The Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project protects the delicate high grasslands and craggy peaks of what some have termed Africa’s greatest water factory. The project also provides a sanctuary for rare birds, mammals and alpine flowers. more

Most nature reserves recommend you bring binoculars. At Bartholomeus Klip, the guide has a magnifying glass to show you the inner secrets of the highly specialised fynbos plants from this region. The renosterveld is a specific and endangered kind of vegetation within the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site. more

South Africa's forest conservation efforts started as a response to fears the slow-growing forest trees were being wiped out for ships timbers and building materials 200 years ago. Now, while fragmented in parts, South Africa’s forests are preserved as a national treasure. more

Capricorn district is named after the Tropic of Capricorn which passes through province north of Polokwane. Urban hub of Capricorn, the city is fast growing and friendly. You can visit art galleries, museums and African jazz clubs. And yet within a short hop from the city you can be in a nature reserve or at the top of a mountain. more

Giant quiver trees (called Aloe pillansii until they were recently designated a subspecies of Aloe dichotoma) are critically endangered. Victims of plant collectors, goats and climate change, these magnificent specimens can be seen in northern Namaqualand and the Richtersveld, in South Africa's far north-western corner. They are distinctly different from their shorter cousins. more

The Aloe ferox – also known as the red or bitter aloe – is a blessing in winter. With its crimson flowers, it brightens the scenery of the dry inland areas of the Eastern Cape. The medicinally potent sap is sustainably harvested to produce a wide range of cosmetics and health products. more

The Knersvlakte, about a 3-hour drive north of Cape Town, is a particularly fascinating portion of that well-known biodiversity hotspot, the Succulent Karoo. Sprawling roughly between the towns of Vanrhynsdorp and Bitterfontein, the Knersvlakte’s characteristic white quartzite gravel conceals plants with an indomitable instinct for survival. more

There are thousands of species of grassland wildflowers, and among them are some of the best-known blooms in the world. Think agapanthus. Think pelargoniums and geraniums. Think gladioli and Arum lilies. One of the best places to appreciate these flowers of early and late summer is the Drakensberg. more

At Flower Valley Conservation Trust between Gansbaai and Hermanus, at least 130 people and their families benefit from a lively enterprise that sustainably harvests fynbos plants for bouquets sold locally and overseas. It’s a wonderful place to visit, too, with hiking trails into the fragrant fynbos and scenic hills. more

The Lubombo Transfrontier Park, combining the conservation efforts of South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique, will reunite elephant families, ecosystems and offer greater sanctuary for turtles. But the greatest change has been in the new opportunities that have opened for the people. more

The Richtersveld World Heritage Site has become famous since it was declared in 2007. Less well known is the Richtersveld Community Conservancy that preceded it. The uniquely hardy plants in this arid region underpin an ancient tradition of transhumance. Nomadic livestock farmers depend on this delicately calibrated environment. more

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve near Hermanus – South Africa’s whale-watching capital – is a foremost example of how luxury can be blended with responsible tourism principles while also conserving unique and threatened fynbos. While you won’t see the Big 5 here, you can see nearly 800 fynbos species. more

A cheeky little wine collection, very green, with a whiffling porcupine nose, voluptuous notes of caracal and owl, and a strong finish of riverine rabbit, chameleon and leopard toad, leaving a satisfying aftertaste. Said differently: there’s an inspiring project that marries South Africa’s wine estates with conservation and biodiversity. more

South African fynbos, also known as the Cape Floristic Kingdom, is a world of finely branched plants exquisitely adapted to flourish in poor soils and wildly varying rainfall. It is seen as a treasure of the planet, which is why this unique habitat was declared a World Heritage Site. more