The Knysna Elephants

The Knysna Elephants

Guest blog by Janet Middleton

Photos courtesy of  Knysna Elephant Park

Knysna Elephants

In eras gone by, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and the Garden Route were home to herds of native elephants. Their home was the abundant indigenous forest that covers the area and up until the turn of the last century their population numbered between 400 and 500 strong.

By 1908, only 20 of these great giants remained, largely due to poaching, hunting and ivory smuggling. The Knysna Elephant, also known as the Cape bush elephant; is the southernmost elephant on the African continent. The forests surrounding Knysna have a wonderful spirit and peace and the thought of wild elephants still tramping through the trees is food for the imagination. The last confirmed sighting of an elephant in the vast forest was in 1990, although there are many stories of snatched glimpses of the grey mammals and unmistakeable sounds of movement in the forest. The general consensus is that there is one or more left in the wild of the forest.

In a remarkable effort to repopulate the area, the Knysna Elephant Park has rescued a number of African elephants and founded an elephant sanctuary right in the heart of the Garden Route. Visitors to the park can interact with the animals in a safe, controlled environment that is not stressful to the elephants. Standing next to a magnificent fully-grown African ellie is something not soon forgotten.

Knysna Elephants

Fynbos Ridge is fortunately located only a 10 minute drive from the Knysna Elephant Park. If elephants are one of your favourites, I would strongly recommend reading The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony. It is a beautiful tale of a family of traumatised elephants given a second chance – one of the most incredible books I have ever read.   Janet Middleton

Knysna Elephants

Note from Liz - In May 2011 there were reports that hikers had spotted two elephants near Jubilee Creek.  There are also numerous photos and reports of evidence of the existence of elephants in the forest - droppings, signs of feeding, damage to gates and forestry equipment, bashed up signs etc.  Another highly recommended read is The Secret Elephants by local author and researcher Gareth Patterson, who has spend countless hours gathering evidence of the existence of the Knysna wild elephants.

Knysna Elephants

The Fynbos of the Garden Route

The Fynbos of the Garden Route

Guest Blog by Janet Middleton

Photo: Amy Phillips Taken at Fynbos Ridge

A narrow coastal greenbelt along the South Western Cape of South Africa is home to the smallest and most diverse of all the World’s Floral Kingdoms, the Cape Floral Kingdom. Locally known as fynbos or, roughly translated from Afrikaans, “fine bush”. 

This stretch of rich vegetation incorporates Cape Town, the Garden Route and Port Elizabeth and offers tourists and locals the opportunity to view over 8000 species, 5000 of which are endemic to this region - not to be found anywhere else on earth. That is more species than can be found in the entire United Kingdom.

The fynbos varies from location to location and is special not only for its diversity but also its floral exports and uses. Popular floral species include the iconic Protea and delicate Erica species which are highly prized and grown for export. The healthy, aromatic teas made from the Rooibos and Honeybush plants are in demand both locally and internationally.

Fire is an integral part of the life cycle of many fynbos plants, as seeds will only germinate in the heat of the fire. The Western Cape is a winter rainfall region and the summer months are generally dry with the possibility of natural fires occurring and renewing the fynbos region.

Cape Sugarbird on Yellow Pincushion at Fynbos Ridge
Photo: Amy Phillips

Fynbos Ridge lies perched amidst the fragrant fynbos of the Garden Route, just outside the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay. As their name suggests, they have made a dedicated effort to return the fynbos to its natural state with the essential removal of alien species, and rehabilitation of the indigenous vegetation. While the natural vegetation thrives, local birds, butterflies and small mammals once again make their home amongst the fynbos.

One of our favourites The Red Pincushion - Leucospermum cordifolium
In bloom from late Spring, and a great cut flower

Currently, at Fynbos Ridge, the vibrant Pincushion Protea is in flower, this exotic flower is commonly orange or reddish-orange with a distinctive flower head looking like a pincushion filled with pins. So lovely! 

Double Collared Sunbird on Overberg Pincushion (Leucospermum oleifolium)