Asphodelaceae Anonymous

Wednesday 2 October: Addo Elephant Park – Addo – over Kirkwood to Kleinpoort – Springbokvlakte – Cockscomb View – Uitenhage – Jeffrey’s Bay

Haworthia springbokvlakensis in quartz gravel S33’27”, E024’50”.

Haworthia sordida at Kleinport across the road from Padstal #23.

Haworthia woolleyi at Springbokvlakte S33’25”, E024’47”.

Haworthia bruynsii on shale on flats in open at Cockscomb View south of Steytlerville Springbokvlakte.  S33’27”, E024’49”.

Gasteria armstrongii near Jeffery’s Bay S33’56”, E24’58”.

Super Tubes Guest House
Jeffrey’s Bay
Tel: ++27 42 293 2957
info@supertubesguesthouse.co.za
http://www.supertubesguesthouse.co.za/

Tuesday 1 October: Grahamstown – Coldsprings – Alicedale – Ann’s Villa – over Zuurberg Pass to Addo Elephant Park

Right on the edge of town near a school under trees are Haworthia glauca.  Leaving Grahamstown behind we went west to Swartwaterspoort (S33’12”, E025’59”), but due to river erosion the road through the poort was impassable. We then went up and over the Zuurberg Pass heading for Addo Elephant Park for the night. Just south of Ann’s Villa we came upon Haworthia aristata and at the top of the pass are fields of Haworthia glauca.

Haworthia aristata 10k north of Ann’s Villa at Modefontein. S33’10”, E025’48”
 

On the Cradock road there were fields of Aloe africana in flower (see the orange glow).

Addo Elephant National Park
PO Box 52 Addo, 6105
Tel: +27 (0)21 552 0008
reservations@sanparks.org

https://www.sanparks.org/parks/addo-elephant/accommodation

Monday 30 September: Grahamstown – Glen Craig – Ecca Pass – Fort Brown – Hell’s Poort – Dikkop Flats – Willow Fountain – Riebeeck East – Grahamstown

The next day we took a loop west and north of Grahamstown. Some 23 km east of Grahamstown toward Peddie where we found Hawothia angustifolia. This would be as far east as we would go for the rest of the tour. Coming back west we stopped at Govenour’s Kloof and took a look at Haworthia cymbiformis growing on the cliff side. Next stop was Glen Craig, north of Grahamstown on the way to Ecca Pass. Here the Haworthia cooperi var. pilifera where just starting to come up out of the hard pack mud, near by we found Haworthia gracilis.

South of Fort Brown, south of the pass we found Faucaria brittiana. S33’13”, E026’37”

One tortoise chasing another … didn’t ask why.

Euphorbia at Willoowfontein on road to Riebeck East.

Then back to Grahamstown … and a hot shower and a wild night on the town with a bunch of botanists.

After numerous lonely solo scavenging treks my daughter Gretchen and I joined a group tour with Kotie Retief, Gerhard Marx, Harry Mays, Mary Stone, and Dr. Hayashi for ten days in the Eastern and Western Cape in late September 2002. Botanical guide for the trip was Gerhard Marx, devoted student of the succulents of the area. Gerhard lived in Grahamstown for many years and has studied the succulent flora of the Eastern Cape and the Little Karoo extensively, and has a passion for the area.

Wednesday 25 September we departed New Britain Connecticut (Bradley Hartford) for Atlanta and Capetown. Flight to Cape Town left Atlanta 3 hours late. Felt like a nursery room with kids whining the whole time.  One poor woman with 3 in diapers all by herself. Seats too close, closer than before. On Demand Video is an improvement. Relatively painless flight, slept maybe 5 hours of the 14 despite the kids and the folks behind me banging my seat every time they got up.

Drove up to the Table Mountain cableway, too crowded, so Gretchen and I drove around to Camps Bay and then back to Sea Point. A relaxing first day. Winchester Mansions under construction ? noisy during the day, lovely rooms. Sushi for lunch at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Italian at Hildebrands for dinner. Went to see the seals sleeping on the docks.

Friday, slept late, slept well. Foggy morning drive to Cape Point. (Friends Kobus was on vacation to Richtersveld, and Bruce was in KwaZulu Natal). We saw penguin at Boulders in Simonstown. Then at Cape of Good Hope we saw baboon, collected sponges, but didn’t see any marine mammals except a seal carcass. Later that night we had a nice fish dinner at Cape Town Fish Market at the Victoria and Alfred Mall.

Winchester Mansions
Beach Road, Sea Point
Tel: ++27 21 434 2351
sales@winchester.co.za
https://newmarkhotels.com/accommodation/the-winchester-hotel

Saturday 28 September flew from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth

Flight to Port Elizabeth was uneventful, weather overcast. Drove to Gamtoos River and found Haworthia on the cliffs near the bridge – long thin toothed things. Drove on to Gamtoosriviermond; rustic, quiet, wonder why it’s not more developed.  Drove RT102 and RT75 back to PE through Uitenhage, had lunch, then took a hike in the Baakens River Valley to see the cymbiformis.

Got to Lemon Tree Lane Guest House around 3:30. Harry Mays arrived at 5:30. Return the car at 6:45 and then to dinner with the group for the first time. Surprise, Dr. Hiashi joined the trip in place of Kanoh Kazumi.

Lemon Tree Lane Guest House
Port Elizabeth
Tel: ++27 41 373 4103
Fax: ++27 41 373 1015
lemontree@intekom.co.za
http://www.lemontreelane.co.za