The Collectors

Director: Laurence Dworkin
Camera: Tim Wege
Length: 14min 38sec
Synopsis:
Combining his love for succulent plants with a curiosity for those adapted to living on cliff faces, we travel with Ernst and his young student assistant James, on an expedition to the remote and beautiful Richtersveld. In this breathtaking environment, they document and collect plant species from the steep sides of a relatively unexplored mountain ridge. The film captures the lengths that Ernst will go in pursuit of his passion, and his commitment to the protection of this massively diverse desert environment.
In a reflective interlude with Ernst, we take a trip to see the lichen fields of Alexandra Bay, a unique population of Aloe pillansii at Cornell's Kop, and the enigmatic halfmens in the heart of the Richtersveld National Park. Ernst shares some of his insights into the unique ways in which plants have adapted to this harsh environment and from which human beings might learn important life lessons.
Click here for more info about Ernst van Jaarsveld: caretakers.co.za/article.php?articleId=45
Click here for an introduction to the Richtersveld: caretakers.co.za/article.php?articleId=44
Map of area: alturl.com/bck8d

[@jameslaupan6499]

I had the pleasure to visit the Rictersveld in 2002 on a botanical outing, it was life changing. After 120 rolls of photographs mostly shot in stereo I often look at them and can almost feel the heat, wind and smell the air, especially when rain or fog appeared. Absolutely magical, I know the excitement young James is feeling, at 66 i get that excited still. I wonder if the bulbine was ever identified as a new species, theres probably no greater thrill then finding a new species and I hope it came true for young James. Thanks for the hike, I almost felt i was there, cheers Ernst, I have your book on gasterias and met you in Tuson Arizona in 2009. Keep truckin man

[@williamalvey632]

What a wonderful and very enjoyable video I grow Haworthia and aloes and Gasterias in England please please make more videos

[@mls01981]

Love the Aloe pearsonii at 9:10. Just amazing!

[@lilithchristoffersen9271]

I love the young guys passion and excitement and Ernst so patient, I too am a huge lover of these plants, I have visited SA once, an I am certainly going to return to do my own plant safari!

[@stuff0music]

I have a pachypodium namaquanum growing in California. Being from South Africa it grounds me.

[@joshuaboncales2501]

I should be born in that place, so beautiful

[@graceannmamauag4405]

Very inspiring video...

[@elgingottowik6396]

What a beautiful area, wish I could have been there looking for herbs!

[@booz394]

Thanks for the video.
The young lads’ excitement exposes the gift we South Africans have taken for granted for far too
long.
A delicate yet beautiful country with abundance of nature’s gifts, second to none... from the plains of the savanna accompanied by the fish eagle‘s call, to the first protea blooms on the escarpment by G-D’s very own window... From lush forests crashing into wild oceans by the garden route to the dry deserts teeming with life as this video clearly portrayed.
We have our problems, politicians past and Sadly present, are much like the poachers who threaten our loved Rhinos.
much effort is needed to mend past catastrophes, while great care in avoiding future mistakes.
we continue to cut this rough diamond of a country to the jewel that truly is, alive with possibilities. Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrika!!

This is priceless

[@olgabarrios6030]

es una belleza !!!... donde es esto???..que país es?...

[@dipubiswas8520]

what is the name of this place...?

[@hihosh1]

Richtersveld

[@33.vuongquyen37]

what is the country?

[@hihosh1]

South Africa

[@CaretakersSA]

South Africa

[@infocus-media]

These plants gets stripped from the veld and smuggled all over the world, we can even buy them here in Australia, not only Succulents but also Cycads what a shame.