A Short Guide To The Wildflowers Of South Africa

To help you plan the perfect trip to see the wildflowers we've put together a short guide that gives you information on when and where you can see them.

When is the best time of year to see the wildflowers?
The wildflower season runs from the beginning of August to the end of September. The flowers are largely dependent on the winter rains, so some years will be better than others. The flowers only bloom when the sun is shining, but the day shouldn’t heat up too quickly as this will make the flowers wilt earlier in the day. The perfect temperature for viewing wildflowers is around 14˚C.

Where are the best places to see the wildflowers?

1. Namaqualand
Namaqualand is the ultimate flower destination in South Africa. After pre-spring rains, the landscape is transformed into a carpet of daisies in psychedelic colours, dotted with quiver trees and granite outcroppings that offer views to rival any natural wonder. Another reason to visit the area is that, of the 3500 species growing there, about 1000 are found nowhere else on the planet.

2. West Coast National Park
The West Coast National Park, a beautiful coastal wilderness area known for its abundant bird life, has a northern section, which is only open to the public during the spring flower season, when it’s covered in rainbows of petals. This section of the park, the Postberg Flower Reserve, is also home to zebra and wildebeest, and you may also be lucky enough to spot whales on your visit (the whale watching season coincides with the spring flower season). The bonus is that Postberg Flower Reserve is just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town, which makes it an easy day trip from the city.

You can take a gentle stroll through the fields of blooms in Postberg, but if you’re fit, try the 8.6-mile Steenbok Trail, which takes you on a spectacular route through flowers and fynbos. The trail is open in August in September, and it’s very popular so be sure to book ahead.

3. Clanwilliam and the Cederberg
This sleepy Cederberg town hosts an annual flower show in the ‘Blomkerk’ (flower church) at the beginning of September in which the wildflowers put on an incredible display. The town’s wildflower garden can also be found in the Ramskop Nature Reserve, where you can also soak up views of the surrounding Cederberg mountains and dam below. Make sure to see the flowers between 11 and 3 as they close when the sun’s not out.

4. Nieuwoudtville
The area around Niewoudtville, a small sleepy town in the heart of sheep farming country in the remote Northern Cape has been dubbed the “bulb capital of the world” and the “Serengeti of the floral kingdom” because it’s said to boast the highest concentration of bulbs in the country. You can go flower spotting in the Nieuwoudtville Wildflower Reserve and the Hantam National Botanical Garden and also visit local farms – during the spring flower season many farmers allow visitors onto their land to view the blooms.

Top Tips

The flowers are at their best between 10:30 – 16.00
The flowers will not come out on very overcast or rainy days, so plan your visit on a sunny day.
Travel north first and do your flower viewing in a southerly direction as the flowers always face the sun, and will be facing you.

If you are interested in seeing the wildflowers for yourself then get in touch with our experts today by calling 020 7843 3500 or emailing info@africatravel.co.uk and they can help you plan your dream wildflowers holiday.

A Short Guide To The Wildflowers Of South Africa