We are getting excited when we see the plans for our CNC events coming together. But we still need your help with a few things.
We want people to enjoy our events as opportunities to be out in nature, and also to experience and learn more about the species they see there by making observations using the iNaturalist phone App or iNaturalist.org. We want more people to get enthusiastic about our wild flowers so that they may also become members of our Southern Overberg CREW (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wild Flowers) group.
Our events are carefully planned around our limited capacity. To avoid disappointment please RSVP by Wednesday 27 April.
AGULHAS NATIONAL PARK has waived their conservation fee to all who take part in our CNC events inside their Park:
On 29 April – Our first event inside Agulhas NP is at Rietfontein. Sharndré Heuvel from Western Cape CREW, Emma de Kock (ANP) and Charleen Brunke will meet and direct us. The meeting point is at 9h00 at the green water tanks on the road from Uintjieskuil. (From the Elim-Struisbaai road, take Wolvengat rd (R317), turn left at Gansbaai/Die Dam sign, after 500m left to Uintjieskuil rd and onto Rietfontein) RSVP dekockemma@gmail.com
On 30 April – Our second event inside Agulhas NP is a moderate 10 km walk at Soetanysberg in stunning fynbos and with great views over the ocean. This is a must do and not to be missed! We need botanists and experts on the vast Protea and Erica families, so well represented here, to join us. We are fascinated by the rock that informs our fynbos today, so please contact and join us if you’re an expert on the local geology. Anybody that can add synergy, please join us. Your contacts are Charleen Brunke and Emma de Kock (ANP). We meet at 9h00 at the end of Bergplaas road, at ANP Bergplaas house. (From Bredasdorp on R43 for 20km. Turn left onto Elim-Struisbaai rd. Continue 6km and turn right onto Bergplaas rd. Continue to end of Bergplaas road) RSVP charleenbrunke@outlook.com
MORE EVENTS:
On 29 April – We are at Elim Geelkop Nature Reserve. Rebecca Dames and Carl Richter will meet and direct us where to go and what species we may find there. The meeting point is at Maakit Mooi Coffee Shop in Elim at 8:30am.
On 1 May – This event is only open to CREW members. We meet at De Mond Nature Reserve’s entrance gate from where we will go to a nearby limestone field. Amida Johns, author of Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, will meet us at 9h00. RSVP amidajohns@gmail.com
On 2 May – We will go to Napier commonages, falling under Cape Agulhas Municipality, which are managed by Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust (ORCT). Odette Curtis Scott, from ORCT is a Renosterveld ecologist, and co-author of Field Guide to Renosterveld of the Overberg and will be our meet leader. The meeting point is outside Napier Overberg Agri - next to the Caltex petrol station on the Caledon side of Napier at 10h00. RSVP info@overbergrenosterveld.org.za
On 2 May – We will go to Napierberg to explore the effects of the recent fire. Stephen Smuts, chairman of BotSoc Southern Overberg will be our meet leader. We meet at his house on the mountain at 14h00. Continue with Plein Street up the mountain for 3km, take Sunbird Lodge access road on right to Stephen’s house.
We also planned free afternoons when you can visit other interesting Fynbos areas on your own – like Heuningberg Reserve in Bredasdorp, Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve, De Mond Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve and do not forget the Fynbos Road: on the R43 between Bredasdorp and Elim, R319 between Bredasdorp and Struisbaai and the Elim Struisbaai road.
