Steve Vincent reports back on the first two official field trips to the nearby De Berg Nature Reserve.
The two Friends of Verloren Valei (FVV) field trips to De Berg took place on 21 and 28 February 2026. I previously undertook three exploratory trips to begin orienting myself to this new topography. One of those trips was with Marius Kruger, the Reserve Manager, to get a thorough briefing on the tracks we could use and to ascertain what sort of vehicles were needed. The second trip was with Gerrit van Ede, Chairman of FVV and author of Flowers of Verloren Valei, while the third trip was with Stuart McIntyre a FVV member and keen birder.
The 21st February trip started as usual at Milly’s in Dullstroom at 07h00, where we had a quick briefing on what to expect and the trip through to DBNR. The weather was amazing and the dirt road through to De Berg was not too challenging for high-clearance vehicles, 4X4 was not required. We stopped along the way to look and photograph the Protea roupelliae and Eulophia parvilabrum but had to push on to get to the gate of De Berg by 08h30.
Our first stop in the Reserve was the southwest facing cliffs of the quartzite ridge that splits the Groot Dwars River and several of its southern tributaries.
Views of the Groot Dwars River from the quartzite ridge (Photograph: Steve Vincent)
Here we discovered one of the African Thistle family, Berkheya echinacea, and the hardy and beautiful pink cliff dwellers, Gladiolus ferrugineus. (I note with trepidation that the DBNR plant list does not list G. ferrugineus, so I will have to make some enquiries.) Other notable sightings were the tiny and intricate Highveld Nerine, Nerine rehmanii, and the delicate Rock Sage, Aeollanthus buchnerianus.
(L to R) African thistle family, Berkheya echinacea; Gladiolus ferrugineus; Highveld Nerine, Nerine rehmanii; Rock Sage, Aeollanthus buchnerianus (Photographs: Steve Vincent)
We then drove around the spur of the ridge and onto the northwestern side overlooking the Groot Dwars River and its series of waterfalls, deep in the valley below us.
View of the Groot Dwars River valley with waterfalls (Photograph: Steve Vincent)
We explored the ridge along this ravine for about a kilometre until we reached a grassy/rock sheet “wetland” feeding into valley. Here we discovered Wurmbea viridiflora, which is endemic to the Steenkampsberg (i.e. found nowhere else in the world), along with a few special orchids, namely the Golden Split-lip Orchid, Schizochilus zeyheri; and Satyrium cristatum.
(L to R) Wurmbea viridiflora; Golden Split-lip Orchid, Schizochilus zeyheri and Satyrium cristatum (Photographs: Steve Vincent)
After a short break for refreshments, we followed our tracks back to the main road which leads to the highest point in the Nature Reserve and in fact the highest point in Mpumalanga at 2332m above sea level.
One of the view points on the trip (Photograph: Stuart McIntyre)
After a quick look around the top of the world and testing the leaves of the African Thistle (Berkheya setifera) as a hair brush, we moved down to the plateau below the old military base. Here we discovered stands of the rare Crinkle-leaf Pineapple Lily, Eucomus vandermerwei, masses of Wahlenbergia lycopodioides and Wahlenbergia magaliesbergensis, which is endemic to the old Transvaal. We also couldn’t resist some stunning rock formations sculptured by nature.
Crinkle-leaf Pineapple Lily, Eucomus vandermerwei; Wahlenbergia lycopodioides; Wahlenbergia magaliesbergensis, and rock formations (Photographs: Steve Vincent)
Our last port of call for the morning was the waterfall and pools on the northeastern half of the reserve on the #afferskraal Spruit (as per Google Earth). This track tested our vehicles 4X4 capabilities and for the first time on the trip I had to engage low range in the Land Rover to get through one of the creeks. The driver of the VW Caravel decided not to risk it and occupants chose to walk the remaining 800 odd meters to the waterfall and pools. After lunch, some of us were brave enough to swim in the icy mountain water, while others explored the area below the pool.
Our last port of call for the morning was the waterfall and pools on the northeastern half of the reserve on the #afferskraal Spruit (as per Google Earth). This track tested our vehicles 4X4 capabilities and for the first time on the trip I had to engage low range in the Land Rover to get through one of the creeks. The driver of the VW Caravel decided not to risk it and occupants chose to walk the remaining 800 odd meters to the waterfall and pools. After lunch, some of us were brave enough to swim in the icy mountain water, while others explored the area below the pool.
Waterfall and rock pools; Scarlet River Lily, Hesperantha coccinea (Photographs: Steve Vincent)
It was then time to bounce our way up over the rocky terrain out of the valley and head for Dullstroom.
Download full list of plants seen on this trip.
Second trip to De Berg
Most of the F.V.V. members booked for the next trip were based in the Nelspruit area, so we all met up at the gate of DBNR. Myself and three other members of FVV left from Dullstroom at 07h00. Traversing the gravel road through Verloren Valei Nature Reserve, I noticed a yellow flowering bush on the side of the gravel road that looked suspiciously like a Helichrysum type plant. On closer examination, though, I identified as Inulanthera calva, a member of the Daisy family. It appears to have no common name given. It is a plant I have not previously encountered on VVNR.
Inulanthera calva, a member of the Daisy family, previously not seen on VVNR (Photograph: Steve Vincent)
At the gate, our first plant sighting was Lion’s Spoor, Euphorbia clavarioides var. truncata. Anyone who has spent time in the Lowveld knows Euphorbia as fleshy, towering ‘cacti’-type plants, up to 5m or more in hight. At high altitudes like DBNR, the main stems of this plant are underground, a survival adaption many plants in this harsh environment adopt, with only the top of each branch forming a rounded flat-topped cushion above ground.
Lion’s Spoor, Euphorbia clavarioides var. truncata (Photograph: Steve Vincent)
Between the gate and the security check point we saw many flowering Gladiolus calcaratus, (F15) not observed the week earlier. This stunning white Gladioli with its yellow throat, is endemic to Mpumalanga and seems to be limited to the Steenkampsberg and the Eastern Escarpment from Kaapsehoop in the south to Grasskop and Morganzon area in the North. While waiting for the early morning mist to lift off the mountain top, we explored the wetland area north of the security office. Here we found the first of the Orchids for the day a Disperis stenoplectron. (F16) We also saw Yellow Paintflower (Alectra sessilliflora) (F17)a hemiparasitic herb which attaches its self to the roots of other plant. On recording it on Inaturalist, it was the first recording of this plant for DBNR.
(L to R) Gladiolus calcaratus; Disperis stenoplectron; Yellow Paintflower, Alectra sessilliflora (Photographs: Steve Vincent)
We were delighted to find the endangered Haertleaf Ministar (Alepdea cordifolia) at the top end of the wetland. This plant has been over harvested due to its medicinal properties—it is used for respiratory complaints, colds and influenza, stomach ailments, and sometimes spiritual/protective uses. It needs to be protected.
Heartleaf Ministar (Alepidea cordifolia) (Photographs: Steve Vincent)
The clouds had lifted so off we drove to see the waterfall on the Groot Dwars River from the ridge and here the group posed for a picture.
We undertook a brisk walk out to the sheetrock wetland to see if we could find the Wurmbea viridiflora which we duly did along with an Erica that we have had identified as possibly Erica subverticillaris. It is another vulnerable species, which seems to be found only here, on the Mount Anderson Reserve near Mashishing/ Lydenburg, and Verloren Valei. What an exciting find, and thanks to Delia Oosthuizen for making the identification.
Erica subverticillaris, which seems to be found only here, on Mount Anderson and at VVNR (Photograph: Steve Vincent)
The group then visited the highest point in Mpumalanga, and then down to the #fferkraal River for a well-deserved lunch break.
Lunchtime just above the Bald Ibis nesting site (Photograph: Steve Vincent)
Before lunch some of the party walked down to the Bald Ibis nesting site. Alas, the cliffs were occupied by a troop of Chacma Baboons, so the Ibis had flown off to more salubrious pastures.
After a late lunch it was once again time to head for home. Some of the Nelspruiters decided to join us on the road through VVNR, where we stopped to admire the fields of Giant or Narrow-leaved Nerines (Nerine angustifolia). While traversing the reserve, we were happy to spot a Bald Ibis on the wing.
All in all, both outings were very successful and it was wonderful to spend time on this spectacular reserve. We are most grateful to Northam Platinum/ Buttonshope Trust for the opportunity to take groups there.
Please see the attached link to the full list of plants seen on the outing.
