Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: A late summer visit to Kwazamane (Thursday 19 March)

While returning from a visit to the Western Heights earlier in the week we encountered Zamani Mhlongo, the new manger of the farm we have to traverse to get to the Western Heights. We were delighted when he expressed an interest in accompanying us on our walks in the reserve and he joined us for today's visit to Kwazamane. As the track is yet to be cut (Zamani will get to this task in due course) we drove to the old picnic spot and parked there in the shade of tall macadamia trees. The undergrowth on the other side of the track was carpeted with flowering Plectranthus ciliatus.

We walked down the track next to the macadamia orchard towards the reserve. There were swathes of Erica aspalathifolia growing through the Stoebe vulgaris thickets - the area is in need of a management burn to get the woody growth under control. We also found Desmodium setigerum flowering in the track.

Plectranthus ciliatus

Erica aspalathifolia

Desmodium setigerum

We reached the reserve fence and easily scaled this where some strands had broken. We crossed over to a rock outcrop to check the status of a small group of Ypsilopus longifolia, finding Indigofera herrstreyi along the way. The Ypsilopus were sporting flower spikes but it will be some weeks before these are flowering - as is often the case, these plants are on a vertical rock face with a considerable drop below them. Nestled between rocks was a Streptocarpus haygarthii. We then headed back to the firebreak along the fence finding a group of Disa polygonoides in a streamside wetland. There were also several Dierama igneum in flower along this section.

Indigofera herrstreyi

Hunting down Ypsilopus longifolius in their preferred habitat on the vertical faces of cliffs (Photo: Gail B-W)

Streptocarpus haygarthii

Syncolostemon rotundifolius

Dierama igneum

Disa polygonoides

We crossed the next streamline and in the adjacent wetland found several Habenaria woodii, more Disa polygonoides and the last of the Melasma scabrum.

Melasma scabrum

We reached the point where the boundary fence terminates at the top of the cliffs above Outeniqua Falls gorge and stopped to enjoy the spectacular view of the water cascading over the falls.

Panorama of Outeniqua Falls stream gorge

Outeniqua Falls

A field of russet-headed Monocymbium ceresiiforme

Heading back along the clifftops we found some Craterostigma nanum on the rock sheets growing next to Crassula ericoides, many in flower. Protruding above the cliff edge was a cluster of buds on Acridocarpus natalitius and below this we could see the large paired follicles on a Petopentia natalensis. Another clifftop resident was a small Loxostylis alata with flowers and colourful bracts on display.

We stopped for lunch with a great view of the Umtamvuna River gorge below us. On the rocks around us there was an Anthospermum hispidulum in flower in a rock crevice and below this was a a Schizaea pectinata displaying its comb-like sporangia.

Craterostigma nanum

Crassula ericoides

Acridocarpus natalitius buds

Loxostylis alata

Gathered at the lunch spot overlooking the Umtamvuna River gorge

Anthospermum hispidulum

Schizaea pectinata

In a small gully we found Eugenia erythrophylla with a fine crop of ripe and ripening fruits, which some were brave enough to taste. We moved on to the next gully that we crossed using a narrow natural bridge with about a 5 meter drop below us.

On the next rocky outcrop we found Apodytes dimidiata with fruits starting to mature and some buds on Brachylaena glabra. Walking back towards the fence we came across what appears to be an old sinkhole that now has fairly sizable trees growing out of it. Here we found Croton sylvatica and fruits on Dalbergia armata and D. obovata.

While it was still a fairly hot day, there was no longer sufficient sting in the sun to make us want to duck into the shade at every opportunity. A very rewarding walk.