September marks Arbor Month in South Africa, an ideal moment to head into the national parks in search of the country’s botanical giants. This journey forms part of the SANParks Big Tree Project, an initiative to locate, measure and record significant trees across all national parks. Four parks will be visited, each with its own character, landscape and signature species.
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
The adventure begins in the Free State at Golden Gate Highlands National Park, near Clarens. Known for its sandstone cliffs and sweeping grasslands, the park also shelters a handful of noteworthy trees waiting to be measured and mapped.
Karoo National Park
Next stop: Karoo National Park, famous not only for its vast plains but also for Sylvester, the lion who became a national escape artist. Big trees are scarce here, but if I measure only one tree in the Karoo National Park, it should of course be the sweet thorn (Vachellia karroo).
Meerkat National Park
From there, the route leads to South Africa’s newest national park, Meerkat National Park, located near the SKA radio astronomy site. Access is restricted, but the reward is exceptional: the quiver tree (Aloidendron dichotomum), a personal favourite and one of the most striking silhouettes in the arid landscape.
Richtersveld National Park
The final destination is the rugged Richtersveld National Park, tucked into the country’s north-western corner. Here, more quiver trees await, including the rare and majestic giant quiver tree (Aloidendron pillansii), a species found in only a handful of places on Earth.
Travelling by Jimny, at a modest but memorable pace
The park-to-park crawl will be done in my trusty Jimny, proudly branded with quiver trees on the rear and driver’s doors. It should feel perfectly at home in the Richtersveld.
For other travellers, the Jimny’s rear end will likely become a familiar sight as they overtake it on its way to the next park. Its pace may be modest, but its spirit is unwavering.
A reunion 12 years in the making
The quiver tree used as the model for the Jimny’s branding is one I first met in Kokerboomkloof in the Richtersveld back in 2006. It was a young, tall tree with attitude, and I named it immediately: the Quivertree Prince.
I photographed the Prince again during a return visit in 2014. Now, 12 years later, I can’t wait to meet it once more.
