My trip in the land of Aloe : South Africa

[Colin Walker]

Hi Stephania,

That's one MIGHTY Aloe plicatilis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Colin Walker]

Hi Stephania,

The wild plant looks like Haemanthus albiflos to me.

[Colin Walker]

Hi Aloenut,

Thanks for the low down on books in the Kirstenbosch shop.

Also great to meet up with you at the last Harrow Branch meeting.

[Vic]

Hi Stephania and welcome to the forum!

Looks like you had a superb trip in South Africa, a real privilege to see such wonderful animals in the wild!

Kirstenbosch looks very impressive, I too like the Boophone - I notice it's called Century Plant a common name also given to the Agave of the Americas.

[Maria J]

Wow Stephania! Paradise! Beautiful plants, fantastic wildlife and great photos of it all!! I love the leopard!! (Did you see any whales??)

[stephania]

Hello Mod Vic and Maria,

Yes, I had a success to see a whale, but it's not well, because it's dead whale !!!
Someone here would see that news about the Southern Right Whale's dead at a bay of the Cape.
That day we were among the first group to found that huge body on the beach
while we tried to take a sun set pic near a light-house.





This trip, I didn't see any living one at Hermanus bay, as it's too early, it should be Oct.-Nov.
Normally, in the season, you can even see the whale from your room ! as this sea side hotel.



Anyway, I saw this funny bird. the "Happy Feet" penquin.

[Aloenut]

Hi Colin,

It would have been nice to have been able to chat a bit more, but I had to make a quick get-away.

Your talk was interesting. Aloes are one of my favorite genera.

Have you ever been to South Africa? And if so, Cape Town and Kirstenbosch. Really is worth a visit.

I am originally from South Africa and have done numerous trips into the veld to see plants. It gives a better appreciation of what one is growing.

Aloenut

[Aloenut]

Stephania,

You can expect to see whales any time from late July to November with September/October being the peak. I used to go to Hermanus every year when I lived in Cape Town in September to see them.

As with any wildlife viewing, you just have to be lucky.

Aloenut

[Julie]

Wow, great pics Stephania! I'd have to camp in that botanic garden, I'd be there so long. I have to ask.. did you see any Euphorbia obesa there?

Gotta love that first Boophone!

My cousin went to spot animals on a safari a few years ago - she says she will never take her children to the zoo, but to see them in the wild. The wild ones are so alert and alive in comparison.

A big cat licked her bare toes as she sat on the vehicle... I think it's lucky she has toes. Or a foot. Or leg!

[Bill]

Now you have done it Stephania, first of all you come here and tempt me with whole new lot of plants and then you post pics of my dream trip, you could realy hate some people.

Seriously though, thanks for sharing, some realy interesting plants.

South Africa is a trip I plan to make one day, idealy the hard way in Fluffy, she was a wreck when I brought her. LOL.