Exploring the Sandberg Fynbos Reserve with the members of the Southernmost Botanical Society Branch 

“It was a trip well worth the wait - sunny and warm. The veld is looking so good after all the rain. Some rare species and plenty of interesting recoveries after the drought and controlled burns.” This comment by one of the members of the Southern Overberg Branch of the South African Botanical Society summarises the experience of all the members who participated in the end of the year outing. On Saturday, December 11th. 

Members met at the Sandberg Fynbos Reserve situated halfway between the towns of Franskraal and Elim. The last outing of the year was originally scheduled for the previous Saturday but, as the weather forecast for the best part of the Overberg region included heavy showers and foul weather, the decision was taken to postpone the outing.

Fire in the fynbos: Before and after

The last Botanical Society outing to Gerhard van Deventer's Sandberg Reserve took place on a wet misty morning with several members of CREW aboard. Since then, sections of the Sandberg fynbos have been exposed to both seasonal wildfires and controlled burns. Since fynbos needs fire to thrive and regenerate, members were privileged to be able to enjoy a veld filled with an amazing variety of species from “regular” varieties such as Ericas, a variety of “sewejaartjies”, profusely flowering pincushions to the minute flowering disa - the Blue Bearded Disa (Disa venusta) - and other not so common species.

An added bonus was the presence of the rare button quale, a bird species that frequents this particular reserve. Birders from as far afield as Johannesburg regularly visit the reserve in order to tick off “button quale” on their “have seen” birding lists. On Saturday a few members confirmed that they could hear but not see these evasive members of the quale species.

Ora Laubscher