<< Pre-congress field trip to SOUTHERN NAMIBIA & RICHTERSVELD>>
(18 -28 September 2003)

Thursday 18 to Sunday 28 September 2003
Guide: Graham Williamson
Cost: € 2350
This tour will be guided by the world famous succulent expert and authority on the Richtersveld, Dr. Graham Williamson. Graham is the author of the book ‘Richtersveld – the Enchanted Wilderness’, the only comprehensive natural history book on the area. A must read for anyone contemplating the tour. His charming wife Francoise will also accompany the party.

Tour details
* The cost of the tour includes all accommodation, meals and soft drinks during the day.
* The trip will depart from Cape Town at 09h00 on Thursday 18 September.
* Participants must check if visas for Namibia are required for their passport.
* Accommodation for Wednesday 17 September (as well as previous nights if necessary) will be arranged on request.
* Further details will be supplied to those registering for the tour.

From the north of Cape Town to Rosh Pinah are the richest succulent areas in Southern Africa and consequently the richest in the world. This will be the area the 2003 Succulent Karoo pre-congress field trip party will explore. The map shows the proposed route and stop-off points.

Plants to be seen are too numerous to list in detail and only a few genera with some of the species are mentioned below.

Cape Town - Springbok
This is the longest leg of the journey and the day is designed to reach Springbok as quickly as possible. Many plant areas will be visited on the return leg. Nevertheless we will have time to do short stops here and there to take a closer look at some interesting plants on the way. If the rains are right we will still see the world famous Namaqualand flowers.

Springbok Area
Two nights in Springbok will give us a full day to explore the surrounding hills. Plants to be seen include Aloe, Tylecodon, Euphorbia and Crassula; Lithops, Conophytum, Cheiridopsis and other mesembs, stapeliads and many more.

Springbok - Rosh Pinah
A short drive north to the border post during which we will stop to see Euphorbia friedrichiae, Lithops and many other succulents of the eastern Richtersveld. Then across the Orange River into Namibia and on to Rosh Pinah. A scenic drive following the northern side of the river which demarcates not only the border between South Africa and Namibia, but also the northern boundary to the Richtersveld National park. To be seen are Pelargonium, Sarcocaulon, Tylecodon, Bowiea gariepensis and the extremely rare botanical curiosity, Portulacaria armiana, a succulent shrub which grows an inflorescence 4 meters tall.

Rosh Pinah - Alexander Bay
The route takes the party across the Sperrgebiet through hilly country towards the Atlantic coast. No, no diamonds there, but we will be able to admire the uniquely interesting plants at Skilpadberg such as members of the Aclepiadacea, pelargoniums, mesembs and many more. From here the route will lead across the border and the Orange River into Alexander Bay.

Alexander Bay - Richtersveld
Today’s drive takes us back north-east along the Orange River towards the Richtersveld National Park, past Cornellskop with its majestic Aloe pillansii and many smaller succulents and bulbs.

Richtersveld
Three nights will be spent in the Richtersveld National Park, giving us enough time to explore all corners of this most beautiful wilderness area. Day tours will be done around the whole Richtersveld. Almost every succulent genus is represented here, the above mentioned book by Graham Williamson lists approximately 2000 plant species. One must mention the spectacular Pachypodium namaquanum, Aloe dichotoma and A.pillansii.

Richtersveld - Springbok
See the awesome Aloe karasbergensis and all other southern Richtersveld plants on the way. Cheiridopsis peculiaris and Aloe khamiesensis are just two of the many more plants we will see closer to Springbok.

Springbok - Clanwilliam
Spend some time exploring the famous Knersvlakte. At first you think this area is all pebbles with just a few small plants, but in fact this is the place where you have to learn to hover, because suddenly you will find yourself standing in the middle of masses of succulents, not knowing where to step next without standing on plants!
A quick visit to the Kern Nursery in Vanrhynsdorp will satisfy those who would like to buy some plants, seeds, or just look at the great selection of succulent plants available.

Clanwilliam - Matjiesfontein
We will see the gigantic Dioscorea elephantipes, stapeliads and many bulbs south of Clanwilliam. Then a very interesting and scenic route takes us over the Cedarberg, where many carnivorous plants can be seen on top of the mountain. Then a drive through the succulent rich Tanqua Karoo where we will find Didymaotus lapidiformis and many other Mesembs as well as Crassula, Euphorbia and Stapeliads.
Overnight stop at the famous Victorian Lord Milner Hotel.

Matjiesfontein - Calitzdorp
This drive takes us through Prince Albert and over the spectacular Swartberg Pass. A few of the many plants to be seen: Lithops, Haworthia, Pleiospilos, Euphorbia, Crassula.

The tour ends on Sunday, 28 September in Calitzdorp, in good time for the Congress Reception party.