The South African Transkei mushroom strain originated in South Africa within the former Transkei province of South Africa (now a part of the Eastern Cape province).

These shrooms have a distinct pyramid-shaped caps and gnarled or twisted stems. Unlike many other strains of Psilocybe cubensis, identifying the South African Transkei shroom is fairly straightforward as it doesn’t resemble any other cubensis strains we know of.

The South African Transkei shroom strain is an interesting one, as it’s the first psychedelic mushroom strain ever discovered and documented — at least in modern history — that is native to South Africa. Other species exist on the continent, but the South African Transkei is one of only a few cubensis strains that grow here naturally.

Magic mushrooms grow worldwide, but they prefer moist climates, at least for part of the year. South Africa’s hot, arid deserts are typically unsuitable for psilocybin mushrooms. This is one of the reasons why there are so few Psilocybe cubensis strains originating from this part of the world.

The original sample was collected in the early 2000s, where it was growing in a pile of cow dung in the shade of a tree near the Indian Ocean. The documentation surrounding the original sample is stellar, and the site of the spore collection can more or less be pinpointed on a map.

African Transkei Magic Mushrooms Specs

African Transkei Magic Mushrooms Potency & Psilocybin Content

Most users report a more intense trip with South African Transkei shrooms than most other strains, including open-eye visuals, fractals, and a sense of connection to the world.

Only one sample has been submitted for testing in the bi-annual Psilocybin Cup for testing. This sample, submitted in the Spring 2022 Cup by Mushroom Monk registered with 0.83% psilocybin, 0.02% psilocin, and 0.92% total tryptamines. This would classify the Transkei strain about average (0.5% to 0.9% tryptamines).

However, we believe most people can expect even higher than this when cultivated under optimal conditions. Many of the samples we’ve tested ourselves with this strain were notably stronger than what we’d consider “average” strains like Golden Teacher or Koh Samui.

We suggest the typical potency of this strain is well above with tryptamine concentrations in the 0.8–1.6% range.

Keep in mind that the potency can vary quite a bit among samples within a strain, so take this estimate with a grain of salt.

African Transkei Magic Mushrooms Variations & Genetic Relatives

There is only one known variation of the South African Transkei strain: the Trans Envy strain.

The Trans Envy strain is a cross between Penis Envy and the South African Transkei strain. It was reportedly created accidentally when a cultivator mixed the two in a single fruiting chamber. After noticing some mushrooms growing that didn’t look like either strain they were cultivating, the spores were collected and isolated into what is today referred to as Trans Envy.

The resulting strain is a standalone variety with a super-high potency and large size from the South African Transkei strain.

Where to Buy African Transkei Magic Mushrooms Spores

Because of the strain’s unique history, many cultivators seek to get their hands on South African Transkei spores. Luckily, there are quite a few places you can reliably get these spores.

If you live in the US, Ralphster’s Spores, Spore Store, Spore Bank, and Lil Shop of Spores are all great places to buy these spores.

If you live in Canada, Sporeslab is a good place to turn, as it often (but not always) has this strain in stock.

If you live in Europe, you can check The Magic Mushroom Shop or Viking Spores.

Related: How & Where to Buy Magic Mushroom Spores (Legally).

How to Grow African Transkei Magic Mushrooms

Cultivating South African Transkei shrooms yields large fruiting bodies that are quite photogenic. They have gnarled stems and a pyramid-shaped cap with a light orange or whitish color, with gills and spores that are black and purple.

These shrooms are reasonably resistant to mold and disease, suggesting they’re a good option for beginner cultivators. However, the yield isn’t quite as impressive as something like Golden Teachers or Koh Samui.

This strain naturally grows on mammal dung but should do just fine on more common substrates. This strain doesn’t take well to ice baths, so avoid using this method during the fruiting stage.

For more information, you can read our more thorough guide to magic mushroom cultivation.