Turns out, it is a lucky bean tree, and very rare in South Africa.
It seemed a good omen and we all took photos of the rare lucky bean and of our fledgling group.
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The cynic might remark on how we proceeded to see the "rare" tree several times every day until we hit altitude at Drakensberg. But we prefer to see it as an icon or a lucky group.
Because after a few days of shared smirks (oh look, there's a rare lucky bean tree! oh look there's another), we suddenly noticed something. We had sunshine by day and starshine by night. Every day! The odd cloud, but mostly at night and no rain.
Previous safaris had not been able to climb at Drakensberg as it's too dangerous if wet or misty. Everyone remarked on how remarkable the weather was for us. This happened again at the Karoo lodge. Cold of course, but sunshine all day.
By this time of course we were referring to ourselves as the "lucky group".
The coast? Well, the Garden Route does not get its name from drought conditions. And the Storm River trail is pretty dangerous if wet. But the one day we were there - lovely.
The one thing we did know was that Cape Town has its own ecosystem. When it's dry and generally favourable in the rest of the country, i.e., winter, it's wet, grey, windy and stormy in Cape Town. I brought a good jacket for wind and warmth pretty much for our week in Cape Town only. We live in Vancouver - we know what wet wintery weather is.
And so? Sunshine - blazing sunshine. Table Mountain usually puts its cable car away for servicing this time every year because it's such terrible weather no one can use it. And the one day we are here? Gorgeous. Look at us - look at what we are wearing! Austrian mother even went down to her bottom layer!
And our last day, when Griffths faithfully drove us to a fabulous beach with a classic view of Table Mountain. Poor us..More hot sunshine.
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