Gagoza it was!
Into a Fortuner we squashed and headed off to the top of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, passing the Izingolweni Water Works along the way. The name Gagoza is thought to come from a Zulu word describing the sound and movement of water—evoking a place where it splashes, bubbles, and rushes through the rugged landscape. And that is exactly where we were headed: down grassy banks, through bubbling streams cascading over slippery rocks, to explore all that was flowering.
The gate was unlocked, allowing us passage, and Tracy, in a moment of kindness, offered the officer some biscuits. He misunderstood entirely and assumed the whole plate was his. Tracy swiftly retrieved herself—and one biscuit. Just one. Not all. Western customs, after all.
We began the day with a group photo—just as well, because by the end, any unsuspecting observer might have thought us a rather rough bunch, with that unmistakable “finger-in-an-electric-socket” look. The forest has a way of doing that when it holds onto you.
We meandered through the grasslands, greeted by an obligingly unobliging Crotalaria obscura, not yet awake for the day. Like Zaluzianskya—the “Zulu drumsticks”—it prefers to remain in its pyjamas all day, only dressing up and revealing itself at sunset. Along the way we stopped to admire Cucumis hirsutus, Gnidia coriacea, Senecio erubescens var. incisus, Pelargonium luridum and Exochaenium grande.
The Watsonia densiflora were going over, but some still stood magnificent in their magenta-pink hues. Tracy, who had skipped ahead, found the flower of the day: Disa nervosa. What a privilege. Timing is everything—it would have been a great loss to miss this chest-high orchid with its striking pink blooms. We found seven (a lucky number), scattered across the landscape—some fading, others in bud, and a few in full, glorious flower. Pink was, without question, the colour of the day.
Along the forest edge, Syncolostemon rotundifolius added to the palette, joined by Sopubia simplex, Heliophila subulata, and discoveries by Tracy including Ceratotheca triloba and Pseudarthria hookeri near the gate.
Entering the forest along the fence line, we paused at the near-threatened endemic Cryptocarya wyliei. Its ripe fruits are surprisingly delicious—like miniature apples hanging from the branches. Indigofera sylvicola was in full flower and seed, its tiny white blooms like confetti scattered across the branches. Plectranthus ciliatus carpeted the forest floor, while Erianthemum dregei formed crown-like clusters where birds had deposited its sticky seeds.
Back in the grasslands, Tracy found more Disa nervosa. The heat pressed in, and we sought refuge beneath a Syzygium cordatum perched on a hill with sweeping views. Each of us found a rock, a breeze, and a moment of stillness.
Then came the decision—not to retrace our steps.
The forest edge, thick with Lantana camara, resisted our entry. Gail, having spotted yet another Disa nervosa, identified an animal track and declared it the way forward. Downwards… and then up. We encountered Dietes butcheriana and the intriguingly named Bachmannia woodii—no money, just Woodii.
Navigation became… creative. “Don’t follow Gail,” as Hiliary wisely advises—straight to jail. And indeed, there Gail found herself: ensnared in creepers, without secateurs, contemplating a permanent forest residency. Smilax anceps tore, and Prosphytochloa prehensilis shredded, its grasping stems living up perfectly to its name as it hooked and clung with determination.
The wiser route was to follow Alf, who patiently carved a path up a rocky gully. Slowly, steadily, we emerged—encountering Plectranthus saccatus subsp. pondoensis, Thunbergia purpurata and Rhoicissus rhomboidea along the way.
Just before leaving the forest, we found a magnificent Hyperacanthus amoenus—one of Anne’s favourites. Only a single flower remained, the rest already transformed into pods promising the future. One was enough. Its scent—rich and intoxicating—stilled us all for a moment.
Relief came with the forest edge, where Phylica natalensis quietly flowered, its tiny flowers rewarding those who looked closely.
We made our way back past the Watsonias and Disas, saying goodbye to our gatekeeper, who had already decided it was pyjama time by 15:30. We, on the other hand, looked thoroughly weathered—the forest had seen to that.
Hiliary’s advice held true: don’t follow Gail.
Another Thursday came and went, and as we climbed back into the car, plans for the next adventure were already underway.
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| Disa nervosa |
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| Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Disa nervosa ORCHIDACEAE |
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| Watsonia densiflora IRIDACEAE South African endemic |
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| Ceratotheca triloba PEDALIACEAE Wild Foxglove Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Sopubia simplex OROBANCHACEAE |
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| Syncolostemon rotundifolius LAMIACEAE South African endemic |
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| Pseudarthria hookeri FABACEAE Bug-catcher Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Crotalaria obscura FAVACEAE South African endemic |
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| Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Cucumis hirsutus CUCURBITACEAE Hairy Wild Cucumber |
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| Exochaenium grande GENTIANACEAE |
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| Gladiolus ecklonii IRIDACEAE  |
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| Eriosema kraussianum FABACEAE |
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| Senecio erubescens var. incisus ASTERACEAE  |
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| Pelargonium luridum GERANIAEAE  |
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| Heliophila subulata BRASICACEAE |
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| Cryptocarya wyliei LAURACEAE Red-haired Wild-quince Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v) South African endemic |
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| Indigofera sylvicola FABACEAE |
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| Erianthemum dregei LORANTHACEAE Mistletoe |
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| Making our way down the hillside and across the stream of bubbling water. Gagoza. |
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| Grewia pondoensis MALVACEAE Pondo Cross-berry Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) South African endemic |
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| Alf, Ushi and Tracy looking closely at a flower. |
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| Out! Out! Ushi, Anne and Alf getting rid of a lantana who's made itself comfortable. Not any more. |
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| Leonotis intermedia LAMIACEAE Klipdagga |
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| Tracy sitting reflectively next to Disa nervosa waiting for the group to decend down into the forest. |
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| Schizoglossum atropurpureum subsp. virens APOCYNACEAE South African endemic |
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| Rhoicissus rhomboidea VITACEAE Glossy Forest Grape |
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| Thunbergia purpurata ACANTHACEAE South African endemic Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Plectranthus saccatus subsp. pondoensis LAMIACEAE South African endemic Photo credit: Tracy
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| Phylica natalensis RHAMNACEAE Vulnerable B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) South African endemic |
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| Uschi and Hiliary chatting amongst the Watsonia's. |
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| Our dearest Alf. |
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| Eriosema salignum FABACEAE |
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| Crotalaria obscura FABACEAE South African endemic |
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| Gnidia coriacea THYMELAEACEAE South African endemic |
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| Homeward bound. Gail, Anne and Alf. Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Gagoza |
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| Pondoland CREW Gail Bowers-Winters, Uschi Teicher, Anne Skelton, Tracy Taylor, Alf Hayter & Hiliary Henderson |
“The forest never gives itself away easily—it asks you to slow down, get lost a little, and pay attention to what is quietly flowering.”
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A heartfelt thank you to this incredible community—those who assist with plant identifications both near and far, those who lend cameras to help capture and record these moments, those who provide transport to reach these special places, and, above all, those who bring the passion, enthusiasm, and motivation that keep each day moving forward.
Special thanks also to Beaver Creek Coffee Estate for offering a welcoming space to work, reflect, and put this blog together for sharing. It is this collective spirit that continues to make every outing so rewarding and meaningful.
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