noon light.

Poor quality? Not at all in my book. However, in harsh light a C-PL filter does magic.

[Ritsgaai]

Papkuilsfontein, a beautiful farm approximately 20 km south of Nieuwoudtville, was our camping address for two nights.

 

The scenery during sunrise, released deep feelings of tranquility, stillness and peace in my soul. I felt truly blessed for having opportunities like these to experience the vastness and beauty of Creation. 

 

Sweet little discoveries on the early morning walk.

 

 

The morning was put aside to explore the farm. One could easily spend two full days on Papkuilsfontein as there are many things to do. 

 

 

The waterfall at Papkuilsfontein is situated on the edge of an impressive 180 meter canyon. (For private guests only)

 

 

 

 

[Ritsgaai]

@Treepol, I wish you an even better season than what we had.  Enjoy the planning. 

 

Thank you very much, @xelas.

[Ritsgaai]

Still at the waterfall, my husband was pointing at something and I just had to go and see what is was.

 

Nicely camouflaged, a blue-headed lizard was soaking in the sun.

 

 

Road towards the guest cottages

 

 

The friendly Van Wyk family of Papkuilsfontein Guest Farm is running a seasonal restaurant in a beautifully restored shed where we enjoyed lunch...another not to be missed experience when visiting the area. The lamb potpies are delicious and highly recommended.

 

Eating there brought back pleasant memories of the previous year when my mother turned 80 and we (my mother, my sister and I) had lunch at Die Waenhuis on the day of her birthday. 

 

After lunch, before heading to town, there was still one more field to see, showing up like a fiery lava flow in the distance. Mr van Wyk had to patiently explain to the constant stream of visitors how to get there.

 

 

Time flies when one is on the flower hunt. Everywhere along the way, one is forced (voluntarily)  to come to a halt again... and again... and again... in order to leave the vehicle to explore more closely. Round every corner a beautiful scene awaits.

 

Edited November 18, 2018 by Ritsgaai

[Zim Girl]

On 11/17/2018 at 7:51 AM, Ritsgaai said:

Hi @Zim Girl, lovely to hear of your planned visit. I'm positive that November should present you with much warmer weather during the dry summer months. For how long and where are you planning to go?

Hi @Ritsgaai.  We are spending a night in Cape Town then driving to Clanwilliam for 3 nights to visit Lambert's Bay and to walk in the Cederberg mountains.  Then the rest of the itinerary is 2 nts De Hoop, 3 nts Wilderness on the Garden route, 3 nts Litttle Karoo area and then 1 nt in Montagu on the way back to Cape Town.

 

Your latest posts of the flowers are beautiful.

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful photos throughout! I never even realized there were waterfalls in that area. Where is the first one you showed us?

[Ritsgaai]

Hi @Zim Girl, thank you for your kind comment. Your trip sounds wonderful and are going to take you to some of the most beautiful parts of the country, each area with an unique attraction. I'm looking forward to read all about it. 

[Ritsgaai]

Hi @Peter Connan. I truly appreciate your comments and taking the time to read this.

The first waterfall is Nieuwoudtville Waterfall out on the Loeriesfontein road. Both these falls only have water in winter during the rainy season. 

Edited November 19, 2018 by Ritsgaai

[Peter Connan]

Thanks Ritsgaai.

[Ritsgaai]

 

After spending the morning on the farm Papkuilsfontein, the rest of the day was dedicated to the Hantam National Botanical Garden. It is situated 4 km south of Nieuwoudtville and is the only botanical garden in the Northern Cape. 

 

Neil Macgregor, previously owned the farm named Glenlyon and started offering flower tours on the farm in 1990. These tours and the variety it had to offer became quite legendary in the ecological world. In 2007 The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) bought the farm when it became known that none of Macgregor's children wanted to farm.

 

The Hantam Botanical Garden is SANBI's first and only Wildflower Garden and specializes in the conservation of a vast variety of plants. The garden comprises a vast area of over 6000 ha with nine different trails that can be followed. The various trails covers a variety of habitats and soil types which makes this garden so unique and different. 

 

We followed the Evening Flower ( "Aandblom") Route that would take us to a piece of land with Red Cat's Tail. Along this route we passed through large fields of Evening Flowers.

 

Evening Flower Route 

 

Hesperantha Cucullata Klatt: Common name - Evening Flower (Eng.); Aandblom (Afr.)

 

 

The diversity was really very impressive and it is the best to take your time and not to rush it. 

 

 

Geissorhiza splendidissima: Common name - Blue Pride of Nieuwoudtville (Eng.); Blou Trots van Nieuwoudtville (Afr.)

It is listed on the Red Data List as Vulnerable, mainly due to farming and endemic to the Nieuwoudtville area.

 

Sparaxis Elegans: Common name - Cape Buttercup, Pale Harlequin Flower (Eng.); Spogfluweeltjie (Afr.)

It is classified as Vulnerable in the South African Red List due to agricultural disturbances.

 

Bulbinella Latifolia subsp. doleritica: Common name - Red Cat's Tail (Eng.); Rooikatstert (Afr.).

It is a rare species from the Bokkeveld plateau and only known from seven locations, restricted to the spongy doleritic soil near Nieuwoudtville. It is listed as vulnerable in the Red List of South African plants.

 

Romulea Sabulosa:  Satynblom (Eng. and Afr.). 

It has lost 80% of its habitat to wheat cultivation over the past 60 years and is on the red list of South African plants.

 

Hesperutha Vaginata: Common names -Harlequin Evening Flower (Eng.); Perdeblom/Harlekynaandblom (Afr.)

It is endemic to the Bokkeveld Plateau and listed on the Red Data List as Vulnerable.

 

 

Unfortunately our time was limited and we spent only a precious few hours here. One can easily spend a whole day or more in this vast area. It is definitely worth it to put on your hiking boots and take your sunhat, sunscreen and water on one of the many routes to choose from that will take you to the various areas with its unique biodiversity.

Edited November 21, 2018 by Ritsgaai