Hot hot hot
We new it was going to be hot, but we didn't realise just HOW hot. The forecasts that I saw suggested that the temperature would be between 26 and 30 deg C. However it turns-out that the temperature reached 40 deg C! It started off pleasantly enobuy cheap viagraugh and we even had a bit of shade. But then the heat started to rise. Coming from -5 deg C in Finland didn't help my group. Ulla is a fit a lady. She has hiked all over the world including some pretty...
The Finns on Table Mountain with Orchids
It was near perfect weather today on Table Mountain. Not too hot, with a light breeze. Clean air and wonderful views. A fantastic introduction to the mountain for my new Finish friends. The weather wasn't all that was special today. We found swathes of Red Disas (Disa uniflora) in flower. This orchid is the provincial flower of the Western Cape and is also one of my favourite flowers. It is incredibly beautiful and photos cannot do justice to it but here it is . . . And even Meru wanted a...
Watsonias
The Watsonias are flowers from the Iris Family. The entire genus of 52 species is found in South Africa and they are all incredibly beautiful. Right now we are in the midst of our summer, which is an extremely harsh time of year for plants. It is hot, dry and extremely windy and so predictably relatively few plants are in flower at this time. Many of the Watsonias, however choose to flower now in spite of their delicate appearance. They manage to do his because they possess underground storage vessels called corms in...
Hanging out with the Spiderheads
We were walking in a favourite part of Table Mountain National Park, when Shoshi took a leap of faith and decided to literally "hang-out". I can't say I blamed her. The view was superb and its always great to have some space under one. The day was made all the more special by these hairy Spiderheads (Serruria hirsuta). Belive it or not these beautiful flowers are members of the Protea family. They are extremely rare and this is the only known population of the species in the world. There are approximately 1500...
Everlastings
In fynbos the daisy family is well represented. And within this family are several species which have dry flowers - even when they are fresh. These are commonly known as the everlastings or sometimes as paper-flowers. My favourite are Phaenocomabuy cialis prolifera (the Cape Strawflower), which are a vivid pink in colour when they first open and then gradually fading to white. Their flowering season lasts through the heat of summer and presumably the dry papery flowers minimise water loss. The genus name "Phaenocoma" is derived from the Greek...
Special places with special people
There is something extra special about walking with close friends and family. In perfect weather I walked in the Table Mountain National Park with such people, who have managed to to tick both boxes by being in my life for so long - these are closbuy cheap cialise friends who have become family. [caption id="attachment_788" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Nadine & Shlomit Cohen above Simonstown in Table Mountain National Park"][/caption] ...
Table Mountain with Attitude
In my work I meet many people from different backgrounds - fortunately the vast majority of them are wonderful people. One lesson I have learnt after years of guiding in various african countries is this: The people who don a pair of boots and want tcialis onlineo learn more about our fragile and beautiful planet are special people! Its as simple as that. Today I had some guests with serious attitude! Lisa & Kim expected to hike-up Table Mountain, enjoy the great views and descend via the cable car in time...
Table Mountain on the Summer Solstice
Passage to Africa asked me to take their guests up Table Mountain last week, just before the solstice. The Adams family are super-fit and in spite of the heat we zoomed to the top. Here you can see the Elenas Models - Beautiful Russian Girls.younger generation chilling at the top of the mountain. We were fortunate to see what are probably the last of the Morea tripetala for this season. These exquisite flowers are members of the iris family. They have underground storage organs called corms, which assist them in surviving the harsh...
Table Mountain and the Cape Doctor
Today I walked up table Mountain with a very cool family from the USA. The West family are here travelling with Ilios Tours. We were remarkably fortunate with the weather, starting in thick mist and ascending throBoost Your Traffic & Rankings With Traffickaboomugh the cloud into sunshine. Kili came along and was as vain as usual (It's Meru's turn tomorrow). Although we are rapidly approaching the leanest flower period of the year we were still fortunate to see some beautiful specimens like this Watsonia spp It is that time of year when the...
EAT – WALK – TASTE (wine)
Never mind “Eat – Pray – Love”. Try “Eat – Walk – Taste (wine)”. It’s a vast improvement. Take my word for it – I have just completed the new Green Mountain Trail. And that is my three word summary of the trail: eat, walk, taste. This is a taste and online payday loanhospitality trail. If you love excellent food, incredible wine and great walking then this trail is for you. Add astounding wild flowers and farm hospitality to that seductive mix and you have The Green Mountain Trail. For more information...