Western Cape, South Africa
Here is a natural sight that will inspire any globe trotter. While continuing my hiking trail along the south coast of Africa, in the region called the Garden Route, I came across the most fascinating display of nature at its most tenacious. It only occurs for a short window period when the climate conditions are just right, so few people actually get to see it. I’m talking about the proliferation of these small yellow flowers all along this rugged rocky shoreline right next to the raging ocean.
The hiking trail on the cliffs above this stretch of coast is very uplifting as it allows us to meander through the delicate indigenous “fynbos floral kingdom” that grows here. This is the only place on the planet where you can find these little prehistoric-looking plant species. It’s a rare nature wonderland which will add some interesting spectacles to your global travel experience.
However, I have been able to leave the trail and make my own path where there is no path, so to speak. By climbing down the steep slopes of the cliff side all the way down to the shoreline at this point on the environmentally protected “coastal corridor” as it’s called, I cam across this most unusual appearance of local plant specimen that seems to have a mind of its own. In a place where there is no visible soil to speak of, only hard rugged rock, I was amazed to see a splash of bright yellow flowers dotted all over the steeply sloping rock formation.
Not only that but these flowers seem to like sprouting right beside the wild crashing waves of the Indian Ocean, as it collides with the southern shores of the African continent. There is only salt water by the looks of it and yet these flowers – for a few weeks only perhaps – find a crack or crevice in which to sprout and blossom like a splash of yellow color sprayed all across the diagonal sloping rock face.
Hardly anyone can actually make it to access this dangerous and risky stretch of shoreline because there is no path and the steep slopes lead only to dramatic rocks and boulders which then meet the wild crashing waves head on. The raw power of nature in all its elements is an exciting force to be experienced here on this thin strip of shoreline. I love living on the edge and although I’m ageing now and not as strong, I enjoy taking some risks and climbing along these remote and deserted steeply sloping cliff faces. And my reward is the exhilaration plus the discovery of these fascinating and attractive yellow flowers dotted all over the rock face.
It feels like I have struck gold, as if someone has generously showered gold coins all over the terrain and they now lie scattered for anyone to come and scoop up. I capture them with my camera and have the pleasure of sharing them with you today. This sight might not be around for very long so it’s a rare opportunity to grab this treasure and record it while it lasts. Nature is full of such treasures all over the planet, occurring at brief moments in the year, when the season allows. Some are not seen by a single human eye and pass by unnoticed, meant perhaps only for the birds and the bees.
However, if you are adventurous or curious enough, you can capture the moment yourself. You just have to be at the right place at the right time. Today I managed to stumble upon just such a sight, as nature displays her paradoxical beauty of which only I am the beholder. And now you too, of course, can share this sight at any time, as it has been recorded and stored here on the blockchain for posterity. If you want to see it in real life, and perhaps also love exploring new and exotic places on the planet, then feel inspired to make your way to the Garden Route region in the Cape province on the southernmost shores of Africa. Here you will find truly remote and untouched natural sights and settings, hardly seen by anyone ever. Not even the locals can get to these particular edgy shorelines without some risk, so they simply avoid it, preferring the soft white sandy beaches nearby.
There are still unknown treasures of nature to be discovered and explored on this planet and this is one of them, so come and see where Mother Nature has splashed her canvass with spectacular bright yellow paint splashes, in the form of these sweet little flowers upon the hard and rugged backdrop of the African coastline as it collides with the bright blue Indian Ocean and the even brighter African sky.
(photos my own)
