If Beauty had seen a Protea, she most probably would have asked her father for one of these striking flowers instead for the classic rose…but then she might not have run into the Beast.
Fynbos (Afrikaans meaning fine bush) refers to the needle-like leaves of most of the indigenous species growing in the eight protected areas in the Cape Province. The Cape Floral Region is one of the richest plant regions in the world and homes nearly 20% of Africa’s flora, though constituting only 0.5% of the continents’ area. The smallest floral kingdom in the world, it’s also the richest for its size, with a diversity greater than that of the rain forests! Of the 9000 species of plant, 6200 occur nowhere else in the world.
Characteristsic fynbos families are: ericas, restios and protea to which the national flower, The King Protea, belongs. Fynbos is threatened by alien vegetation and more than 1000 species endangered, with many extinct.

LANDMARKS:
Table Mountain- With its straight edge, the mountain resembles a tabletop, often covered by a ‘cloth’ of thick white clouds. It casts a charismatic spell over anyone who lays eyes on it.
Cape Point- This meeting point of two oceans is peppered with stone crosses and shipwrecks. It has the most powerful lighthouse on the South African coast.
Kirstenbosch- Famous for its diverse beauty, the Botanical Gardens is a frequent winner at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Chapman’s Peak - One of the most dramatic coastal roads in the world, a winding route with shimmering azure waters, yawning blue sky and 114 curves!
Rhodes Memorial- On the slopes of Devil’s Peak stands this white memorial to Cecil John Rhodes (Cape Prime Minister 1890).