Back Table: Hunt for the Red Disa

Date: 10 February 2011

Location: Table Mountain, from Kirstenbosch

Walkers: Marie, Ellen & Helen

*** Route plotted here ***

Previous walk hereabouts here.

I met up with Marie and her friend Ellen (visiting Cape Town for the first time) for a walk up the mountain to look for Disa uniflora, the Pride of Table Mountain, our famous red disa! From the nursery entrance to Kirstenbosch we got a good look at our proposed route up Skeleton Gorge, to the right of Castle Rocks. It looked a long way up but it we had lots of time and perfect walking weather (which this time of year means cool temperatures and a breeze). We followed the jeep track and then the steps up the slope and into the forest, crossing the contour path and onwards up, up, up.



The walk got more interesting once we reached the ladders. I like climbing up wooden ladders - well, nice sturdy ones like these.




Beyond there was quite a lot of scrambling up and over rocks and zig-zagging up the steep slope. We took it slow, stopping often for short rests. The morning sun was streaming down through the leaves. It was good to be on the mountain!




Near the top of the gorge it was very lush and ferny.




On one bend, where we should have seen our first red disa (and where last year I saw a bud) we saw a broken-off stalk. Someone had selfishly picked the flower! Disappointing and very annoying.



A little bit further on we emerged out of the forest.



And close by we saw our first clump of disas!



It was the first time that Ellen or I had seen these orchids and we were both blown away by their beauty. They're larger than I was expecting (size of a child's hand) and the most vibrant crimson colour and striking form. Truly magnificent flowers, and totally worth the effort to see them in situ.




We made our way to the intersection and turned right onto Smut's Track. After a quick stop for refreshments we continued on this path, climbing steadily. There was a nippy wind blowing on top of the mountain so I put on my fleece vest and wind-breaker. Glad I'd brought them!






Flowers spotted up here: quite a few Agapanthus africanus.



Delicate Erica lutea, light yellow in colour.



Pretty Gladiolus monticola, nodding in the breeze.




We caught a delicious scent on the air and zeroed in on this small bush. The flower looked to me like china flower, but I didn't expect to see it flowering this time of year, and I didn't know the plant was so fragrant - rather like buchu... citrus and herb... deeply aromatic. Yum! I am pretty sure it is indeed china flower, most likely Adenandra uniflora. A lovely plant... I wonder if it would grow in my garden?



After a while we crossed a stream. We stopped to do some exploring hereabouts and found more red disas. An abundance!





A little way further the path started climbing up Fernwood Buttress. About half-way up, between the rocks, we turned onto the aqueduct, heading left.




This route would take us along into the valley we could see ahead. It was easy walking along the aqueduct. This stone canal was built in the 1800s; it channels water down to the dams further on.



On these damp slopes: plenty of interesting moss and lichen.



And the occasional Tritoniopsis parviflora, almost over.



And below, hiding in the undergrowth, plenty more red disas.



Just before we crossed the bridge we spotted a tall shrub, grey foliage and purple leaves. A new one for me: Amphithalea imbricata. So attractive!



Marie's eagle eyes spotted a little bokkie perched in a boulder high on the slope ahead. A klipspringer! She seemed very calm, watching us as we walked slowly past. Lucky us to get to see her!





The path we were on took us down through a most spectacular gorge, quiet and lush. This was an entirely new part of the mountain for me - it felt like real wilderness. I loved it!





Looking back up the gorge as we neared the end of the climb down.



Below: calm pools in the stream, the water the colour of rooibos tea, and more red disas. Idyllic spot to have a swim on a warm day.



After a while we reached the dams, heading first towards the waterworks museum building and then walking swiftly along the dam wall. Brrr, a cold wind was blowing strongly here.



We turned onto the path leading to Nursery Valley. It's always nice to walk down through the unexpected grove of trees that grow here.



My favourite picnic spot was already taken so we pressed on and stopped for lunch at the top of Nursery Ravine instead. Looking at the view and contemplating the descent as we ate.



It was a long slog down, legs weary and wobbly. Step, step, step.



Mid-way down: a final floral treat... a king protea. How lucky to see one in flower this time of year!



More pics from Marie and from Ellen. Thanks ladies - it was a super walk!
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Skeleton Gorge & Nursery Ravine

Date: 30 January 2011

Location: Table Mountain, from Kirstenbosch

Walkers: Claudia & Helen

*** Route plotted here ***

I'd been wanting to do this walk for a while and today was the day! Claudia and I were expecting hot summer weather so we met at an early 6.30am to beat the heat. But it was cool and cloudy, a pleasant surprise. The cloud was low on the mountain, but we reckoned it would probably burn away quite quickly. So we set off, through Kirstenbosch's Rycroft Gate, heading up and along the path to Skeleton Gorge.



Before long we were in the forest, climbing up the steps, crossing the contour and onwards up the path. Slow but steady... up-up-up.




As always it was wonderful to be amongst such gracious old trees. We did find it exceptionally humid in the indigenous forest though, and were soon dripping with perspiration.



When we reached a clearing we saw that the misty cloud was still very much there, and we were walking up into it.



After a while we reached the sturdy wooden ladders, and up we climbed.



Beyond there was a lot of clambering over rocks as the path followed the stream bed. Even now in the middle of the dry summer months it was damp and slippery in places and we had to proceed carefully. No surprise that this route is treacherous during our rainy winters.




As we got higher up we were on a proper logged step path once again. The mist was still thick, and it was green, lush and ferny all around us. It was wonderful and we felt a million miles away from the city below.



Oooh, an exciting find: a red Disa bud, right next to the path.



And a few minutes later, on top at last!




We followed the path for a short way, to what is usually the Hely Hutchinson Reservoir. As we saw on our walk up the Back Table in December this dam is totally empty now and rather like a giant sandpit. It was particularly weird and eerie in the thick mist.




There was a chilly wind up top and so much mist it was almost drizzle - I was so wrong about the cloud burning away! We'd planned on doing some exploring up on the mountain but decided now that the weather was too bad. So, after retracing our steps and consulting the map, we took the path to the left leading directly to our point of descent, Nursery Ravine.



We took our time on this path as there were so many flowers... beautiful flowers, covered in water droplets. They must love these summertime mists.

First of all, lots of handsome Watsonia tabularis. The ones that grow on Table Mountain seem to be more of a pinky shade that the specimens further south on the peninsula. The ones we saw recently on Constantiaberg were bright orange. I wonder why this is. Both are lovely, but I like these salmon ones best.




Next up: many little Autumn painted ladies, Gladiolus monticola.




Agapanthus africanus. Fun to spot in the wild.



A new one for me: teensy Tritoniopsis parviflora.



And another tiny one... not sure. My best guess: Trachyandra brachypoda.



By now we had warm layers on and damp hair. Castle Rocks loomed out of the mist and we followed the path through these striking rock formations.




More flowers on the other side: Hermas villosa, Bobartia indica (I think), Erica lutea, and Struthoila striata (I think!)




Some were so easy to identify, like red Crassula coccinea, and some extremely challenging, like the clump of very small pink flowers. Some variety of Ixia perhaps?



Lobelia. So many varieties... I can't tell them apart.. don't even try. But I do enjoy their little purple faces between the rocks.



When I saw this unusual thing I had to know what it is. My books tell me it is a parasitic plant, Harveya capensis, also known as a white ink-flower.



It is very peculiar. I like the delicate frilly petals.



When we reached Nursery Ravine we had water and a few snacks, while contemplating the ladder that starts the big climb down.



I'm not a fan of downhill. But, of course, no choice but down ladder...



... down steps... down rocks. Usually the view is a distraction but we were still in a cloud. But wait, what's that? Out of the gloom we could see just about see the botanical garden below.




And then suddenly we were out of the cloud, and the view opened up. Hello Kirstenbosch! Still a long way down though... plod-plod-plod.




A little lower down we found the king of the sugar-bushes, Protea cynaroides, in flower all over the slopes. Now we're talking. Magnificent!



And of course the Cape sugarbirds were there too.



And then we were into the forest again as we followed the path down.



And before too long we were back in the garden. It was around 11am now and the cloud was still around, but starting to lift at last. Not that we'd minded really - we'd enjoyed our walk in the mist. The route's strenuous and hard on the knees, but well worth the effort. I recommend this walk and hope to do it again soon. I want to see that red Disa flower open!


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