Friday 4 December 2015

SOUTH AFRICA: Viewing Wild Flowers


If you’re keen on checking out the wild flowers this spring, we’ve got all the information you need. Each year around early- to mid-August, parts of the Northern Cape and the West Coast are dotted with orange daisies, yellow pietsnot, purple and yellow vygies and white sporie. There are also plenty of quaint towns for travellers to visit while they enjoy the warmer weather and colourful, flower patchwork surroundings.

Springbok, Okiep, Nababeep, Concordia and Kamieskroon are all top destinations for viewing the famous blooms and the Namaqua National Park near Kamieskroon is also a flower destination to include on your itinerary for every flower season. The Goegap Nature Reserve near Springbok reopened to day visitors this August and is definitely worth a visit while you’re in the area.

The mountains are green and the smell of wild flowers lingers in the air so birders should pack their binoculars and bird books, as many feathered species come out to play round this time of year. Travellers staying over in some of the quaint towns along the flower route should pack warm clothes as the evening temperatures can drop to near-freezing.

Where to view flowers

West Coast National Park
Along the N14 outside of Springbok
Springbok town centre
On the road between Komoggas and Maatjiesklloof near the Naries Retreat
Okiep town centre
On the road to Port Nolloth
Handjieskraal near Kharkas
Groot Hoog along the road between Okiep and Concordia
Road between Springbok and Bergson
Namaqua National Park
Noheep a farm near Kamieskroon

Tips when viewing flowers

The flowers are open between 11am and 3pm
The sun must be out for flowers to open
The day temperature must be at least 18 degrees
Flowers will not open on rainy or overcast days

Namaqua/West Coast maps are available at all tourism offices.

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