Mossel Bay

Towards Mossel Bay one can see patches of aloes - as Burman (1964) put it "the scarlet flowers contrasting vividly with their broad leaves". These aloes are the source of one of the oldest industries still practised in South Africa. From Roman times bitter aloes have been known for their medinicinal qualities, and throughout the ages they have remained in demand. SA has some 130 varieties of aloe, but only one of them, the Aloe Ferox, provides the medicine which is still used today in various mixtures. This particular aloe is found in large quantities near Mossel Bay.