Lithops & Desert-Adapted Plants

The Cole Lithoparium at Alte Kalköfen Lodge is named after Desmond and Naureen Cole, passionate botanical enthusiasts who dedicated their lives to studying and preserving these unique succulents. The lithoparium is Namibia’s largest registered collection of lithops, commonly known as “flowering stones.” This extensive collection encompasses various species, subspecies, and variations of these unique succulents, which are indigenous to southern Africa. Their pebble-like camouflage allows them to blend seamlessly with their surroundings. Visitors to the lithoparium can explore two specialized greenhouses where these intriguing plants are cultivated and displayed, offering an educational and visually fascinating experience.

In 2014, Hilde and Frikkie Mouton, along with Roy Earlé and Janice Round (authors of ‘Lithops of Namibia’) founded the Lithops Research & Conservation Foundation in order to further data collection, research and conservation of these weird and wonderful plants.