Buchu in the Cape Mountains
The Khoisan have used buchu (boegoe) for generations for medicine, food, crafts, tools and charms. Be intoxicated by the fresh, yet almost medicinal fragrance of buchu in the Cape Mountains.
Many people today still swear by it as a cure for stomach ailments when it's steeped in brandy. Hunt it down at Betty's Bay Harold Porter National Botanical Garden (or take a guided walk on the first Saturday of every month) then buy a plant in the garden centre.
Harold Porter National Botanical Garden
When you’re at the fynbos rich Harold Porter National Botanical Garden in Betty's Bay, keep an eye open for the rare protea canary. The secluded garden is wedged between the sea and mountains, and there are many trails that offer great views. It encompasses mountain slopes with wind-clipped heathlands, deep gorges with relict forests, flats and marshes with restios, sedges and bulbs, as well as dunes adjacent to the beach with specialised salt-adapted plants.
There is a 950-metre-long Disa Kloof Trail up to the waterfall which is spectacular - although you're not allowed to swim in the pool when you get there.
By David Bristow
Betty's Bay is a quiet and tranquil seaside resort town, ideally located away from the hustle and bustle of modern city living. This is a gr...