International Plant-Geographical Excursions (hence IPE) are a traditional activity of the IAVS. The 2008 Symposium is flanked by 7 excursions (many of them running in parallel mode):
Because of enormous interest in our excursions, we are contemplating to add one more bus (20 people) to the IPE Blommetjie Excursion (check our website for details on the program of this excursion).
Those who have not been accepted to any of our excursions so far and have a wish to join this particular one, please, do not hesitate to contact me (LM3@sun.ac.za).
Laco Mucina
Aim and Format
The aim of these excursions (of highly specialized botanical, ecotourist and academic-tourist nature) is to share the beauty and peculiarity of flora and vegetation southern Africa with the participants of the IAVS Symposium 2008. The excursions will visit famous botanical destinations, view ancient picturesque landscape of our subcontinent, make you intimate with the vegetation types of the region, and allow you to taste the culture of the visited regions. Professionals (botanists and ecologists) will be leading the excursions.
Recommended Reading
The participants are advised to get acquainted with the geography of the region prior to the excursion. A comprehensive introduction to the vegetation of South Africa is the book by Mucina & Rutherford (2006). It contains (almost) everything you want to (and even do not want to) know about vegetation and other natural aspects of South Africa. however it all comes with a warning – the book is almost 4 kg heavy as it is 807 pages in full colour on high-quality paper. Its price in South African specialized bookshops is around R450, but if you want have it posted from SA, you would be paying more for mailing costs than for the book…
For the info on the availability of this classic, see here:
For those who would like to learn some more current ecological alphabet (meaning: species), there is a nice series of botanical field guides – galleries of plant portraits with short descriptions. If you want to order them before you visit the country, long onto the website of the Botanical Society of South Africa:
The Botanical Society Bookshop, Kirstenbosch Visitor Centre kbranch@botanicalsociety.org.za
Fax: +27-21-762-0923
Tel.: +27-21-762-1621
We plan also to bring the Bookshop to the Symposium venue, where you can purchase those guides as well.
Traveling
The Namibian excursions will make use of coaches (22-seater in Namibia), the Namaqualand and SW Cape excursions will use 21-seaters in South Africa, while the excursions to Eastern Cape and KwaZulu will travel using a troop of “combis” (cars usually seating 6 to 9 persons: Condor, VW Combi and the like). During the post-symposium excursions some participants will be asked to serve as volunteer drivers. Namibia and South Africa are countries of enormous extend, hence some long-distance traveling is inevitable. We shall attempt as many interesting stops (with walking and even hiking) as possible. Comfort stops will also be provided for.
Security
South Africa has been having bad press because of high crime rates. We do not attempt to hide that our country has this kind of problem, but as it is clear that the crime is man-made, you are more likely to encounter such a problem where there are people, rather than in the wide fields of Namaqualand, West Coast or in high Cape mountains. Stellenbosch is relatively “cool” (as Stellenbosch students would tell you) and you might even walk in the town in the evening of night. Still you should not push it when you have to walk alone and visit places where ones should not go. Ask your guesthouse for more details.
While at the excursion, the regions where sheep have the say (Namaqualand, Tanqua, Great Karoo, Little Karoo) you are safe except for notorious lions (long-time extinct) and sometimes ostriches. Now seriously: ostriches breed in spring and you should not mess with their nests and especially with the angry red-legged males who can easily outrun you, but also can rip you open when you face them. Lie on the ground and enjoy the ostrich stampede. The snakes are the nemesis of all botanists and of course they are around. You would not see them so easily, however, if you do – treat yourself to a double mampoer in the evening (if you do not know what “mampoer” is – you will learn.) In any case treat each animal with respect and you will be respected in turn.
At least the IPE Namaqualand will be also accompanied by a private car serving as a security backup and logistic support. We shall have portable first-aid kit at hand. Medical care, especially in private hospitals is of high standard.
And last security warning: South African wine is very good (some say the best in the world) and as everywhere in the world it is alcoholic. Beer is not such a winner (at least not for a trained European palate), but it is drinkable, especially when you are very thirsty.
Food
Taking drinks and food: You will be well fed. The lunch packages will usually be prepared for the bus ride, sometimes you would stop and have a lunch in a pub or motel. Your programme will tell you which lunches are covered and when you are on your own. Snacks and soft drinks also will be available on the bus to save lives. Evenings should be a feast for everybody, who likes to eat not only to survive. South Africans like to eat well - a lot of meat especially, but vegetarian and other special options will be also cared for. The leaders of all the excursions are known to be “Feinschmercker”, with some it borders even with obsession (L.M.). Hence we are sure you would not go to bed hungry.
You will have to pay for your evening drinks.
Accommodation
Generally, the excursion participants will stay in motels, country hotels, lodges and B&B type of comfortable and safe accommodation. Due to the remoteness of some of the visited localities, sharing rooms will be more the rule than the exception. In some places a bit more spartan options (like 4 sharing 1 room for a night), but such is life in the veld.
Equipment
Spring in the western and southwestern regions of South Africa can be quite rainy (naturally, Namibia to a lesser extent). Days can be sunny (up to 25° C), but nights are chilly (around 10°) and temperature can drop to 5° C in early hours of the day. Frost may also occur in Namaqualand and Namibia in the night. A protection against rain (umbrella or raincoat) are a good choice since there is no such a thing as bad weather (just wrongly dressed botanist…). Good walking boots – we shall not be only driving (or be driven) but also walk in the field, and there are snakes and scorpions all over the place! Bring a small torch – you might need it in the night when looking for extremely rare plants in the night or for the case of emergency, for instance when Eskom (our monopoly energy “supplier”) would decide to cut the power supply when you are in the middle of reading a good book. Good hat or scarf against treacherous African sun, combined with use of sun blocker of factor of 30+ is also not a bad idea.
Cash
Keep some small amount of cash on you. All food and drinks are provided, but you might fancy a curio in a tourist trap (such as Kirstenbosch Botanical Bookshop – a dangerous place for passionate book collectors) or you would see a rhino horn (or other 100% afrodisiacs, with emphasize on “afro”) for purchase in a curio market and then you should not hesitate a minute. You can pay both Namibian Dollars and Rand in Namibia, but only Rand in South Africa.
Collecting Permits
South Africa has (and enforces) strict laws concerning the collections and export of native flora for any purpose. In order to avoid any unpleasant surprises and conflicts (or ending up in dark slimy prison), those who wish to collect plants for scientific purposes, have to acquire valid collecting (and export) permits.
Please note:
You would need separate collecting permits for each Province.
The collecting permit is not export permit (unless it explicitly would state so).
There are several conditions to be met when applying for a collecting permit – see the following websites:
If you want to collect in South African National Parks, you need a separate permit.
Consult www.sanparks.org for details.
In case you have problems accessing or downloading information from those websites, contact us for help. We can send you necessary documentation to acquire a collecting permit.
