For those of us lucky enough to have spent time on Table Mountain we are well aware of how unique and diverse some of her species are, with some found nowhere else on earth. Few visitors, however, have ever ventured into the network of caves, home
When it comes to conservation, toads are (arguably) not the sexiest of subjects. Competing for bandwidth among some of the most beautiful and dramatic species of the world (the snow leopard and mountain gorilla at the ultra-seductive end of the scale), these unassuming amphibians tend
Not so long ago, I had the privilege of sitting in the dappled shade of a magnificent Clanwilliam cedar tree. The 12 o’clock sun was baking, and we were scrambling uphill, rock-hopping, missioning, endlessly, until among the stark, Cederberg sandstone came a brief moment of
Have you ever seen a peculiar, goat-like mammal trotting the slopes of Table Mountain? If so, you’ve stumbled upon the infamous Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), a large ungulate (“hoofed animal”) native to Northern India, Southern Tibet, China and Nepal (ref). The story of how these exotic,
Known to most as the Western Province rugby emblem, the red disa (Disa uniflora) is an enigmatic gem of the Cape. It is found alongside remote mountain streams in the Western Cape and on the upper slopes of Table Mountain. Here it survives the dry
We spend our lives gallivanting up and down the mountain, crossing off poorts, pathways and landmarks as we go, often with no idea of how these sights came to be named. There are a wealth of fascinating theories out there, a few of which should
Kirstenbosch is no secret, that’s for sure. It’s considered one of the great botanical gardens of the world and without a doubt one of the Mother City’s most popular tourist attractions. Despite the status and grandeur it’s built up over the years, if you spend some
That unmistakable picture postcard view of Table Mountain framed by the craggy, silhouetted edges of Wally’s Cave has manifested itself across Cape Town’s blogs and newsfeeds in recent years, most often followed by a barrage of comments such as ‘Is this the mysterious Wally’s Cave?’
The idea of a dam on top of a mountain seems to defy logic, doesn’t it? Well, one only has to explore the upper reaches of Table Mountain to discover that it’s entirely possible. Our Mother City’s magnificent mount has five dams dotted across its
In case you were wondering, it doesn’t taste like bacon. Contrary to its colourful Afrikaans name, Spekboom (literally translated to ‘bacon tree’) is a lush, emerald succulent plant with juicy, round leaves and an unmistakable, lemony flavour. It grows naturally in the Western Cape and