African Horse Co - Whales and Proteas
The Southern Overberg is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a recently declared World Heritage site.
For those who love flowers, there are: proteas, ericas and many other fascinating fynbos species. Peak flowering time is in spring (September and October) but there are different plants in flower throughout the year. Many of the many protea species flower during the winter months (June, July and August). There are bulbs or geophytes, wiry evergreen grass-like plants known as restioids. There are shrubs called ericoids with hard, small and often tightly rolled leaves. The area has the highest diversity of buchus (citrus family – Rutaceae) anywhere in the world and there will be lots of lovely smells to accompany you on the trails.
Some of the animals you could encounter: whales, blue cranes, ostriches, baboons, porcupines, klipspringers, grysbok, steenbok, snakes, tortoises, black eagles, steppe buzzards, jackal buzzards, Cape sugarbirds, sunbirds, ground woodpeckers, African jackass penguins, pelicans, spoon-bills, herons, flamingos, yellow- billed ducks, Egyptian geese, egrets, common terns, plovers, sandpipers, endangered African oystercatchers, coots, white-breasted reed cormorants and the pied kingfishers. The area abounds with birding ‘hotspots’ and birders will delight in the many special and endemic birds.
Living in the richest plant kingdom on Earth is a privilege, Many of the fynbos flowers are so delicate and small that one will only see them when looking carefully. Ideal from horseback.
Agulhas National Park / Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative (ABI)
The Agulhas Plain is a prime conservation area because it is exceptionally rich in plant species and was once covered with lowland fynbos and renosterveld. Approximately 2500 indigenous plant species with 100 endemic to the area and 112 threatened species are found here. The lowlands of the Cape Floral Kingdom is a global biodiversity hotspot. It contains some of the world’s most endangered ecosystems, renosterveld and wetlands yet very little remains.
Three hundred years ago, black rhinoceros and other large mammals roamed free on renosterveld plains – of the 81 terrestrial mammals known from the Cape Floral Kingdom, 72 used to occur on the Agulhas Plain. The bloubok, a spectacular relative of the Roan antelope, used to live exclusively on the Overberg renosterveld plains, but was shot to extinction in the 1700s. The geometric tortoise – one of the world’s rarest
– is found only in renosterveld and is highly threatened. Renosterveld is often considered the ugly sister of Fynbos but it is really a Cinderella. For most of the year this vegetation looks dry and dull but during spring the incredible displays of delicate geophytes and carpets of annuals transform this typically grey vegetation into a spectacle of variety and colour. It’s really a wonderful vegetation often overlooked – it has the highest diversity of bulbs for any vegetation type in the world.
There are also a wide variety of wetlands in the area. They may at first site appear to be smelly wastelands but these wetlands with their complex ecosystems support specialised forms of life, some of which occur nowhere else. About 130 species of birds and also many plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals are inter-dependent on the wetlands’ intricate food webs. The Agulhas coastline also supports a rich marine and intertidal life and rare coastal birds breed along it. The nearby islands are home to many seabirds and seals.
Not only is the area of great ecological importance, but also an area with a rich cultural heritage. More than 100 shipwrecks dot the coastline and many other national monuments and historic buildings are found in the area. Stone hearths and pottery together with shell middens and other archaeological sites are lined with the era of Khoisan migration and settlements.
This area is thus part of what is called the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative (ABI). The Agulhas National Park was proclaimed in 1999 with land of 100ha around the lighthouse at the southernmost tip of Africa, this has been expanded to 20 000ha through the farms in the coastal strip which we traverse on the way to Cape Agulhas. The eventual goal is a conservation area of 120 000ha.
Southern Right Whales
Riding along perfect white beaches of the Walker Bay conservancy and whale sanctuary, which is arguably the best land based area in the world to watch whales, you will have the opportunity to see whales at very close distances. The whales come into the sanctuary from July to give birth and mate. They stay in the deep,calm waters of the bay to feed and strengthen the young before leaving around December/January, back to the deep waters of the southern Ocean. Hermanus and De Kelders are the whale watching capital of the world from July to December.
Admire these magnificent creatures and their ‘aquabatic’ displays, splashing, crashing and blowing often just meters from the shore). Learn terminology for their fancy ‘aquabatics’ -breaching, lobtailing, spyhopping and sailing…and marvel at the tranquility these enormous mammals bring to the area as they loll in the swells of Walker Bay .
NO N - H O R S E R I D I N G P A R T N E R S :
A QUICK SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES / PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE AREA.
- botanical trails : The 800 hectares of farm 215 have an extensive infrastructure of gravel-roads and trails winding through the indigenous vegetation and up to mountains with stunning viewpoints. Detailed map is available. Experienced botanical guides can be arranged.
- bird-watching & guides in the area : Birdlife Africa has selected farm 215 as a "birder friendly establishment" . Due to its combination of shoreline, estuaries, swamps, forests, agricultural fields, lowland- and mountain-fynbos, there is a surprising abundance of birds in this area of the Dangerpoint Peninsula and on farm 215 itself. We will gladly make contact for you with a specialised bird guide. There are several other accredited guides in the area, either with a general knowledge or a specialised knowledge, such as the history of the Overberg, the Moravian mission village of Elim and the township of Masakhane. Please let us know if you wish us to arrange guided tours of any nature, with or without vehicle.
- massage : Treatment / massage by trained and experienced (shiatsu) masseur can be arranged in the privacy of your quarters.
-eubalaena australis & carcharodon carcharias : Danger Point Peninsula is considered to be one of the best places in the world to observe Great White Sharks from the safety of cages lowered from boats. Danger Point Peninsula is also reputed to offer the finest land- and boat-based whale watching in the world (southern right whales). Boat trips (also along the penguin- and seal-colonies of Dyer Island) can be arranged.
- cape agulhas : the southern-most point of the african continent.
- elim : unspoilt moravian mission village with a mind-blowing hystory.
- beaches : various empty and endless sand-beaches at nearby Pearly Beach and Franskraal.
-swimming : in several protected coves and bays along the coast (and in the 25 m lap-pool next to the old homestead)
- klipgat cave : on the cliffs of De Kelders overlooking Walker Bay: finding place of one of the oldest remains of modern man.
-walker bay nature reserve : coastal nature reserve stretching from De Kelders ("The Caves") to the victorian village of Stanford
-danger point light house : the lighthouse erected on the tip of the nearby peninsula after the wrecking of the legendary HMS Birkenhead.
-stanford : victorian village with a wide selection of bars and restaurants
-gansbaai : unpretentious working fishing village
For detailed info about the area, its history and what to do and to see, please check : www.danger-point-peninsula.co.za , the official site of the local tourism board.