The Robberg

 The Robberg is a peninsula forming the southern end of the Plettenberg Bay and runs West to East. The name Robberg derives from the Afrikaans name for seals.

The trail starts the information centre, which has a display of some of the flora and some artifacts. From here it seems to be usual to start the trail by going clockwise. It goes along the North bank to the Gap which almost bisects the Robberg.

A white Freesia in the coastal scrub.

Then comes the climb up out of the Gap and a clamber up some rocks to reach the top. Here is some of the flora and at the bottom the master of camouflage, the Rock Agama (can you see it?)

At the top we looked across to the Tsitstkamma mountains then down at the bay far below. There were some seals basking on the rocks, in fact we smelled them before we saw them.

Along the top we walked through fynbos where we found an African Small White butterfly. Here it is.

Then on through a wooded area, to come out at Witsand, a huge sand dune. A warning was given that it was unwise to approach the North side as one would plummet into the bay far below.

We walked down the steep dune, looking at the beach and Die Eiland at the far side.

We stopped for a rest and snack. Watching us was a seagull hoping for a free lunch.

There was also a Common Meadow White butterfly here.

As we walked along the beach we noticed that the flora was mostly succulent, as was this mesem. Even the Gazanias seemed to have succulent leaves.

From here it was over some rocks, then along a cliff face. One had to be very careful here.

We reached the Gap, and then clambered up some rocks, to be greeted by these Nemesias in a shady spot.

We looked back at the at the way we had gone, across the Gap, and to the Eiland in the distance.

The way back to the centre was through fynbos, with red Ericas, and some Leucospermum. Here we watched both the Orange-breasted Sun Bird, and the Cape Sugar Bird, both endemic to the South Western Cape.

Darling

 Darling is a small town near the West Coast of the Cape on the sandveldt. It is famous for its wild flowers, and the Wild Flower Society, and for its wild flower show.The society is very popular, and this is encouraged by the Presbyterin minister and the Dominie, often from the pulpit. It was from here that Hildagonda Ducket introduced Nemesias to the world.

This is the Presbyterian church (picture courtesy Albert Geldenhuys)

We were too late for the flower show and the flowers were going over, but we found enough to enjoy. On the way we found an abundance of flowers at the  road side.

Above Gladiolus alatus, or Kalkoentjies.

A Babiana.

A delicate Lachenalia.

I didn't have a name for this flower.

We found a farmer's field, barren, but full of wild life. 

Yes, the colours are real. Rather than a very a similar Geissorhiza, the ribbed leaves, and the lack of a white ring make this Babiana rubrocyanaea.It is endemic to this part of the Cape. I call them Wynkoppies (wine cups), but apparantly this name is reserved for the Geissorhiza.

In the field there was a mass migration of Whites (butterflies.) Also many of these butterflies, the Boland Brown. They also are endemic to the South west of the Cape.