Natures’ Flower Carpets – which man did not sow…

Best time to see the Namaqualand Flowers

Namaqualand is a beautiful place in its own right. At certain times of the year, you’ll find it to be the best of times to visit…

In my opinion, the best time of the year to view the world-famous Namaqualand flowers would be mid-August to end-September (depending on the rainfall and weather). Although it is a very short time of the year, it is definitely worth the effort. If you cannot make it in time, don’t worry there are always flowers still to be found in October.

Surely the best flowering regions would be the Northern Cape / Namaqualand district and include towns like Nieuwoudtville, Springbok, Kamieskroon, Port Nolloth, Garies, and more. As well as the West-Coast region which is well known for spectacular flower displays.

Make sure you wear comfortable shoes
Take bottled water with you and a snack or two
Wear a sunhat and sunscreen
Remember your camera and backup batteries
Allow enough time, because flower displays can change within a day and you might need to drive further.
Always begin your tour as far North as you can and work your way back to Cape Town. Flowers follow the sun and this would allow you to see the most flowers. (Keep the sun behind you.)
Most of the wildflower species are protected under law, with the possibility of huge fines for those who pick them.
Never pick flowers (just to be safe)
Never leave anything but your footprints behind. Please keep the parks clear of the trash.
Guided tours are often your best option as they know where to find the flowers and secondly, they know the information on every flower, so it will make your trip more interesting.
Explore other attractions as well, while you are in the area (especially if the weather doesn’t play along on a specific day.)
For excellent photo opportunities, the flowers are normally at their best between 10:00 and 11:00 am in the morning and again at around 03:00 to 04:00 pm in the afternoon.

Best places to hunt for flowers (Travel-and-Home’s favourite spots):

West Coast National Park / Postberg:

As they are only open to the public during the flower season, this is a very special experience and you can almost definitely be sure to find the most dazzling display of flowers. The area reaches from Yzerfontein to Langebaan. Due to the fact that this area is very popular amongst flower-hunters, it is best to go early.

Namaqua National Park / Namakwa National Park:

This National park is situated in the Northern Cape near South Africa’s border with Namibia. During the flower season, this almost dessert-like area changes into a flower carpet. They are located approximately 22 km from Kamieskroon and about 6 hours from Cape Town. Fortunately, they open some areas during flower season which is otherwise closed because it is a conservation area for the world’s smallest tortoise – The speckled “padloper”.

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Clanwilliam area and Ramskop Nature Reserve (Including the Citrusdal area)

The Ramskop Nature Reserve would definitely be one of the closer options to Cape Town for a one-day drive. Approximately two and a half hours from Cape Town and has beautiful flower displays which might include (if you’re lucky) proteas. I suggest you phone before you leave for a self-drive outing. More information can be found below:

Here is a link to a site with updated info and contact numbers: https://www.clanwilliam.info/

Should you arrange to stay in Clanwilliam, you can take an easy one-day tour to Nieuwoudtville, as accommodation in Nieuwoudtville is often all booked out a year in advance already. Obviously, the reason being, that it is the most famous and best place to view the flowers.

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Nieuwoudtville

Here you will find various route options like:

The Hantam National Botanical Garden
Matjiesfontein Farm Flower Route
Nieuwoudtville Flower Reserve
Papkuilsfontein Flower route
The Rondekop / Naressie Route
Trekpad

We recommend that you book a guided tour when visiting this region. These tour operators would definitely know exactly where to take you for the best display of Namaqualand flowers at that specific moment. Be sure to book well in advance. If not, visit the local tourist office and do a self-drive, but phone in advance to ensure you have the best experience.

Here is a link to a site with updated info and contact numbers:

http://www.nieuwoudtville.com/flower-routes/

Other contact numbers: 027 218 1200
http://www.sanbi.org
hantam@sanbi.org.za

DIY Flower Tour Itinerary

Self-Drive ideas

Another famous spot is the Biedouw Valley:

The Biedouw Valley is a valley situated in the Western Cape and it is located near Pakhuis Pass, between Clanwilliam and Uitspankraal. For many Capetonians, this is their favorite spot to photograph the flower carpets. In the last year, this spot definitely did not disappoint and the internet was flooded with photos from travelers that have stopped here.

If you still have time to spare, on your beautiful Namakwaland flower tour, take the road to Upington and explore along the way places like Keimoes, Kakemas, and Kanoneiland.

Let’s give you a taste of what you can expect:

International airport

The nearest International Airport is Cape Town International (CPT).

From here you will have to rent a car or arrange for local tour operators to form part of a tour group. (See above venue websites for more information.)