Aloe ferox and Euphorbia mauritanica

Euphorbia mauritanica, a stem succulent seen in the foreground, and Aloe ferox, a leaf succulent standing tall further back in the photo, are prominent due to their size among the succulents of the Little Karoo.

Apart from widespread karoobos (karoid shrubbery) covering the land, enriched by some fynbos in sporadic habitat areas, the dry region that is the Little Karoo has a wealth of succulent species, particularly mesembs. Most of the succulents growing here are small, some even taking shelter in the shade of the karoobos from the summer sun.

The donga in the foreground, the deep ravine with mostly vertical sides, was caused by erosion over a long period, often precipitated by a period of poor land management such as overgrazing. Such dongas do not disappear by themselves, but deterioration may be halted once plant roots stabilise the soil sufficiently.

Soil conditions in semi-arid areas depend on a delicate balance to be respected in all land usage (Van Jaarsveld, et al, 2006).