Heading west to the Namaqualand Wildflowers of South Africa
Northern Province & Western Cape – South Africa
Self-drive road trip to see the annual spring flowers
Where and when can you see indigenous wildflowers in South Africa?
When you say you are going to see the flowers in South Africa just about everyone knows what you are talking about. They also have a very good idea where you will be heading. Millions of indigenous flowers pop their heads out after a cold winter to cover the coastal dunes and plains of the Western Cape coast, inland or the arid regions of the Northern Province.
West Coast National Park - Langebaan Lagoo
It’s a busy and popular season with many flower enthusiasts gloating over these annual displays. Nobody wants to miss this magical and vibrant visual floral exhibition in nature. It attracts many tourists to tiny towns that otherwise hardly see any visitors.
These bright little buttons, multicoloured oceans of daisies, carpets of colour and clusters of bulbs dance in the breeze during August, September and sometimes October, in the Northern Province and Western Cape.
Four different daisy varieties
At the end of winter and early spring, tourists drift from all corners of South Africa to the west to frolic in (hopefully not pushing up) the daisies.
African Daisy and purple drumstick
Roaming among blooming flowers
This year was an ideal opportunity for us to view the flowers as we still could only travel locally because of the pandemic. Our assumption that we were driving overland with our caravan and therefore would have no issue to find places to camp was completely wrong.
After many phone calls the only place where we could find a campsite in the area was in Loeriesfontein for a couple of days, in the centre of town. We took what we could get.
Wildflowers in the Cederberg Mountains
I was keen to travel further north, deeper into Namaqualand towards Springbok but hubby clipped my wings and desire to travel in that direction because we had other plans for this road trip as well, so were only planning to spend a few days in the area.
We also wanted to head south to the West Coast National Park, another great area to see the flowers.
After we booked our campsite, hubby pulled up the weather app on his phone. After all, weather plays an important part in viewing the flowers – more about that later. Bad news! One of the worst and largest cold fronts was approaching the west coast of South Africa, with heavy snow predicted, even in some parts that hardly ever see a snowflake. This did not bode well. If it was possible to delay our trip by a few days, then we would go later. Fortunately this worked out for us.
We travelled from Johannesburg and camped for one night outside Kimberley and another night in Williston. Our wildflower experience started as we turned off the R63 after Williston and took a gravel road before Calvinia and its mountain to drive towards Loeriesfontein. The scenic route via the backroad gave us a glimpse of wildflowers. Here and there splashes of colour appeared and we squealed with delight. Then we took a few twists and turns through farm gates and some arid, remote areas until we ended up on R357.
Bulbinella nutans - a yellow bulb growing in the fields
We arrived at Loeriesfontein at the perfect time of day and were welcomed with bright displays of flowers in the fields before the town. Even the streets were fringed by flowers.
Loeriesfontein
We found our little campsite in the middle of town, a mishmash of businesses and houses on all sides with pedestrians watching our every move. We had our own little natural garden display, though, growing wild at the campsite. I gave hubby quite a bit of lip not to flatten them when he parked our caravan whilst trying to avoid trees and shrubs too.
Perhaps not the ideal and most peaceful place to stay but that’s what you get when you book accommodation so late. We were to spend two nights there.
Arctotis or yellow Gousblom
Hot tip:
Book well in advance if you want to ensure accommodation or campsites at a place of your choice.
Quiver trees at Loeriesfontein
Nieuwoudtville
The next day we drove towards Nieuwoudtville via the quiver tree forest and then to Nieuwoudtville waterfall about 6 km north of the town. Our first closeup experience with the flowers were at the waterfall. I was in my element and could have spent hours there, but hubby was tapping on his watch, saying we still had loads of places to go to. A few snapshots taken at high speed of the waterfall and flowers had to do, then we dashed to the town of Nieuwoudtville.
We had grand ideas of taking our time and enjoy every little flower. Our plan was to take a leisurely stroll through Hantam National Botanical Garden, browse around Nieuwoudtville, then take a leisurely drive to Matjiesfontein Roadstall and Papkuilsfontein Guest Farm, and ending up at Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve before heading back to Loeriesfontein. After all, we had the whole day – wrong again.
Joining the throngs of other people in the area, it took far longer than anticipated. One also has to take into account the time it would take to drive from one area to another. We realised we would simply run out of time if we did everything. We chose to skip the walk through the botanical gardens and selected a few sections to drive to, so we could see some of the displays and fully appreciate them.
I am a flower enthusiast and did not want to rush. I wanted to take a moment to get down on my haunches and smell the flowers. Actually, that wasn’t even necessary. I often caught a gentle waft of perfume fluttering past my nostrils. A sensory experience indeed.
Bulbinella nutans
Diascia whiteheadii
Romulea sabulosa
I took the time amongst the swathes of colour of thousands of the same flowers to look closer at a few really cute little gems. Even that was not enough but at least I saw a few exquisite dainty flowers, worthy of more than just a second glance. Unfortunately it was slightly windy, so it was difficult to take closeup photos of them while they quivered away.
Seas of mauve and white flowers, then some yellows near Nieuwoudtville
One of our mottos on our entire road trip was to try not to drive on the same road twice. After our day of viewing the flowers we took the road to Calvinia, via the R27. Everywhere we looked we saw flowers, along the sides of the road, on the hillsides or in the fields. Granted, you could not always get close to them but you could appreciate how widely spread they were.
At Calvinia we turned onto the R355 back to Loeriesfontein. Such a lovely route worth driving on if you like taking backroads.
The following day we left in the rain to make our way down to the West Coast National Park, with a few stops in-between. We drove through the Knersvlakte, hoping to see some of the scenery but it rained most of the way, with misty conditions over some of the lovely, picturesque sections.
We spent a night at Strandfontein, two nights in the Cederberg and eventually two nights at St Helena Bay which was our base for the West Coast National Park, as there is no camping allowed inside.
Romulea sabulosa - Satin flower or Satynblom
Orange wildflowers near Papkuilsfontein, Nieuwoudtville
The following day we were excited to enter the West Coast National Park. This was familiar territory to us, where Paul and I spent many days, over many years with family and friends – in fact, this was where our relationship began and blossomed. We spent a lovely few hours reminiscing with old friends and drove through the park and around the Langebaan Lagoon to see the flowers. Unfortunately because it was weekend, we had to contend with so many other tourists with the same idea. It was just too busy for us. Still, we saw some beautiful displays.
Langebaan Lagoon and West Coast National Park
Langebaan Lagoon with the Atlantic Ocean in the background.
I was given a new camera by my husband for my birthday and this road trip was the first opportunity I could test it properly. It took me a while to get used to and unfortunately I could not do justice to the flowers but I hope you will at least see a glimpse of what we saw through my photos.
Flowers outside Nieuwoudtville
What you need to know about the Namaqua flowers
These little prima donnas are quite pedantic. They only come out to play when there’s sunshine. They love their faces in the sun so if you sneak up from behind their coy faces are turned away. Be sure to approach them from the right angle.
They also don’t like to get wet while they are blooming. As for snow – well, that is the end of their performance. Luckily for us, there are so many that take their place but do choose your times right.
If you are really keen to see the flowers, don’t spend your time inside. Rather enjoy the outdoors and pack a picnic basket or have a quick meal or snack.
The wildflowers are late risers and hit the sack way before the night owls. They are at their best during the hottest part of the day, somewhere between 10.30 am and 3.30 pm, so don’t expect them to be out before that time and don’t go hunting for blooms on a cloudy or rainy day.
As soon as the weather gets too hot and the warm easterly winds blow, the flowers die back as well, which marks the end of the season.
But where can you see the flowers?
Everyone asks where to see the wildflowers, wanting specific places. The flowers actually cover a large area of the western parts of South Africa, so you shouldn’t miss them, wherever you drive. The main areas are in the western to north-western Cape and Namaqualand, although parts of the southern Cape also have similar flowers. It is also a great idea to ask the locals where to see them or click on this Flower Route Map link.
Here are some of the areas you will find wildflowers:
Namaqua
Springbok
Garies
Kamieskroon
Leliefontein
Nieuwoudtville
Vanrhynsdorp
Biedouw Valley
Clanwilliam
Cederberg Mountains
West Coast National Park
Darling
When you stretch your eyes towards the horizons, a kaleidoscope of colour greets you around just about every corner. And just when you think it is too arid and nothing grows there, you will suddenly be surprised by pops of colour in an otherwise harsh terrain. These are often bulbs and not perennials.
Usually the first spring flowers start blooming further north near Springbok. The flowers in the south and southeast flower a few weeks later.
Local is lekker
Hot tip:
Oh, and please support the locals. Do try the roosterkoek (traditional bread rolls) that ladies cook over coals in various places along the flower route such as at Nieuwoudtville, at the entrance to the town or at the waterfall. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, with oodles of butter and your choice of sweet (jam) or savoury (sausage) with a good cup of moerkoffie (coffee made from ground coffee in an aluminium coffee pot on an open fire, the old-fashioned way).
Roosterkoek & Moerkoffie - the traditional way
I know our time at the flowers was too short; I could have stayed longer, but the road was calling and we had other routes to follow. In the end it turned out to be a road trip of more than 5000 kilometres which I will tell you about in another blog. Who am I to say no to further travels and adventures?
Our Wildflower Map where we travelled.
Other areas to see wildflowers in nature.
There are beautiful blooms throughout various areas in the Cape, so if you have time on hand, or live close by, make sure to head south and east to see more stunning displays, some of them different species including the beautiful proteas of the Cape.
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About the Author
ALMA VAN AS | ROAMING FOX
Alma is a South African travel blogger and writer. She hopes to inspire you with facts and fables about her adventures, road trips and international travel.
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The Best Way to see a country? Take a road trip! Have you ever had that feeling when you hit the open road on your road trip? Freedom. Anticipation. Exhilaration.