Meeting Place: Stellenbosch, the entrance to Conservatorium of the Stellenbosch University in Victoria Street, Stellenbosch Departure Time: Monday, 1 September 2008, 8:00 for 08:30 a.m. Cost: R6000 (South African Rand), excluding air ticket Limit: 44 persons (2 small coaches + accompanying car) Guide: Prof Ladislav Mucina(Dept of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Merriman Avenue, Natuurwetenskappe Building, Room 1007 (office); LM3@sun.ac.za, Tel. office: 021-808-3067; Fax: 021-808-2405; Cell: 082-5649297); assisted by Mr. Eugene Pienaar (Email: Eugene@sun.ac.za)
NOTE: The cost of the accommodation for nights of September 6 and 7 (both in Stellenbosch―see the Programme below) are NOT included in the costs of this excursion. We suggest that the participants would book the nights of September 6 and 7 in the same guesthouses/hotels which they are going to use during the Symposium Week.
Day 1: Monday, 1 September 2008
Route: Stellenbosch – Darling West – Coast National Park – Saldanha
Stops: Tienie Versveld Flower Reserve near Darling; Yzefontein; Geelbek in West Coast National Park (lunch and visit to bird hide); Postberg Private N.R. (walk)
Vegetation: bulb-rich renosterveld herblands on granite; coastal vegetation; endemic-rich sand fynbos; species-rich limestone and granite strandveld shrublands
Dinner & Accommodation: Blue Bay Resort (Saldanha on the West Coast)
Day 2: Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Route: Saldanha – Velddrif – Vanrhynsdorp – Nieuwoudtville
Stops: Sandveld west of Velddrif; Pakhuis Pass (Leipoldt’s Grave); Vanrhynsdorp (stone plant nursery); Quagga’s Kop Farm in Knersvlakte
Vegetation: sand fynbos; salt pans; dry fynbos on Nardouw sandstone; succulent shrublands dominated by famous dwarf stone plants
Dinner & Accommodation: guesthouses in Nieuwoudtville (small farming town on Bokkeveld Plateau)
Day 3: Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Route: Nieuwoudtville – Kamieskroon – Springbok
Stops: Nieuwoudtville Flower Reserve and/or Glen Lyon Farm; Skilpad (Namaqwa National Park) near Kamieskroon
Vegetation & sites: spectacular flower displays of bulb flora on dolerite (Nieuwoudtville) and granite (Skilpad); beautiful landscapes of central Namaqualand
Dinner & Accommodation: Kleinplasie (motel in Springbok, the central town of Namaqualand)
Day 4: Thursday, 4 September 2008
Route: Springbok – Goegap N.R. – Spektakelberg – Springbok
Stops: Goegap N.R.; Spektakelberg Pass
Vegetation & sites: visit to Hester Malan Garden (succulent plants); walk (moderaty strenous) in the Goegap Reserve (succulent shrublands); shales and granite of higher altitudes in the Spektakelberg Pass (W of Springbok)
Dinner & Accommodation: Kleinplasie (motel in Springbok)
Day 5: Friday, 5 September 2008
Route: Springbok – Steinkopf – Anenous Pass – Port Nolloth – Alexander Bay
Stops: Anenous Pass W of Steinkopf; Port Nolloth (McDougall’s Bay); Alexander Bay
Vegetation: succulent karoo shrublands along the road from Springbok to Port Nolloth; desert-like coastal vegetation; lichen field near Alexander Bay (southernmost area of the Namib Desert)
Dinner: fish taverna (famous for its lobster) in Port Nolloth
Accommodation: Kleinplasie (motel in Springbok)
Day 6: Saturday, 6 September 2008
Route: long-haul journey from Springbok to Stellenbosch
Stops: surrounds of Garies (succulent karoo shrublands & spring-flower displays); Klawer
Accommodation: Stellenbosch (see the NOTE above)
Dinner: pre-booked venue for the whole excursion (joining IPE Excursion SW Cape)
Day 7: Sunday, 7 September 2008
On this day we shall be joining the IPE Excursion Namaqualand (Leader: Prof L. Mucina); more field leaders will be present to assist (60-head strong troop of botanists)
Route: Stellenbosch – Sir Lowry’s Pass – Hottentots Holland N.R. – Stellenbosch
Activity: moderately strenuous hike up the mountain in the Hottentots Holland (from Rangers Station to Landroskop Hut and back) through the species richest temperate flora of the world – the pristine mountain fynbos on Table Mountain sandstone (70-80%) of endemism!
Return to Stellenbosch around 18:00 to the venue of the Symposium registration (Conservatorium in Stellenbosch)
Dinner: cocktail/social mixer (Conservatorium; starting 19:00) followed by bigger dinner (if still hungry) or just a drink or two with friends on your own in Stellenbosch
