If you want to get out of your caged life trapped in the grey city, then let me show you a solution to your woes. It involves the beautiful and uplifting colors of nature in the wild here on the southernmost shores of the African continent. This region of the planet is home to a plethora of miniature floral species called collectively the “fynbos floral kingdom”. When in bloom these unassuming little plants come to life and light up the otherwise bland green expanse of terrain all along the south coast of Africa.
This particular stretch of coast called the Garden Route is one of the prime tourist resorts on the African continent, known for its pristine white beaches, epic surfing spots and also a range of nature exploration places for outdoor lovers as well and anyone who needs to revive their health by getting out of the cities and returning to the source, so to speak. The sites I encountered on today’s stretch of hike along these southern shores consist of inspiring display of indigenous flowers blossoming sweetly despite the fact that no one is looking – except for me. And now I am able to share this revelation with you and the whole world.
The most striking of all the indigenous flowers that I encountered on my hiking trail is this fantastically florescent pink species. You could call it a shocking pink and it cam appear quite psychedelic on occasion. The plant, known locally as a “vygie” or little fig, is actually a small succulent ground cover, which is actually the nature of many of the local species. The conditions are fairly dry and the soil is sparse so the succulents pop out from the rocky surface and cover it like a carpet of color.
The terrain here is fairly stark of extreme along this Garden Route section of the Cape coastline. My trail leads along the cliff tops overlooking the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean below. The sheer drop down to the jagged rocks being smashed by the breaking waves is quite daunting, especially if you’re afraid of heights. Nevertheless, I am occasionally able to find a path or make my own path down to the shoreline below.
Some places are impossible to climb and remain inaccessible. However, with enough resilience to heights and with a calculated risk, it is possible to find a slope that allows for one to descend to the pools below for a deeper, next level experience of the shoreline itself. And all along the descent, the flowering little bushes appear to cling resiliently to the bare rock face or nestle in the various nooks and crannies and crevices of the cliff sides.
This particular display of floral beauty is only visible for a few months at the right season of the year which makes these photos that I managed to capture all the more special. The rest of the year one is left with merely the green ground cover plant upon the hard unrelenting rocky landscape. Without the blossoming flowers it still looks impressive though in a stark and stony manner.
There is a most amazing geological feature way down at the shoreline just below, that looks like a big arch through which one can see. As appealing as it looks, I have yet to find a way to access it. It’s basically out of reach for me. The sloping cliffs leading down to this eroded arch formation in the cliff face are simply too dangerous to traverse. I have come close on occasion by climbing down to slope a little distance away further along the shoreline and then clambering over the boulders and along the steeply diagonal hillside. Despite getting fairly close to the arch itself, the last bit of path to it remains blocked by crashing waves. It remains an unobtainable goal to be admired only from a respectful distance.
If you love nature as much as I do, and wish to capture a moment of surreal beauty which is truly uplifting and invigorating then be sure to make your way to these southern shores of Africa and the region called the Garden Route. You will be one of the few people on the planet to see these timeless treasures of flora as well as the majestic geological rock formations created by the weathering of the elements over the centuries.
(photos my own)