Across Africa are only a handful of sheltered, remote pockets of Afromontane forest; all that remains of huge tracts of ancient forest that covered large parts of the continent. On the Garden Route is one such forest. Knysna Forest, in some places so dense it borders on impenetrable, is a marvelous mix of ancient trees, both local and exotic. Tree ferns, creepers, flowers and the elusive Knysna loerie, its call heard more often than it is seen, are also part of the forest.
The Common Tree Fern is a widespread species of tree fern in southern Africa. It is native to Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa from the Western Cape province to KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. It grows on stream banks, in forest margins and in grasslands. Plants are most common at an altitude of 900–1,800 meters (3,000–5,900 ft). In the wild, it is known to be fire resistant.
When kudu males have a face-off, they will lock their horns in a competition to determine the stronger puller; kudus’ necks enlarge during the mating season for this reason. Sometimes two competing males are unable to unlock their horns and, if unable to disengage, will die of starvation or dehydration.
