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Fynbos – a biological wonder of the world
South Africa's fynbos
South African fynbos includes protea species.
© Chris Marais
Did you know?
Kirstenbosch is the world's only botanical garden that is part of a World Heritage Site.
South African fynbos makes up the tiniest floral kingdom in the world.
Spread in a narrow cupped crescent, the Cape Floristic Kingdom of fynbos is found in a rim along the country's southernmost reaches, never more than 200 km from the sea. With Vanrhynsdorp as its far north-western limit, the fynbos biome broadens as it swings south in the vicinity of Cape Town, and narrows eastwards, tailing off near Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.
In this small area, equivalent to a thinly smeared Portugal, there are more than 9 000 plant species, and of those, 70% are endemic. A full 3% of all the world's plants are found here, on less than 0.05% of the Earth's land surface.
Fynbos, then, is exquisitely concentrated. The Cape peninsula alone has 2 285 species on an area a 3rd the size of greater London. It has 3 times more plant species per square kilometre than those fabulously lush rainforests. For this, it was declared one of the world's 34 biodiversity 'hotspots', and in 2004, was confirmed as a a World Heritage Site.
South Africa's conservation of fynbos is critical to the survival of this botanical treasure. Many fynbos species are specialists and some occur only on a few hectares - nowhere else. Encouragingly, 20% of this kingdom is officially conserved, but its sheer diversity means that much remains unprotected.
South African fynbos vegetation includes proteas, ericas and restios (reeds). This flower kingdom is the origin of some of the world's favourite plants: gladioli, freesias, nerines, agapanthus and ixia. And of course, those beloved geraniums and pelargoniums.
Travel tips & Planning info
How to get here
Cape Town is the intellectual epicentre of the fynbos kingdom. Fly here or drive here. You could also catch a bus or a train.
Get around
By car is the best option, unless you are at a fynbos reserve, in which case, walk through this flowering land.
Length of stay
If you're even remotely interested in plants, stay at least 3 nights in various reserves.
What to pack
Good hiking shoes or boots, a hat and sunblock.
What's happening
There's a Fynbos Festival centred around the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and the towns of Pringle Bay, Kleinmond and Betty's Bay in mid-December.