Game Viewing & Botanical HighlightsThe Wild Coast is known all over the world as a
biological ??hotspot?? ?? a place so rich in plant species
that it is unique. This is true. The Pondoland region
competes with the famous Cape Floral Kingdom for its
diversity of species. And it all starts with the soil. | |
Usually, land is made up of soil eroded from a certain
kind of rock, most often the same kind of rock over a vast
area. The East Coast of South Africa has many different
soil types in small pockets, derived from sandstone,
mudstone, dwyka, basalt ?? you name it. It??s quite unusual
to find so many different soil types in such a small area
as the Wild Coast. | |
Different rocks also erode at different speeds, so the
varied rocks of the Wild Coast also lead to a very varied
topography, which in turn creates all sorts of little
micro-climates ?? again in an astonishingly small space.
And in turn this leads to a vast array of different plants
that are able to grow here and that have specialized over
time into the botanical richness that makes the Wild Coast
so special. There is especial richness when these small
eco-systems overlap. | |
And the clincher is that the Wild Coast is extremely
underdeveloped ?? therefore even though other areas might
have started off with a similar botanical richness, this
has now disappeared under shopping centres or sugar-cane.
The Wild Coast has remained almost completely pristine and
its plant kingdom has remained largely intact. | |
So now we have forests and grasslands, little pockets of
flowers and grasses, little overlapping eco-systems which
in turn provide food for an interesting array of small
mammals, birds and insects. For the observant hiker and
horse-rider, this is heaven. | |
Around the Port St Johns area, the nature reserves are
alive with possibilities. | |
Trails lead through the evergreen forest and provide the
opportunity to view elusive birds such as Knysna Loerie,
Cinnamon Dove and Grey Cuckooshrike. The rivers that flow
through the forest support Halfcollared Kingfishers and
Longtailed Wagtail at fast flowing stretches. Giant forest
trees are clad in mosses, lichens and epiphytic orchids,
while lilies bloom on the forest floor. Blue Duiker and
Bushbuck are indigenous to the forest but are secretive
and seldom seen. | |
Facing the sea are grassy hills where the stately Aloe
ferox blooms in winter. The Natal Red Rock Rabbit lives
among boulders while introduced Blesbuck, Blue Wildebeest
and Burchell??s Zebra graze the palatable grasses. | |
The shoreline is very rugged, with small sandy beaches
at the mouths of the rivers. Thickbilled Weaver and
Yellowthroated Longclaw breed in the marshes, from where
Cape Clawless Otters may venture onto the beach. Rocky
outcrops offshore provide resting places for Whitebreasted
Cormorants and other birds. Large stands of banana-like
Strelitzia nicolai blanket some of the sea-facing slopes,
where red-hot pokers and Flame Lilies bloom. | |
The northern part of the Wild Coast, Pondoland, is
especially interesting. Grasslands cover a large
proportion of the area and support a fascinating and
diverse flora. Clumps of Strelitzia nicolai interrupt the
grassland, where they grow among rock outcrops which are
protected from fire. A close look at these rock outcrops
will reveal ??miniature gardens?? of moss, lichens,
succulents and orchids, all of which are able to survive
by obtaining moisture from the regular mists and rain.
Watsonias, gladiolas and ground orchids abound in the
grassland which may be dominated in places by the yellow-
flowered daisy Lasiosiphon anthtylloides. | |
Large numbers of grazing herbivores such as Eland, Red
Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Blesbuck, and even Gemsbok,
have been introduced into the grasslands, although only
the first two species are indigenous to the area. Among
the birds which may be seen in this habitat are
Redshouldered Widow, Longtailed Widow, Yellowthroated
Longclaw, Common Waxbill and Croaking Cisticola, with
Gurney??s Sugarbird and Greater Double Collared Sunbird
seeking nectar from the flowering strelitzias. | |
Patches of unique Swamp Forest, where large Umdoni
Syzigium cordatum and Wild Frangipani Voacanga thouarsii
dominate, are found in low-lying areas. The beautiful Arum
Lily and several species of sedge grow in the water
beneath the trees, where several species of frogs are to
be found. | |
Along the riverbanks, Tree Ferns Alsophila dregei, Date
Palms Phoenix reclinata, and proteas and ericas typical
of ??fynbos?? grow. | |
The coastline is very rocky, with sandy bays at river
mouths. Shells may be found anywhere along the shore and
fishing is outstanding. Large dunes and wide beaches occur
at the mouth of the Msikaba River, where large flocks of
terns congregate. | |
Canoes may be taken up the spectacular Msikaba River
which, together with the Mtentu River, is the only place
in the world where the Pondo Coconut Jubaeopsis caffra is
found. These feathery palms grow close to the water??s edge
on the shady south-facing banks of both rivers. The
Msikaba is navigable by canoe for about two kilometres,
when a series of rapids is reached. Further up the river,
a colony of Cape Vultures breed on the sheer cliffs of the
gorge. | |
Breathtaking views of the Msikaba gorge can be obtained
by walking through the grassland above the river. At a
bend in the gorge, a natural amphitheatre of towering
evergreen forest is inhabited by a spectacular variety of
birds including Trumpeter Hornbill, Rameron Pigeon,
Blackbellied Starling, Forest Weaver and, in winter, small
parties of raucous Cape Parrots, which are severely
endangered.
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