Dunes Wonderland Trail #1: Intro | Mile-a-Minute
This highly recommended, easy 5.7 km 12-cache trail in the lower Silvermine valley will take you from the outskirts of Fish Hoek, along a delightful bushy trail on the southern tree-lined edge of the golf course up to and through a stunning dune landscape – the last remnants of a much more extensive area, long since invaded by aliens! There are great views throughout.
The trail then descends to join the main jeep track running down Lower Silvermine valley, through the golf course and a lovely, quiet corner of Clovelly, then down to and across the wetlands bridge and back to the start*.
It is not strenuous – the most difficult bit is a <1-minute SSS-SSS (short, slippy scramble up a steep sandy slope) to access the main dune field. It can be done in around 3 hours, allowing for stops for caching, refreshment and to admire the spectacular views, scenery, flora and fauna.
Please note that the terrain rating is based on the assumption that you are doing the caches in sequence. Obviously this may change if you use a different starting point. For example, DWT #8 would be 2.5 if done in sequence but only 1.5 if doing the trail in reverse or starting from the golf course or Sunbird Centre.
The trail can be done as a circuit, taking in 4 other caches en route, with an option of 2 more on a 1-hour side trail up to and along part of the Skildersgatkop ridge to the south of the dune field.
*There are 3 possible starting points based on the nearest parking spot. These are shown on the trail map. Of course, the trail can be done in either direction – so you have 6 possibilities for your wonderland adventure!
A recurring theme of the trail – and the subject of half the caches - is alien invaders! The whole area of the trail (excluding the golf course!) is subject to steady invasion by one or more introduced species which have an unfair advantage over indigenous species enabling them to dominate the environment and, if not well controlled, gradually take over.
A second theme is herbal medicine. As is the case with many wild plants, one or more parts of the plant have an effect on the body and it has been long used in traditional herbal medicine or muti as it is called in southern Africa. In most cases, the herb’s benefits may be claimed far beyond the actual clinical evidence available, especially where there is potential financial reward. As always, more research is needed to confirm the benefits, identify & minimise any associated risks and ensure that it is used correctly for maximum therapeutic effect.
To Access the Cache Location: park at the trailhead at the corner of Carlton Rd at S 34 7.670 E 18 25.654 and after securing your vehicle, make your way the short distance along the trail to the cache (a small camo-taped tablet pot) location.
To Find the Cache: clicking on the plant image below will link you to a jigsaw puzzle, completion of which will reveal the cache coordinates - and a useful hint.
Click on the Image Below to Access the Jigsaw Puzzle
Please note that although the link is from a well-known source, it has 'not been checked by Groundspeak nor by the reviewer for possible malicious content and access to the site is therefore at your own risk'.
Growing through the sour fig (see DWT #10) ground cover around the cache location was a common creeper with beautiful flowers.
This is a species of morning glory (Ipomoea cairica) aka mile-a-minute vine, Messina creeper, Cairo or coast morning glory and Messina or railroad creeper. Ipomoea is the largest genus in the Convolvulaceae plant family with over 600 species.
It is a vigorous, vining, herbaceous, introduced perennial plant with palmate leaves and large, showy, trumpet-shaped white to lavender flowers.
The genus name Ipomoea means ‘bindweed’ and is derived from 2 Greek words, ips which means ‘worm’ and homoios which means ‘like’ and refers to its twining habit or growth form. The species name cairica means ‘from Cairo’ - where it was first collected.
A hairless, slim climber with bulbous roots and lignescented (somewhat woody) base and lavender-coloured flowers with a dark centre which appear occasionally throughout the year but more profusely during spring-summer. These close by mid-afternoon.
It grows in full sun or even in light shade on well-drained soil, sandy loam, clay, salty or brackish soil, sand 
dunes, forest edges and riparian environment. It has been found growing on flat ground and gentle to moderate slopes.
Its exact native range is uncertain, though it is believed to originate from a rather wide area, ranging from Cape Verde to the Arabian Peninsula, including northern Africa, tropical Africa and the Mediterranean.
It covers walls, fences or trees, with smooth, twining stems reaching over 10m long!
Because of human dispersal, it occurs today on most continents as an introduced species and is sometimes classed as a noxious weed and invasive species.
Its flowers are pollinated by bees and shoots, flowers and fruits are eaten by monkeys. Seeds are dispersed by wind and sometimes by water, especially in wet areas and or during the rainy season. It can survive extreme seasonal fluctuations, and because of its tuberous roots, if the top part of the plant dies in winter, it resprouts again in spring.
Some plant nurseries sell it as an ornamental plant popular for its showy flowers and fast growth useful to quickly cover unsightly fences or walls. But it should be planted with care as it can smother other plants with its aggressive growth.
Uses: most parts are edible, such as its leaves, which are eaten when young and roots, which can be cooked prior to eating. The Zulu use it to make a concoction with crushed leaves which is drunk it to heal rashes and fever. It may also have antibiotic properties.
See short video here.
