Description

Picnic site 8 is located within our indigenous forest, this is secluded little spot tucked away along our forest walk. Like all the spots, it is well shaded. The shade is provided by a variety of tree species including a large Buffalo Thorn (SA Tree No: 447 Ziziphus Mucronata also known as Blinkblaar-wag-‘n-bietjie, umPhafa, umLahlankosi, isiLahla, umPhafa, umLahlabantu, Mokgalo, Mutshetshete, Mphasamhala). The tree gets part of its Afrikaans name from small thorns at the nodes, one straight and one hooked. The fruit is a smooth, shiny, leathery, spherical drupe, 12-20mm in diameter, reddish-brown or deep red when ripe, and slightly sweet. The berries are edible and were used by early settlers for making porridge and as a coffee substitute. The fruit can also make a beer if fermented properly. (Source http://pza.sanbi.org)