All the Wide World: Flowers by Rie-Rie

This page features Rie's flower photographs from the African part of the trip--Swaziland, South Africa Part II, Madagascar, South Africa Part I.

Swaziland

Sibebe Rock, just north of Mbabane, is the world's largest exposed granite dome and, after Uluru in Australia, the second biggest rock. Unlike Uluru however, it receives very little visitation. The day I hiked to the top, I was the only person for miles around enjoying the views and the wildflowers.

At the end of August I spent a few days hiking at Malolotja National Preserve in northwestern Swaziland. The largest mountain wilderness in Swaziland, it is largely highveld grassland composed of short grasses and granite outcrops. When I was there, the wildflowers were just beginning to bloom.

South Africa Part 2: Spring in Namaqualand

While enjoying the fynbos of South Africa in May, it occurred to me that we would be in Africa until September. I could go to Namaqualand for the spring flower show! In the northwestern part of the country, this region receives, on average, between 150 and 200 mm of rainfall per year. The rocky, granite hills and sandy plains are barren for three-quarters of the year. But come spring, especially after good autumn rains, the area puts on its colors. Flowers everywhere! In all colors -- bright orange, hot pink, yellows of all shades, lilac, fuschia -- they're all here mixed up together in an extravagant display! Flowers as far as the eye can see.

3 August, 2011 In and around Springbok:

4 August, 2011 Goegap Nature Preserve:

5 August, 2011 This was a cloudy, windy day and I set out for a walk up the koppie (small hill) behind my guesthouse. While many flowers were closed up against the grey skies, I did find some treasures:

Madagascar!

Our first stop in Madagascar was the rainforest. We were so busy looking for lemurs that I hardly took any plant pictures. Here is just one, the most unusual fungus I have ever seen:

During a pirogue tour on the Canal des Pangalanes we made a few stops:

In the center of the country we visited Parc Nacional de l'Isalo, an area characterized by grasslands, large granite outcrops, and canyons.

I am drawn to lichen everywhere, but this was especially hard to ignore. There was so much of it covering the rocks that from a distance they appeared to be green.

And no trip to Madagascar would be complete without seeing Baobabs. These pictures were taken in the Reniala Preserve on the west coast, an area referred to as "The Spiny Forest".

Walking around the preserve and the Arboretum d'Antsokay we saw many other spiny plants:

South Africa Part 1: Cape Floral Kingdom

A whole new continent and an exciting new array of flowers. What better place to start than in Hermanus and Cape Town. Both are part of the Cape Floral Kingdom -- the smallest and richest floral kingdom in the world. Most of the southwestern part of the country is covered in fynbos, an environment characterized by acid, nutrient-poor soils and three dominant plant families: Proteaceae, Ericaceae, and Restoniaceae. There are over 7700 plant species found in fynbos -- over 600 Ericas alone.

Although we arrived in winter and not spring, the height of drama for South African flowers, there was still plenty to see. I have never been in an area with such diversity! Everywhere I turned there was something different -- another Protea! another Restio! Who knew there were so many different Ericas?!? And the first sundew I have ever seen in its natural habitat! Plus there were flowers I couldn't identify. It was like being a kid in a candy store.

And now for some pics: