Big Tree

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."
Robert Louis Stevenson

And so we decided to pay a visit to the very famous Knysna Big Tree. This BIG TREE is a 800 year old Kalander or Outeniqua Yellowwood. This species is the tallest and most spectacular tree in the forest.
For those of you crazy about trees here is the 411 on the Kalander. (Afrocarpus falcatus, commonly known as the Sickle-leaved Yellowwood and False Yellowwood (formerly also Outeniqua Yellowwood; syn. Podocarpus falcatus)

The 'hike' here is actually just a VERY short forest walk. We did it in flip/flops but I have to say we were very tempted to kick off our shoes and just go barefoot.

There is a lovely picnic spot and people are encouraged to stay a while and enjoy the beautifull and peacefull surroundings.

The 'Big Tree' is approximatelly 800 years old, 34m high and 2m thick! It is at this tree that I also saw the best sighn. Asking people not to mutilate the trees with their 'art'.

The forest walk is clearly marked and takes about 30 minutes, just like the sign says. :)

The walk winds through the trees and you can hear birds everywhere. We heard an African Fish Eagle as well as a knysna loerie, but once again we were not able to see either of them. I think that when it comes to birds we have the worst luck in the world. That is why I love taking pictures of flowers and mushrooms. They at least stay where they are!!

The water looked cool and fresh and very inviting on a warm spring day...

Being here in this forest lifted our spirits and made us smile from ear to ear. :)

If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you'll come to understand that you're connected with everything. Alan Watts

The undergrowth is grean and in some places the tree-ferns reached almost to my shoulder.

I could not help getting up close and personal with one of the big grand daddies of the forest. Kinda like sitting on your grandfathers knee. O if only he could tell me his stories...

After that I got a little bit carried away and took pictures of every interesting tree and peice of bark! I even managed to find more mushrooms. :)

At least I wasn't the only facinated one. :)

What a fantastic way to spend a lazy afternoon.