Franschhoek

Fauna and Flora

The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest but richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms. It covers only 0,04% of the earth’s surface. See Fynbos Gallery for pictures.

Fynbos

‘Fynbos’ is the Afrikaans word meaning ‘fine bush’, from the Dutch fijn bosch, which is descriptive of the fine-leafed, thick, shrub-like vegetation, which occurs in the winter rainfall area of the southern and south-western parts of the Western Cape, known as the Fynbos Biome. This characterises much of the vegetation you are about to see on the slopes of the mountains you will be walking through.

The majority of the plants are evergreen, sclerophyllous (hard-leaf) plants. It is remarkable that Fynbos plants grow in very poor soil, often derived from weathered sandstone. Over years the term ‘fynbos’ has persisted and has become synonymous with one of the richest and, possibly, most beautiful floras in the world.Fynbos grow in a 100-200km wide coastal belt stretching from Clanwilliam near the West coast to Port Elizabeth on the Southeast coast. It forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, where it accounts for half of the surface area and 80% of the plant varieties. The Fynbos in the western regions is more rich and varied than in the eastern regions of South Africa.

The diversity of fynbos plants is greater than that of the tropical rainforests, with over 9000 species of plants occurring in the area, around 6200 of which are endemic, i.e. do not occur anywhere else in the world. Of the Ericas, 658 (Cape Plants – Goldblatt & Manning 2000) , occur in the Fynbos Biome, while only 26 are found in the rest of the world. This is in an area of 70,000 km² – by comparison, the Netherlands, with an area of 33,000 km², has 1400 species, none of them endemic. Table Mountain in Cape Town supports 2200 species, more than the entire United Kingdom. Thus although the Fynbos comprises only 6% of the area of southern Africa it has half the species on the subcontinent, and in fact has almost 1 in 5 of all plant species in Africa.

Fynbos Plant Families

Three of the characteristic fynbos plant families are the proteas, Erica’s and restios. Proteas are represented by many species and are prominent in the landscape as one of the few, large-leafed plant types, generally with large striking flowersheads, which may be pollinated by birds. Ericas or heaths are generally smaller plants with many small, tubular flowers and needle-like leaves. The grass-like restios – only a few species of which are known outside the fynbos area – grow in wetter areas. More than 1400 bulb species occur among the fynbos, of which 96 are gladiolus and 54 lachenalias.

Fire is a necessary stage in the lives of almost all fynbos plants, and is common during the dry summer months. Many of the seeds germinate only after the intense heat of a fire. In readiness for fire, most proteas retain their seeds on the bush for at least one year, a habit known as serotiny. They do this in structures which resemble the original flowerheads. In some species these structures are strikingly beautiful and long-lasting, which accounts for their use in dried floral arrangements.

Threats to Fynbos

The major threat to fynbos is the spread of alien plants, such as hakea, the Australian wattles Acacia cyclops, commonly known as rooikrans and Acacia saligna commonly known as Port Jackson, and pine trees from Europe.Other significant threats include too frequent fires and fires in the wrong season; commercial afforestation; and the development of housing estates and farms.

An important aspect of fynbos conservation is that many species have such a tiny range that ploughing a field, or building a single house can wipe out the entire world population of a unique form of life. Part of the dilemma is whether or not to tell members of the public where a rare species occurs so that they can keep an eye on it. This may put the species at risk to unscrupulous collectors and cultivators. The alternative of keeping this knowledge secret might lead to sympathetic landowners destroying plants out of ignorance. The Cape Flora is ecologicaly very delicately balanced. Alien species readily become established in fynbos and displace the native plants and animals. As a result of this, combined with the naturally limited range of many species, urbanisation and the spread of agriculture, numerous fynbos plants are now seriously endangered or extinct.

Renosterveld

Renosterveld tends to occur where rainfall is between 250 (rarely to 200 mm) to 600 mm per year and at least 30% falls in winter. Where the rainfall is higher, the soil becomes leached and Renosterveld is replaced by Asteraceous Fynbos. Renosterveld is characterized by the dominance of members of the Daisy Family (Asteraceae) specifically one species – Renosterbos Elytropappus rhinocerotis, from which the vegetation type gets its name. Although Renosterbos is the characteristic dominant, many other plants are prominent – for instance in the Daisy Family (Asteraceae). Proteas, Ericas and Restios – typical of Fynbos – tend to be absent in Renosterveld, or are present at very low abundances

Vignerons de Franschhoek

In 2013 Franschhoek was voted the best wine route in The ‘Most Memorable Wine Route’ category for a second consecutive year, at the Klink Awards, whereby foodies, wine lovers, outdoor adventurers and wine farm visitors show their love and appreciation for South Africa’s Winelands by voting for their favourite nominees in South Africa’s first ever, consumer-driven, interactive wine tourism awards.

Franschhoek wine estates are not only situated in an breathtakingly picturesque valley, but they also produce some of the world’s finest wines. Located along the Franschhoek Wine Valley Food and Wine Route, these fine wine establishments are easily accessible and offer an array of different experiences. These wines can also be tasted and paired with appetizing food on offer at Franschhoek’s fine dining restaurants, many of which are found on the wine estates.

Over the years, the 48 Vignerons de Franschhoek members become known as some of the most innovative and progressive wine producers in South Africa and have firmly established themselves as one of the best wine-producing areas in the Cape Winelands.

Franschhoek Wine Valley recently relaunched the Franschhoek Cap Classique Route. With 18 wine producers in the area, Franschhoek boasts a wide range of Cap Classiques.

Source: Franschhoek Wine Valley

Restaurants

Franschhoek restaurants take food very seriously. It is not for nothing that, packed with prize winning restaurants, Franschhoek is known as the Gourmet Capital of South Africa. Cuisine is meant to do more than just nourish, each mouthful is meant to transport you to another world. After experiencing exceptional food you should fall head over heels in love with it. You should be dreaming about it, yearning after it, wanting more of it for the rest of your life. It should be something you can never forget and are constantly chasing after. The 36 Franschhoek restaurants, and 4 South African 5 star chefs, continuously produce cuisine that does just that becomes your palate’s first love.

Restaurant awards

2014 AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM FINE DINING PROGRAMME

• Grande Provence
• Pierneef a La Motte,
• Reuben’s (Franschhoek)
• The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français

2013 EAT OUT DSTV FOOD NETWORK PRODUCE AWARDS

Neil Jewell (Bread & Wine Restaurant) – Best Small Producer in the Paddocks Category
Top products: Hand-crafted charcuterie: saucisson sec, squashed salami, cardamom salami and Walter ham

2013 AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM FINE DINING PROGRAMME

• Boschendal
• Bread & Wine
• Grande Provence
• Pierneef a La Motte
• Reuben’s (Franschhoek)
• Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français

2012 EAT OUT DSTV FOOD NETWORK RESTAURANT AWARDS

Margot Janse – Le Quartier Francais
Chef of the Year 2012 

The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais
Second in the list of Top 10 Restaurants 

Green House at Babylonstoren
Boschendal Style Award in association with Visi

2012 AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM FINE DINING PROGRAMME

• Boschendal
• Bread & Wine
• French Connection Bistro
• Pierneef à La Motte
• The Restaurant at Grande Provence
• Reuben’s
• The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français

Source: Franschhoek Wine Valley

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