Insobonsobo nama-Vygies/ama-Mesemb we-Richtersveld

Inqalathi Yamaqabunga

©David Fleminger

Kunezinhlobo eziningi zama-vygies eNamaqualand naseRichtersveld, okufaka isandla esikhulu ekwehlukeni kwezinhlobonhlobo zesifunda.
Naphezu kobuningi bazo, zaqala ukuvela emkhokheni wezinsalela eminyakeni eyi-12000 edlule.
Noma kunjalo, lokhu kungaba ngoba izindawo zezigwadule azihambisani nokudalwa kwezinsalela zezitshalo.
Ama-Vygies insobonsobo, ezinamaseli enqalathi akhethekile kumaqabunga awo. Izimbali zazo zibuye zikhanyise njalo zinamacembe amaningi.
Lesi sibukio esihle sihlose ukuheha izinambuzane zokuqhola. Ngezinye izikhathi iMesembs ibizwa ngokuthi 'izimbali zemini' ngoba ngokuvamile zivula izimbali zazo lapho ilanga likhanya kakhulu.
Amaqabunga awanambitheki futhi akadliwa yizilwane noma izinambuzane. Intaba yaseRosyntjieberg e-Richtersveld National Park inenqwaba yezinhlobo ze-vygie.

Inkanuko Yamakhandlela Nephehlwa

©Jaques Marais

I-Botterboom (i-Tylecodon paniculatus): Ehunyushwe ngokuthi 'umuthi wephehlwa', lokhu insobonsobo emfishane kakhulu enomuthi obanzi. Itholakala ezingxenyeni eziningi zeRichtersveld Community Conservancy naseRichtersveld National Park.
I-Ghaap (Hoodia Gordonii): I-Hoodia isetshenzisiwe njengendlela yokwehlisa inkanuko iziChwe nabamaKhoikhoi eminyakani engamakhulu ambalwa. Isithako esisebenzayo sesitshalo sehlukanisiwe nguMkhandlu waseNingizimu Afrika wezoSayensi nocwaningo (CSIR). Lokhu manje sekuvunyelwe kuzinkampani zokwelapha ezithengisa njengephilisi yokudla.
Ngo-2002, i-CSIR yaphetha izingxoxo nabameli beziChwe futhi manje ikhokhela uselwa kuSan Hoodia Benefit Sharing Trust ngolwazi lomdabu oluholela ekuthuthukiseni iphilisi. Imali iya ekuthuthukisweni kwemiphakathi yeSan yonkana ye-Afrika eseningizimu.
Ikhandlela likaBushman (Sarcocaulon patersonii). Lesi sitshalo sinamagxolo,adumbile, anesibumbatha, ukuze sivikeleke ezivunguvungwini zesihlabathi. Amagxolo asha kalula, naphezu kwentuthu eningi, enikeza lesi sitshalo igama elivamile.

Uphawu lwe-Richtersveld

©Shem Compion

I-Halfmens emangalisayo (i-Pachydodium namaquanum) isitshalo esikhulu kakhulu esifanekisela i-Richtersveld.
Uhlanga olukhulu oluyinsobonsobo, noma isihlahla esiyinsobonsobo kakhulu, isitshalo esingaqondeki, esisengozini yokushabalala, isitshalo esinjenge sihlehle esinehlumela lamaqabunga ngaphezulu 'kwekhanda' layo kanye nezijobelelo ezigobile eziphuma phakathi kwesiqu. 'Inhloko' yesitshalo njalo ixhomeke enyakatho futhi lokhu kuthambekela kuchazwa ngendlovu yasendulo.
Eminyakeni eminingi edlule, kwakukhona isizwe esasihlala enyakatho. Ngolunye usuku, ngesikhathi sempi, baxoshwa emazweni abo baxoshwa eMfuleni i-Orange, baya e-Richtersveld. Lapha, uNkulunkulu wabaphendukela izidalwa ezingaziwa; isigamu-somuntu, nesigamu sesisitshalo. Njengoba izinyawo zabo zisekelwe phansi ngokoqobo, lesi sizwe sasicacile futhi kuze kube yilolu suku, bahlala eRichtersveld, bebheka ngasenyakatho bebheke emzini wabo wangaphambili.
Kuyindaba enhle, kodwa iqiniso lezimila amazwi angafani nenkondlo kakhulu. Amaqabunga ekhanda imithombo yayo yamanzi nokuthola amandla asuka elangeni. Ngakho-ke, zibheke enyakatho ukuze zibambe ilanga ngokuphumelelayo.
Njengoba ikhuphuka amamitha amahlanu ubude, isitshalo siqala ikakhulukazi ezinyangeni zasebusika, lapho sihluma izimbali ezigcwele umpe. Ehlobo, lehlisa amaqabunga ayo futhi lithembele esembathweni esidunbile, ukuze sivikele elangeni elivuthayo. Iva nalo liyasivikela ekudliweni izilwane kanye nokusiza ekuqoqweni kwamanzi emvula kanye nomswakama ovela kuma-malmokkies.
I-halfmens yinto ejwayelekile e-Richtersveld futhi ayidlangalaleni. Kumele ngivume ukuthi ngesikhathi sokuvakasha kwami, angikwazanga ngokuphelele ukubona eyodwa. Noma kunjalo, ingenye yezitshalo ezidumile kakhulu esifundeni. Isihlobo saso esiseduze kakhulu (uP. lamerei) sitholakala kuphela eMadagascar.

Translated by Nsika Khoza