Amazing Camphor Forest to explore at Vergelegen Wine Estate
Trees are amazing - immovable, peaceful, serene, fearless, stoic, content, connected, grounded, complex and beautiful. Here are a few I enjoyed seeing on our holiday to the Cape in April:
The Camphor Forest at Vergelegen Wine Estate
These are really some of the most spectacular trees I have seen and a whole forest of them is something to witness. Visitors are able to enjoy classical picnics in the camphor forest from November - April by pre-booking (no private picnics). The five enormous camphor trees in front of the Homestead are over 300 years old and were planted by WIllem Adriaan van der Stel in 1700. (See previous post on Vergelegen as well as Vergelegen’s Website)
5 Enormous Trees in front of the Homestead at Vergelegen Estate
Royal Oak Tree at Vergelegen Wine Estate
Another beauty on the same estate is the Royal Oak which was planted in 1928 and was grown from one of the last acorns of King Alfred’s Oak at Blenheim Palace, England. It has an emormous crown diameter and stand majestically in the lawn. The plaque below the tree reads “Acorns from this tree were personally collected on 23rd of April 1947 by His Majesty King George VI for replanting in Windsor Park” as well as “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II unveiled this plaque on 21 March 1995 in commemoration of her visit to Vergelegen”. The oldest Oak tree to be recorded (planted around 1700) is a stone’s throw away but is not nearly as spectacular.
Ficus at Natte Valleij Wine Farm
I discovered this tree while we stayed at accommodation (the Hen House) on Natte Valleij wine farm in Stellenbosch. The wine farm is not very large or well known so the tree is a bit off the beaten track. The buttress roots are as thick as any average tree trunk and they snake their way across the ground like large limbs. The smooth grey roots are thick enough to sit on and we had fun jumping our way around the main trunk.
Trees at Newlands Forest
While many of these species are Pine trees there are clumps of indigenous vegetation along the hiking routes and if you are a tree lover you will appreciate any beautiful tree whether they are exotic or indigneous.
Also worth visiting is The Company Gardens in the city centre where an enormous Rubber Tree can be seen as well as several other historic and beautiful trees. There are so many more to talk about, some we pass by each day without really noticing them. Open your eyes to the wonder all around you!