Or Dombeya rotundifolia, I’m told…
All of these photographs were taken very close to the entrance gate of the Rhodes Matopos National Park.
This is a closeup of the flower…
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Sundew…
I found these half way up a huge gomo (pronounced gormor) in the Matopos. The red caught my eye, but when I saw the little trichome like spikes…
I’ve zoomed in on this one to show the leaves
Nature’s gardens…
I often come across areas in the bush I’d like to take up and put in my garden. I can’t of course! So I photograph them instead.
Usually I sit there for a time, commune with nature. I found this one right up high in the Matopos.
What was very unusual, not only so high up, but also in dry Matabeleland, was that we found water…and all the animals and plants that go with this life sustaining resource.
This red carnivorous plant caught my eye…
A sundew, I’m told, but I’m not sure which one…
Elsewhere on the barren rocks, the resurrection plant is waiting for the summer rains to burst into leaf overnight…here they are still green and flourishing.
And birds, of course. I saw the ubiquitous bulbul. Lots of doves, a couple of chinspots. I didn’t manage to capture any on celluloid…
A valley…somewhere in the Matopos
Matopos Rocks…
What more can I say?
Look at this one (below) a giant with a big cleaver had a go at this one!
Each one is different in the Matopos. I love the lichen’s that colour the rocks green, orange, red.
The trees contrast wonderfully with the grey granite…
What better canvas to print against!
And we all ask – do these balancing rocks fall down? And the answer is…
Maybe…
Albizia tanganyicenisis
Ntswatugi Cave, Matopos
Nswatugi Cave is inside this hole in the rock. The trees were bright red and orange – just pulled me there.
The climb to this cave is a bit of a challenge, but its cool in there amongst the rocks.
I love these giraffe…
It’s hard to get all the paintings in with one shot. I took plenty and once I’ve fiddled with them a bit, joined them together, I’ll post them on a separate post.
On the way back to the car, we got sidetracked by a lovely little rock garden:
The view isn’t bad either…
Maleme Dam, Matopos
How can anyone resist this road! I have always loved it…it pulls me down…into the cool, serene Maleme Dam.
Monkey thorn…
I took these photographs in the Matopos. I’m not sure if they are Acacia galpinii or polycantha.
We saw them from miles away, bright red and yellow against the Matopos rocks. We did a little bundu bashing to get up close.
I think it’s the leaves that are red and then the white (creamy yellow) flowers come out.
Mopane trees…
I found this grove of Mopane trees in the Matopos. Its not common to find huge ones like these. Mostly they have been cut down to put in mines, or used as fence posts.
We had one paddock full of Mopane trees, and I could always rely on it for very late winter grazing. (Browse + also helped!) And if I wanted to see a kudu, the Mopane was the place to go!
The leaves of the Mopane trees change throughout the year. They can be bright green, red orange and brown. 
What I don’t like about a Mopane grove is driving in amongst them when we are working. Don’t drive over a burnt Mopane spike – something to do with the carbon on the burnt end – a stump can slip through your tyre as easily as a knife into butter.
Frankie Kay Fotos 
