There are some sweet intersections in life which are possible to construct with little effort. Mostly it will be good! And then there are those that take considerable intentional planning, aligning of one’s lifestyle, going out of one’s way literally and submittal to creation’s wonder to be a part of. These are immensely rewarding!

If the Cederberg is a hard place to traverse trails in its remoteness and rocky terrain, the Groot Winterhoek Nature Reserve, due south and a part of a major water catchment area of Cape Town metropole, is on another level, as is its altitude, lower summer temperatures, incredible rock formations and extremely cold and snowy winters. And it is home to the Disa orchid – a beautiful, captivating plant synonymous as an icon of the Western Cape on many a sports emblem. Besides being viewable on the remote Aqueduct trail on top of Cape Town’s Table Mountain, this orchid only flowers between December and February. Without venturing too far back into the Groot Winterhoek after an 11 year absence from this reserve, we took a mid-February Sunday out to savour the Creator searching for the Disa among some natural pools. Enjoy!

Disa uniflora.

Disa tenuifolia.

Groot Winterhoek Peak, 2077 masl.

Disa Pool.