Cameron & Rhoda McMaster's

Landscape, Habitat and Flora Galleries

Plants seen on a typical tour in November
Balloch, 24th November 2008.

Balloch (1)     Balloch (2)     Balloch (3)     Balloch (4)     Balloch (5)   

Balloch (6)     Balloch (7)     Balloch (8)     Kraai River bridge     Balloch Map

Balloch is a beautiful very isolated guest farm in a private valley in the southern Drakensberg. It offers self catering accommodation for up to 20 persons in three units. Spectaclar mountains tower around and crystal trout streams team with fish. The poem below describes the beauty and attraction of the place more adequately than any prose:

I'll hie me away to Balloch
That sweet and lovely glen -
Deep hidden in the mountains grand,
Far from the haunts of men.
There's healing there for wounded hearts,
A balm for every pain;
And if you've been to Balloch once,
You'll sure go back again.

Its lovely in the summer time
Beneath the sun's warm glow -
It has a happy "fireside climb"
When hills are white with snow.
For friendship true and real is there,
And love and peace do reign -
And those who've been to Balloch once,
Are welcome back again.

How silently the evening falls
And stars begin to peep;
The only sounds the river's song
And bleat the mountain sheep.
Such peace and rest the cities great,
You'll look for that in vain:
Then come with me to Balloch glen
Again and yet again.

The hills that compass it around
Raise rugged peaks on high,
And towering crags where eagles nest
Stand out against the sky;
And through the glen the mountain stream
Sings such a sweet refrain -
How could you come to Balloch once,
And not come back again.

Plants

Ajuga ophryda

Cyrtanthus breviflorus

Gladiolus longicollis

Helichrysum swynnertonii

Pachycarpus vexillaris

Pelargonium capituliforme

Polygala sp.

Stoebe vulgaris     close-up

Trachyandra aspera

Tulbaghia acutiloba

Utricularia arenaria     close-up

Also see:
Balloch - 13th January 2008

African Rock Art at Balloch - 24th November 2008

For further information about the tours we offer contact Cameron McMaster.