Majuleni 27 October 2025

Discovering Majuleni: CREW’s Botanical Adventure

Pick of the day: Mackaya Bella.

After months of planning, Dorothy finally got our CREW group on the road to Majuleni in the Eastern Cape, accompanied by the knowledgeable Sinegugu Zukulu. At dawn, our convoy rumbled along adventure-filled dirt roads, passing rural villages, playful baby goats, and children shouting “sweets!” along the way. Two hours later, we arrived and were immediately greeted by a breathtaking sight: a Ground Hornbill — black and white wings soaring into a cliff crevice, another strutting in the veld.

Known locally as Intsikizi, these birds are steeped in cultural significance. Their deep calls are said to summon rain and thunder, earning them names like the “rainbird” or “thunderbird.” Across cultures, they are messengers of ancestors, symbols of protection, spiritual power, and sometimes warnings. Conservationists now collaborate with traditional leaders to protect these majestic birds while respecting cultural beliefs.

Guided by Sinegugu

Sinegugu Zukulu

Sinegugu hails from Baleni village in the Amadiba Territory. Growing up herding livestock in Pondoland, he developed a profound connection with the land and its flora. Today, he bridges scientific conservation with grassroots activism, teaching about biodiversity, indigenous knowledge, and environmental stewardship. His insights brought the forest alive as we followed him, eyes and ears alert to every detail.

Majuleni

Forest Treasures

Our search began with:

Colubrina nicholsonii, the Pondo Weeping Thorn. Its snake-like stems (Latin coluber = snake) and gorge-dwelling habits make it rare and protected, a fragile emblem of South Africa’s forest gorges. We also spotted Marojordaanii filiformis, a monotypic species typically hidden in deep shade near watercourses and rocky cliffs.

Colubrina nicholsonii
Pondo Weeping Thorn
RHAMNACEAE
Vulnerable D1
South African endemic

Near a colossal waterfall, we found Streptocarpus modestus and Streptocarpus haygarthii clung to rocks, while Gail and Anne discovered enormous Ptisana fraxinea var. salicifolia, an ancient fern with willow-like pinnules. Its presence underlined the forest’s botanical heritage, part of the Marattiaceae family — one of the world’s ancient fern lineages.

A waterfall with spiritual beliefs.

Streptocarpus modestus
GESNERIACEAE

Streptocarpus haygarthii 
GESNERIACEAE
South African endemic

Ptisana fraxinea var. salicifolia
MARATTIACEAE

Asystasia varia
ACANTHACEAE
South African endemic

Along the forest edge, we found Drypetes arguta, the Water Ironplum, thriving in moist habitats with edible fruits. Maytenus species, resilient woodland and forest-margin plants, also caught our attention. Rare endemics like Maytenus abbottii and Maytenus cordata face threats from habitat loss, yet have traditional medicinal uses, including treating toothache, stomach ailments, and inflammation.

Drypetes arguta
Water Ironplum
PUTRANJIVACEAE
Photo credit:  Simon

Maytenus sp.
CELASTRACEAE
Photo credit:  Simon

The forest seemed alive with Mackaya bella — Forest Bells or River Bells — its beautiful flowers attracting bees, carpenter bees, and Blue Pansy caterpillars. We also glimpsed Cryptocarya myrtifolia, a tree harvested for medicinal bark, highlighting the delicate balance between cultural use and conservation.

Cussonia nicholsonii
ARALIACEAE
South Coast Cabbage-tree
South African endemic

Mackaya bella 
ACANTHACEAE
Forest Bell-bush 

Bulbophyllum scaberulum growing on the rocks in the harsh sunlight.

Bulbophyllum scaberulum
ORCHIDACEAE

Pavetta bowkeri
Hairy Coastal Brides-bush
Rubiaceae 
South African endemic



Phlegmariurus verticillatus
LYCOPODIACEAE

Adding to our delight were tiny forest creatures: Oenopia cinctella and the flatid bug Ityraea nigrocinta. In the grasslands, Asparagus africanus and Basananthe sandersonii, a “miniature granadilla,” added colour and diversity to the landscape.  On the rocks Delosperma vinaceaum caught our eye in its magnificent red.

Oenopia cinctella 

Cataleeda cuneilinea

Oenopia divergens

Delosperma vinaceum 
AIZOACEAE
South African endemic






Asparagus africanus
ASPARAGACEAE
Wag-'n-bietjie

Thunbergia sp.

Reflections on Majuleni

We lingered as long as we could, savoring Majuleni’s beauty. Dorothy’s perseverance brought us to a truly special place, while Sinegugu’s guidance and knowledge transformed the experience into a living lesson in biodiversity and culture. The forest, streams, cliffs, and wildlife reminded us that the Transkei is an unspoilt gem — deserving of admiration and protection.

This field trip was a reminder that conservation is not just about iconic species but about protecting entire ecosystems, from ancient ferns and rare trees to the cultural stories that enrich them. We left inspired, grateful, and eager for the next adventure with

Sinegugu.

Homeward bound.

Pondoland CREW
Gail Bowes-Winters, Anne Skelton, visitor, Sally Booker, Sinegugu Zukulu, Dorothy McIntyre,
 Maggie Abbott, Hiliary Henderson, Tracy Tayor & Simon Hicks.

 

“Trees are living things. When we talk to them, they hear us.”- Sinegugu Zukulu

Beacon Hill

Thursday’s outing was a celebration from the very start. Anne arrived proudly in her brand-new, five-door forest green Jimny—welcome to the Jimny family, Anne! There is something joyful about this little community of drivers: the flashing lights, the waves, and the smiles that come with owning a car that is as adventurous as its people.

Richard Boon had set a challenge: to look for stipules on the Erythrococca sp. nov. in the forest. Stipules are tiny appendages at the base of leaves, and in this yet-to-be-described species they appear as minute white nodes visible only under a loupe. Gail thought it best that more experienced eyes take up the task, but with that mission in mind we set out from Beacon Hill — only to find ourselves joyfully distracted by an overwhelming display of wildflowers.

It was one of those days where every step held us captive. Colours spilt across the grasslands, and we scarcely moved at all before lunch, so entranced were we by the diversity around us. As one of us put it: “I’m sure heaven is where we botanise.” The secret was fire — large areas of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve had burnt earlier this year, and fire had worked its magic. Fire and flowers: a story as old as the veld.  It was one of those excursions where your heart feels like it might burst from happiness.

Among the first to catch our eye was Watsonia mtamvuna, with its short stem carrying bright pink flowers,  this is named after the very reserve in which we walked. Orchids delighted us next: Eulophia parviflora with its small, delicate flowers, and Eulophia hians, larger and showier. We were surprised not to find Drimia depressa,  which we had seen in bud two weeks earlier — its flowering period so fleeting that we had missed it. Instead, Drimia echinostachya revealed its spiny inflorescences. Two species of Dipcadi challenged us: Dipcadi viride, with its leaves not twisting, and Dipcadi marlothii, whose leaves spiral distinctly — a subtle but telling difference.

Watsonia mtamvunae
IRIDACEAE
Vulnerable D2
South African endemic

Eulophia parviflora
ORCHIDACEAE

Eulophia hians
ORCHIDACEAE

Pondoland CREW.

Drimia echinostachya
HYACINTHACEAE
Vulnerable A2ad; C2a(i)
South African endemic




Ledebouria revoluta
HYACINTHACEAE

Two Dipcadi species kept us busy: Dipcadi viride with greenish flowers and Dipcadi marlothii, named after the botanist Marloth. Sarel and Uschi showed us how to distinguish them: twisted leaves in one, straight in the other.

Dipcadi viride
HYACINTHACEAE

The grassland was dotted with Afroaster serrulatus, distinguishable from its relative A. hispidus by its smooth, hairless leaves. Lotononis bachmanniana, Nemesia denticulata, and the eye-catching Graderia scabra brightened the slopes. The silvery foliage of Helichrysum griseum shimmered as if dusted with light, while Acalypha punctata tempted us with fruit that looked as red and glossy as strawberries — though not for eating! Both male and female plants stood together.

Colour variation

Afroaster serrulatus
ASTERACEAE

Lotononis bachmanniana
FABACEAE
Near Threatened A4c; B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
South African endemic

Nemesia denticulata
SCROPHULARIACEAE

Graderia scabra 
OROBANCHACEAE

Lasiosiphon kraussianus var. kraussianus
THYMELAEACEAE

Acalypha punctata
EUPHORBIACEAE
Male and female

Helichrysum griseum
ASTERACEAE
South African endemic

Indigofera rubroglandulosa 
FABACEAE
South African endemic


Thesium natalense
SANTALACEAE

In the forest we lingered over Erythrococca sp. nov., hunting for stipules on the young nodes. Along the river we found Rinorea domatiosa, the leaves  revealed its domatia — tiny hairy pockets on the leaves where mites take shelter. Although not in flower, it was fascinating to study its structure. Carissa bispinosa, with its starry white flowers and spines, grew alongside Buxus natalensis, the Cape boxwood.

Downwards!

Richard Boon's photo with his explanation:  The black line points to the bud in the axil (armpit) between the petiole and branchlet.  The blue line points to where the stipule should be. One on either side of the stem. They will probably only be present on new growth and fall as soon as the plant starts growing in spring.

Anne, Sarel and Uschi carefully looking for tiny stipules on Erythrococca sp.

Erythrococca sp. nov
EUPHORBIACEAE
Male flowers

Dietes butcheriana
IRIDACEAE
South African endemic

Carissa bispinosa 
APOCYNACEAE

Hairy pockets 

Rinorea domatiosa 
VIOLACEAE
Rare
South African endemic

Rhoicissus sp. nov
VITACEAE

Burchellia bubalina
RUBIACEAE

As the afternoon shadows lengthened, we climbed the slope again and found Hebenstretia dura. Its unfortunate common name, Eastern Shrubby Slugwort, does it no justice. Uschi compared it with Hebenstretia comosa, pointing out how very different the leaves are. Though these were nearly past flowering, the discovery was still exciting.

Hebenstretia dura
SCROPHULARIACEAE

Eriosema kraussianum
FABACEAE

We ended our day walking through fields of Helichrysum ecklonis. The flowers seemed to glow in the last light, and one could only imagine how magical this hillside would appear under a full moon. Here in Umtamvuna, we are richly spoiled with wildflowers — a true privilege for anyone who loves nature and walks it slowly with friends.

Helichrysum ecklonis
ASTERACEAE

So often people think of the Cape as South Africa’s floral jewel—but here in Pondoland, in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, we are truly spoiled. Rich in endemics, alive with colour, this landscape is both fragile and resilient. What a privilege it is to botanise here with Pondoland CREW.

Anne and Gail's Jimny's

Pondoland CREW
Gail Bowers-Winters, Sarel Ciliers, Kerry Naish (guest), Dorothy McIntyre,
 Anne Skelton, Uschi Teircher and Hiliary Henderson

“Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.” — Gérard de Nerval