Olienhoutbos
The place
Olienhoutbos ("Wild Olive Forest") in the Northern Cape province, Calvinia/Nieuwoudtville area (semi-desert Karoo Roggeveld, South Africa), at 637 m elevation, Roggeveld plateau. Continuous South Africa cluster (batches 340-378). Rural veld refuge/cottage (Olienhout = Olea europaea africana, African wild olive + Roggeveld semi-arid plateau escarpment, Karoo-Namaqualand transition + Namaqualand's spectacular spring bloom, August-September annually, Roggeveld-Northern Cape, 100 million flowers/km², a world-unique display of 3,500 succulent species + Namaqua heritage (Khoisan people, 3,000-year-old Nama language, Northern Cape) + Khoikhoi, Griqua mixed-race Afrikaans communities + Van Riebeeck, 6 April 1652, Table Bay, VOC trading post, stopover to Batavia + apartheid 1948-1994, National Party, 46 years of racial segregation + Nelson Mandela 1918-2013, 27 years imprisoned on Robben Island 1962-1990, iconic figure of freedom).
The setting
Northern Cape Calvinia/Nieuwoudtville semi-desert Karoo Roggeveld South Africa 637 m Roggeveld plateau, continuous cluster batches 340-378, veld refuge/cottage Olienhout Olea europaea africana + semi-arid Roggeveld Karoo-Namaqualand + Namaqualand spring Aug-Sept 100 million flowers/km² world-unique 3,500 succulent species, Namaqua Khoisan 3,000-year Nama Northern Cape + Khoikhoi Griqua Afrikaans + Van Riebeeck 6 April 1652 Table Bay VOC + apartheid 1948-1994 National Party 46 years + Mandela 1918-2013 27 years Robben Island 1962-1990.
