Rock plants for the gigantophile!

[Hoy]

(Some of these pictures are previously shown at the NARGS site.)
If you want to beheld the really BIG rock plants then you have to go to the East African mountains in countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
We set out on a fortnight trip from home (Rogaland, Norway) one Friday afternoon in March. Early Saturday morning we were picked up in Nairobi, Kenya, and later that day we entered Mount Kenya National Park ( http://en.wiped.org/Viki/Mount_Kenya_National_Park ). After some days hiking there we bussed to Moshi, Tanzania, near Kilimanjaro National Park. First we visited Aisha National Park nearby and then we spent several days walking along little used tracks in the Kilimanjaro park. Here are some pics from the tour:

Part one: Mount Kenya. The very huge groundsel are Senecio keniodendron, an endemic. The smaller one is S. brassica. The other tall plant is Lobelia telekii.
PS: These Senecios are also called Dendrosenecio

[Hoy]

Part two: Still Mt Kenya.
More groundsels and a sole thistle of some kind.
If you only visit one mountain in your lifetime, visit Mount Kenya! It is by far the most unearthly place I ever have been!

I wonder: Do anybody grow such plants in their garden?

[Hoy]

Part three.

More Mt Kenya and some Mt Kilimanjaro.
Even at this altitude about 4000m the giant groundsel is found.
At lower altitude we found a creek surrounded by some giant groudsels and other plants (Maybe Senecio keniensis)
At last Tanzania. Kilimanjaro seen from Mt Meru.
We found many interesting plants here too, but only few groundsels, here are S. johnstonii.
Lichen-covered giant heath (Erica arborea)!

[Kees Jan]

Amzing plants and scenery Hoy. What would be the best time to visit these mountains as far as plants are concerned?

[Hoy]

Amzing plants and scenery Hoy. What would be the best time to visit these mountains as far as plants are concerned?

I do agree, Kees, it was an amazing experience!
We went there in March and found a lot of flowering plants. Unfortunately my camera didn't function properly so I lost several pics. (The other guys weren't particularly interested in plants either.) As these mountains (and Mount Rwenzori in Uganda) are not far from the equator with very cold nights and warm days in the heights all the year I think any time will do to visit them. It is an easy access for you from Schipol to Nairobi.

[Paddy Tobin]

An amazing landscape and extraordinary plants.

Paddy

[ashley]

Thanks for showing these Trond; fascinating plants and landscapes.  
Is it feasible to do an independent trip to Mt Kenya?  I've heard that only groups with guides are allowed on Kilimanjaro.

Incidentally, on another thread you referred to a Norwegian weather site.  What's Kvääni?  It looks very like Finnish; maybe the dialect used in northern Norway?  And is Davvisámegiella the Saame language or dialect in Finnmark?  It looks heavily influenced by Norwegian/Swedish.  (Sorry for the digression )

[Hoy]

Thanks for showing these Trond; fascinating plants and landscapes.  
Is it feasible to do an independent trip to Mt Kenya?  I've heard that only groups with guides are allowed on Kilimanjaro.

Sorry, I don't know: This was no alternative for us. But the access was not controlled by gates like Kilimanjaro so I think it is easy to enter the park. But guiding, cooking and carrying are important sources of income for the local people.

Incidentally, on another thread you referred to a Norwegian weather site.  What's Kvääni?  It looks very like Finnish; maybe the dialect used in northern Norway?  And is Davvisámegiella the Saame language or dialect in Finnmark?  It looks heavily influenced by Norwegian/Swedish.

for us.

Kvääni = kvensk (Norw.), a pidgin Finnish-Norwegian language evolved in Finnmark of Finnish settlers.
Davvisámegiella = nordsamisk (Norw.), as you say, the language of the Sami people in Finnmark.

[Bev Olson]

Trond thanks for these photos.

Such unreal looking plants.

My youngest daughter Tamra Bell has photos of Megaherbs from her the sub antartic islands visit.

She has put them on her facebook and on my goodnesstravels facebook.

I dont think I can persuade her to join the Forum here.

[Hoy]

You are welcome, Bev.
Not all plants were mega, here is Gladiolus watsonioides!

[Bev Olson]

Trond thanks for these photos.

Such unreal looking plants.

My youngest daughter Tamra Bell has photos of Megaherbs from her the sub antartic islands visit.

She has put them on her facebook and on my goodnesstravels facebook.

I dont think I can persuade her to join the Forum here.

Tamra won a scholarship to travel on The Enderby last Christmas

For anyone who wants to see Tamra's Sub Antarctic photos (they are pretty special) follow this link to all my daughters sub antarctic photos with her blessing.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=413726085384&set=a.413698045384.363074.729265384
 edit - sadly this link no longer works.

[cohan]

very cool places with cool plants! thanks for sharing these, trond..
bev i will look at your daughter's photos when i am sure my internet connection is behaving...
ah for those toronto days of unlimited problem free dsl...lol

[Juan Fornes]

Amazing, Trond...  These kind of travels are mind-openers also. Thank you for sharing!

[ArneM]

Those pictures are just stunning, Trond! Thanks for sharing with us. Must have been quite a great trip.

Does anyone know where to obtain seed from Dendrosenecio and Lobelia?

[BULBISSIME]

Trond, I'm speachless 
This is one of my Graal's sites: fantastic pictures and I can imagine how I would be if my camera was not working properly.... 
Thank's for sharing this , I really hope to see it.. one day.