I'm graduate of the Plant Conservation Unit, University of Cape Town (2023). I have a love for the biodiversity of South Africa, my home country. I've spent most of my time in the megadiverse Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes, great places for a naturalist to grow up. I've also been lucky enough to enjoy the abundant wildlife of southern Africa, in the savannas of Kruger National Park and drylands of Namibia. My favourite spots include Cape Point NR, Silvermine, Tokai Park, the Little Karoo, West Coast National Park, the Garden Route and the Kruger.

I am enjoying observing and learning about the biodiversity of my new home, the New England region in northeastern US. Still very much learning the major species.

I spent much of 2020-2022 in Cape Town naturalising in my local wetland and have enjoyed contributing to https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/kirstenhof-wetland-monitoring. I've also led a BioBlitz around this wetland for the 2022 City Nature Challenge as well as for the Cape Bird Club in Jan 2023 and March 2024.

I'm also a big fan of planting native plants in one's yard if possible, and hope to carry this from Cape Town to New England.

Articles I've written on native plant conservation and restoration in Cape Town: https://wandercapetown.com/local-knowledge/indigenous-plantlife/
https://wandercapetown.com/local-knowledge/ecosystem-restoration-in-cape-town/

Newspaper article I've been featured in, that wouldn't have happened without iNaturalist:
'Amateur botanist uncovers rare plant species' -
https://www.constantiabergbulletin.co.za/news/amateur-botanist-uncovers-rare-plant-species-aa2228a1-51c6-4ce5-b2c7-9f46a03ccfb7