by KBergReserve

Walk Report

Remoteness, tranquillity, a slow walk, sunny and mild weather, pristine Cape seashore vegetation, sweeping beaches, rock pools, sea shell strewn coves, good humour, birds and a spot to have tea and watch the whale out at sea. It doesn’t get better. Six members and guests set off on the 21st October to ramble along the sea shore from Betty’s Bay’s beautiful Silversands beach towards Cape Hangklip in perfect weather. Having no fixed destination set us free to take our time. We would stop for tea when we felt like it and then retrace our steps.…
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by KBergReserve

WALKS PLANNED FOR 2017

Saturday 17 June 2017: Rod's Trail The best of Kogelberg Sandstone (Mountain) Fynbos for the least effort. It’s been a while since we explored this little gem of a trail, familiar to many, surprisingly little known by others. The trail is a contour path on the slopes of Betty’s Bay’s Voorberg, starting from the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens and ending at the Village Centre, about two and a half kilometres, and we take it slow. Wear warm clothing and sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Bring rain gear, a snack and a warm drink in…
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by KBergReserve

WALKS PLANNED FOR 2017

Saturday 22 April 2017: Hangklip Ecologial Corridor No, it’s not a mistake. Botsoc Kogelberg walks are usually on the third Saturday of each month, except that the third Saturday of April this year is on Easter Saturday, right in the middle of the Easter weekend. That’s why we’ll be walking the following Saturday, 22 April. Here’s what we’ll be doing and where we’ll be going: Looking for new life, monitoring the Hangklip Ecological Corridor In March we monitored the recovery of the Western Coastal Shale Band vegetation in the Kleinmond Mountain Nature Reserve. In April…
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by KBergReserve

AGULHAS IN THE SPRING

- Rea Borcherds The Betty’s Bay Branch of the Botanical Society organised a three-day visit to the limestone and lowland fynbos and renosterveld of the Agulhas Plain. A group of 17 local botanical society members set out on 21 August, visiting the Cape Floral Kingdom Expo at Bredasdorp en route. Arriving at the Agulhas National Park in drenching rain, we gathered around a roaring fire in our Lagoon House accommodation for supper and a comprehensive presentation by Dr Allan Heydorn on why the Agulhas Plain is so interesting: geographically, ecologically, historically, and archaeologically. This is…
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by KBergReserve

WALKS PLANNED FOR 2016

• Botsoc Walk 15 October 2016 “What lies beneath”. The rocks and soil beneath fynbos makes a difference; the vegetation we see is the product of the substrate we don’t see. Renowned botanist and botanical historian Dr John Rourke shows us fynbos vegetation growing only on Western Coastal Shale Band and points out how it is different from Sand and Sandstone fynbos. We hitch a ride in high clearance vehicles up to stunning views from Kasteelkop Nek high above Kleinmond. We amble down (not up!) a gravel road while Dr Rourke points out special features…
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by KBergReserve

WALKS PLANNED FOR 2016

As usual, we will hold our monthly walk on Saturday 14 May at the Hanneshoek Route in the Kleinmond Mountain Reserve. For those new to the Monthly walk, once a month we gather to explore breathtaking views and outstanding natural beauty. Every month there is a new guide, walking the route with us and telling us all about his/her stories. Bring sturdy footwear, a hat, sunblock, snacks and liquid refreshments (all necessary for a moderate walk). Also bring a long a field guide to fynbos and binoculars. To join the monthly walk we all meet…
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by KBergReserve

WALKS PLANNED FOR 2016

March - Coastal splendour around Grootbaai (aka Moonlight Bay), Maasbaai and Hangklip lighthouse Saturday, 19 March 2016 Meet at the Drosters Centre in Pringle Bay at 09h00. Coastal paths, with little or no steep terrain, take us through three veld types and richly varied vegetation. This is one of the few areas where Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, usually found high on mountain slopes, sweeps down to sea level. Overberg Dune Strandveld showcases a startling variety of small trees and shrubs and Cape Seashore Vegetation boasts its resilient succulent plant communities. We’ll be especially looking for the…
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