It’s not often that I encounter people on my hikes along the remote rocky shoreline of the Robberg Coastal Corridor here in Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route, on the south Cape coast of Africa. However, the region is simply packed with the rare treasures of the Fynbos Floral Kingdom, one of the most endangered floral kingdoms on the planet.
The entire stretch of the south Cape coast of Africa is covered with one of the most pre-historic looking types of flora, called Fynbos or “delicate/ fine bush”. These small delicate plants are unassuming in shape and size until you go close and inspect them in more detail. Then you will observe that although they appear insignificant, they are indeed prolific in the types of species and sub-species to be found. The diversity is just prolific.
In fact these indigenous succulent and coastal species of plants are as prolific as the amount of species you will find in the entire Amazon jungle of South America. Yet they inhabit just a small fraction of space compared to that vast jungle. Somehow or other nature has proliferated such diversity and subtle beauty in these Fynbos flora of the southern coast of Africa.
On one of my recent hikes I came across some of the conservationists who protect this small slither of coastline called the Robberg Coastal Corridor, which is found in the beautiful Plettenberg Bay region of the Garden Route. This is a privately funded Trust to protect this stretch of coastline with its endangered Fynbos flora. This region consists not only of public or state owned land but mostly of several pieces of privately owned land that stretch right down to the shoreline itself. The well-wishing land owners have collectively allowed their properties to be made part of the public hiking trail along this part of the coastline.
On my hike I spoke to Kei, a sixth generation local and one of the managing staff at the Robberg Coastal Corridor. He was erecting a boundary fence for one of the private property owners who make up a section of the corridor. Not all private land owners are as open to sharing the access to this hiking region as others.
Ideally the corridor should have minimal fencing so that wild buck can still roam freely in their natural habitat. So it is a constant battle to please both private land owners as well as preserving the ecology for future generations. We want our descendants to also enjoy the rich variety of flora and fauna in decades to come.
Already the original indigenous wild elephants have been depleted in these once lush and verdant forests along this stretch of coastline. There may be one left a little further inland but he is the last of his kind. Obviously lions were chased or wiped out of this region several decades ago already too. Africa is not what it was in previous times.
Nevertheless, the last remaining Fynbos flora which are also endangered, can still be preserved by just a little co-operation and teamwork among the locals who love the area so much. While hiking along this coastline we can now inspect all the indigenous Fynbos species of plant life in their natural habitat. Some of the most beautiful flowers are visible at different times throughout the year, including the famous Protea species which comprises the national flower of South Africa.
I do recommend this particular region if you are not only into hiking along adventurous cliff trails overlooking the vast Indian Ocean, but also keen to investigate the rare and endangered indigenous Fynbos Floral Kingdom while it lasts. You will be really impressed at the epic space and invigorating hiking opportunities available along this Garden Route coastline on the south coast of Africa so be sure to check out the Robberg Coastal Corridor when you are next able to make a journey to the deep south of Africa. A nature paradise awaits you.
(photos my own)