Orchids of the Western Cape

Tour Itinerary

• DAY 1 - Arrival Day

  Land in Cape Town, short drive to our accommodation and explore a local reserve or the world famous grounds of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens if the time allows.

• DAY 2 - Cape Peninsula

  Heading down the Cape Peninsula, we explore some pristine lowland fynbos with a diversity of Proteas from the minute Diastella divaricata to the grandiose Mimetes fimbriifolius and rare Mimetes hirtus. The main orchid gem of this park is the standout Disa purpurescens which stands high above the surrounding scrub. Along the coast, the strange arms of Euphorbia caput-medusae rise out of the sand dunes with waves crashing behind them. If there have been recent fires here we might see our first examples of Disa atricapilla.

• DAY 3 - Cape Town and Kogelberg Biosphere
  

  Today we will be flexible, targeting recent burns, but will ultimately leave the enchanting Cape Peninsula for the coastal town of Kleinmond, stopping along the way to find the delicate Disa venusta in the middle of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. This corner of coastline is the most diverse area of the already superfluous Cape Floral Kingdom and we will see evidence of this diversity in the number of Erica and Protea species present along the coastline. Old burns in the lowland fynbos will also be explored for any interesting species that may be present. We may encounter some of the well-known Chacma Baboon troops that forage around the coast.

• DAY 4 - Kogelberg and Hermanus areas

  We have some time to explore the lush valleys of the Kogelberg and Fernkloof Nature Reserves to target some special orchids including Disa atricapilla in damp areas, Disa tripetaloides along the rivers and the intricate Bartholina etheliae along the sandy coast. On top of all the orchids we will be immersed in more pristine fynbos with a large number of other species for the day.

• DAY 5 - Overberg (South Coast)

  Heading east from Hermanus we enter the wheatbelt of the Overberg with remnant patches of endangered renosterveld remaining in between the farms. We will visit several protected sites all of which host a variety of endemic species such as the spectacular Erica ampullacea as well as orchids such as Disa filicornis and more. A few recent burns in the area could turn up a number of new orchid species such as Disa tenuifolia and a variety of Satyriums. If we are lucky we might even find the long-tongued Disa multifida.

• DAY 6 - Overberg (South Coast)

  We have a whole morning to explore large burn sites near on the south coast which should hold a variety of orchids and other post-fire specialists such as the alien like Pachites bodkinii and the fractal Disa bivalvata, before heading further east to the edge of the Garden Route – a large tract of Afromontane forest where a different variety of orchids can be found.

• DAY 7 - Garden Route

  We start our day by heading into the fynbos clad mountains overlooking the town of George where we hope to find the spectacular Cerantandra grandiflora, Cerantandra globosa, Bartholina etheliae and more, such as Eulophia barbata and Disa sagittalis, the latter growing on wet rock faces. Here we are at the edge of the Cape Floristic region and there will be more species of Protea and Erica to find, including the King Protea, Protea cynaroides.

• DAY 8 - Garden Route

  Our first stop of the day will be a visit to the afromontane forest in Wilderness where we hope to look out for some epiphytic orchids such as Mystacidium capense and Cyrtotchis arcuata before heading north. Eulophia speciosa will be another target. As we head inland, the landscape becomes progressively drier with the fold mountains near the coast casting a particularly strong rain shadow. We eventually find our way to the base of the intimidating Swartberg Mountains which rise to 2,325m at their highest. A spectacular pass crosses this range, with each bend holding new botanical gems.

• DAY 9 - Swartberg Pass

  We have most of the day to explore the full length of the pass and its many twists and turns. We hope to find a flush of orchids in a recent burn as well as some specialties such as Gladiolus aquamontanus and Disa multifida and several endemic Erica.

• DAY 10 - Langeberg

  Our next morning will be spent exploring the Tradouw Pass just south of Barrydale, crossing over the Langeberg Mountains towards the town of Swellendam. Here we will walk a short way up the mountain path to search of the golden Disa aurata which grows in the streams nearby.

• DAY 11 - Kogelberg

  We head back to the busy city of Cape Town, with a detour to the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens near Betty’s Bay which will hopefully contain blooms of the magnificent Disa uniflora.

• DAY 12 - Table Mountain

  We begin to wrap up the tour by ascending the world-famous Table Mountain with the cable car, taking us right into the middle of prime fynbos habitat. A short walk across the remarkably flat plateau will give us a view of the robust Disa cornuta, dainty Disa ocellata, and long tubed Disa harveyana. If we are feeling adventurous, we will make a detour on a path heading down the back table, passing by dripping sandstone faces covered in fabulous orchids including Disa glandulosa, Disa vaginata and the prize – Disa longicornu, a luminous blue beauty.

• DAY 13 - Burn sites
  

  A backup day that we will use to explore a post-burn environment from earlier that year to target the species of orchids that only flower in the first year after a burn, aiming to find some species that might have eluded us over the tour. We might end up scheduling this day earlier in the tour, depending on the previous season and recent findings.

  Return to airport in Cape Town in the afternoon, for evening travel homeward bound.