Cradle of Humankind in bloom – Aloe

Featuring several hundred plant species, including wild flowers and grasses, towering succulents, rare blooms and many medicinal buds, the Cradle of Humankind represents one of the most diverse plant communities in the world.

The landscape is dominated by rocky Highveld grassland, vegetation made up of rocky slopes, grassy outcrops, and plains of shale and dolomite. Here fire plays an important role in maintaining the balance of trees and grass.

There are over 500 recognised species of aloe in the world, a succulent plant with flowers that is renowned for its medicinal and pharmaceutical applications.

The aloe contains a bitter-tasting sap that can be drunk as a purgative, while its leaves yield a mild gel that can be applied to the skin as aloe vera.

There are numerous species of aloes located in the Cradle of Humankind, ranging from smaller plants to 3m-tall specimens that stand like giants in the long grasses.

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