fynbos

Meet the women who fought the Knysna fires

In June this year, devastating fires laid waste to the Western Cape, particularly in the towns of Knysna and neighbouring Plettenberg Bay, where homes...

Finding South Africa’s secret beaches

South Africa's 3 000 kilometres of coastline holds many treasures, unspoilt places hidden from mainstream tourists. Discover the space, privacy, soft sand and clear blue waves of the country's secret beaches.

The Cape Floral Region

The Cape Floral Region, one of South Africa's eight World Heritage sites, comprises eight protected areas stretching from the Cape Peninsula to the Eastern Cape, cutting across spectacular mountain and ocean scenery and containing some of the richest plant biodiversity in the world.

South African English is lekker!

South Africans speak English, that doesn't mean you'll always understand us. Our robots are nothing like R2D2, just now doesn't mean immediately, and babbelas is not a shampoo. Tune in with our quick dictionary of SA idiom. It's lekker, bru!

South Africa’s plant life

South Africa's large areas of semi-desert scrub and grassland might suggest a certain poverty of plant life. Aside from the fact that a tract of pristine grassland can hold up to 60 grass species, nothing could be further from the truth.

Seed of success: South African writer shortlisted for literary award

The pan-African literary prize, the Etisalat Prize for Literature, has shortlisted three authors for the 2016 award. A South African and two Nigerian writers...

South African English is lekker!

South Africans speak English, but that doesn't mean you'll always understand us. Our "robots" are nothing like R2D2, "just now" doesn't mean immediately, and...

Healing in South Africa’s fynbos soil

A researcher at Stellenbosch University has discovered lantibiotics in fynbos soil. They have the same function as strong antibiotics and work to kill disease-causing bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. They could be an alternative to traditional treatments.

Cape fires are ‘right on time’ for fynbos, says UCT ecologist

As devastating as the ongoing fires around the Cape Peninsula have been to tracts of nature reserve and property, regular fires every 15 years are critical to the rebirth of fynbos-dominated ecosystems, says fynbos ecologist Dr Adam West.

Showcasing South Africa’s fantastical florals

In honour of its 30th anniversary, Ardmore Ceramic Art is launching a range of fabrics at the Design Indaba Expo, which opens in Cape Town on Friday. The design translates South Africa's vibrant flora and fauna on to fabric with pattern, colour and humour.