Boskloof Erica Paradise

Visit the Boskloof Erica Paradise for:

• Pristine, super-special mountain fynbos, second to none;
• The highest concentration of Erica (heath) species on earth;
• Magnificent views;
• Expert local guidance;
• A unique experience to be fully enjoyed by all;
• Full accessibility, even for the unfit or elderly;
• A 4x4 trip over the top of the southernmost mountain range in Africa;
• Several endemic flower species that you have never seen before; and
• Birding opportunities amongst the fynbos - you might see the breeding pair of Black Eagles teaching their young in the art of flight.

"If you are lucky, you might have a clear day to see forever – to the faraway Langeberg Mountains or over the Agulhas Plain and to the two oceans beyond…"

Boskloof offers a rich diversity of more than 1 000 fynbos plant species, including five 'narrow' endemics (species growing no-where else on earth) belonging mostly to the Erica family, and members of five of the six endemic families of the Cape Floral Kingdom (Retziaceae, Grubbiaceae, Roridulaceae, Penaeaceae and Stilbaceae). Among these, the striking Rhetzia capensis is the only member of its family.

Eight Red Data Book/threatened species include the colourful bokmakierie (Witzenia maura), pink disa (Disa pilansii), kreupel-boom (Mimetes hirtus), insect-eating Roridula gorgonias, Erica pauciovulata, E. shannonea, E. vogelpoellii and E. oligantha. You will also find 29 species of the Protea family, including the recently discovered Serruria rebeloi.

Boskloof’s real claim to fame, however, is having more than sixty species of the genus Erica growing in the wild in an area of less than 1 000 ha! Of these, a minimum of 18-33 species are in flower at any one time of the year and in spring, the mountain slopes are blanketed in sweet-smelling sheets of colour.

This population includes some of the more spectacular members of this family, such as Erica bodkinii in winter, E. ampulaceae in spring and E. shannonea in summer. The Erica family is one of the largest in the Cape Fynbos, with more than 650 species. A comprehensive checklist of the species growing on Boskloof is available on request.

The Boskloof Experience:
We offer half-day trips by appointment to groups of three to six people (rates available on request). You are welcome to bring your own picnic lunch. Because this visit involves small, personalized groups and the time and transport of the landowner himself, the costs are obviously a little higher than the average tours where busloads of tourists are catered for.

But this is no average experience – you are guaranteed to see flowers you have never seen before and will never see again anywhere else.  The landowner, Thys de Villiers, will guide you – as a keen amateur botanist he will gladly share his knowledge of the local flora. You will be taken by 4x4 transport (at your own risk) to within easy reach of most special species.

You will find this fynbos hot-spot between the towns of Caledon, Stanford and Napier, about 90 minutes drive eastwards of Cape Town. On the R326 road, 19km from Stanford, you will reach a Boskloof signboard, where-after you follow a gravel road for 4km.
 
Boskloof Farm offers transport and specialist guiding to otherwise inaccessible pristine mountain Fynbos.  There is a rich diversity and many rare species on the farm, which has the highest known concentration of ericas – 52 species, with up to 28 in flower at times.  Dried Fynbos arrangements are also for sale on the farm.

Booking is required as only guided tours are offered.  Specialist groups of five to fifteen people are ideal.  Teas and picnic lunches are available by prior arrangement.