Jeremy Dobson reports on a misty, wet summer’s day expedition to Verloren Valei.
Group photo in the rain after the walk (Photograph: Jeremy Dobson)
A field trip to Verloren Valei is usually conducted annually. This year’s event, set down for Saturday 17 January 2026 was soon fully booked, a very pleasant surprise.
Situated about 15 km northeast of Dullstroom, Verloren Valei (the Lost Valley) is at an altitude of about 2 000 m and average annual rainfall exceeds 1 000 mm. It is home to several rare birds and plants and hosts two endemic butterflies: Verloren Valei Indigo Blue (Orachrysops warreni) and Verloren Valei Bronze Speckled Widow (Dingana clarki amissivallis). We were probably a bit too late in the season for these species, but January is generally a good month for overall butterfly abundance.
As the day approached, I kept one eye on the Saturday weather forecast, and things didn’t look promising. Many parts of Mpumalanga were experiencing torrential downpours, and the most optimistic forecast I could get for Dullstroom was 20° C, occasional showers, and 100% cloud cover. I suggested to the group that perhaps we should postpone, but the overall sentiment was that we should carry on regardless. Nature enthusiasts aren’t going to let a bit of rain spoil their day.
A few people – understandably – did cancel, but we still had a very respectable contingent of 11 people, and the weather was reasonably kind to us: no sun, but some brighter patches between light drizzle which only turned to rain as we headed back to our cars.
While very wet, the nature reserve was looking fantastic, with lots of flowers. Not surprising, butterflies were scarce, but we did record seven species. Interesting sightings included African Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus orientis), Southern Gaudy Commodore (Precis octavia sesamus) and Table Mountain Beauty (Aeropetes tulbaghia), which gave me plenty to talk about.
A highlight was a solitary sighting of Big-eye Small Ringlet (Paternympha loxophthalma). To the best of my knowledge Christopher Willis (a LepSoc Africa member and Chief Director of the National Botanical Gardens at the South African National Biodiversity Institute) is the only person to have previously recorded this butterfly from Verloren Valei.
Big-eye Small Ringlet (Paternympha loxophthalma), seen on 17 January 2026 for only the second time at Verloren Valei (Photograph: Jeremy Dobson)
Some photos from other members of the group:
(Thanks to Keith Webb, Natalie Webb and Natascha Shaw for the photographs)
