Best Places to View the Cape's Spring Flowers

For a few precious weeks each year - from early August until end-September - the fields, farms, wetlands, and dunes of the Western Cape burst into a magnificent riot of colour as the wildflowers come into bloom. It's a short-lived period, during which bloomers and boomers, Gen Xers and Zs hop into their preferred modes of transport to come and witness the wonder of the West Coast's wildflowers...

 

Postberg and West Coast National Park

Only open during springtime, Postberg is an almost completely undisturbed floral landscape in the West Coast National Park, open 9am and 5pm during August and September (peak flower months).

Distance from Cape Town: Around 1 hour and 30 minutes

Floral expectations: Daisies, sporries and magriets.

Closest town: Langebaan

Where to stay: Whaler's Way in Churchhaven, which has a veranda right on the sandy shore and an obligatory hammock!

Where to eat: Die Strandloper in Langebaan.

Fun fact: Eve's Trail is a two-and-a-half-day hike through the park that traces the unmistakable human footfalls (in rock that was formerly sea sand) that are said to have belonged to a young woman who lived 117 000 years ago.

Entry During flower season, August - September 2023:

R104 (SA citizens and residents with ID), R52 (children 2 - 11 years).

 

Ramskop Nature Reserve

This reserve is well worth a visit, with the Cederberg mountains and orange groves as its backdrop.

Distance from Cape Town: Around 2 hours and 30 minutes

Floral expectations: Daisies, sporries, sugarbos and proteas.

Closest town: Clanwilliam

Where to stay: Cederberg Ridge Wilderness Lodge

Where to eat: Veldskoendraai

Entry R38 (adults), R27 (pensioners), R14 (children), Free (children under 10 years)

Contact: 027 482 8000

 

The Renosterveld Reserve

Just above Darling Primary School lies this charming 20-hectare flower reserve, where travellers can enjoy a plethora of spring flowers, as well bird-watching. Oh, and keep a keen eye out for the red-bellied tortoises.

Distance from Cape Town: Around 1 hour

Floral expectations: a variety of renosterbos, bellendini, kapokbos and vygies.

Closest town: Darling

Where to stay: Darling Lodge Guesthouse

Where to eat: 1910 The Old Forge

Fun fact: The above vegetation is what used to cover the crop fields and vineyards before they were cleared for agricultural activities.

Entry: Free

 

Citrusdal

Found on the N7, this is a family-favourite holiday spot for its hiking, camping, zip-lining and rock-climbing opportunities.

Distance from Cape Town: Around 2 hours

Floral expectations: Fields of maartblom, bloedblom, daises and fynbos

Closest town: Citrusdal

Where to stay: Cederkloof Botanical Retreat

Where to eat: Salome's Grapevine Coffee Shop

Fun Fact: Citrusdal is famous for its hot springs, which according to legend, were created when a mighty ox named Kolberg stamped his hoof in the location where The Baths Hot Springs resort now lies (one of the resorts' baths is named Kolberg in honor of the mythical ox).

Entry: Free

 

Harold Porter Botanical Garden

Distance from Cape Town: Around 1 hour and 30 minutes

Floral expectations: From proteas to daisies and orchids, this garden has it all - indigenously speaking, of course.

Closest town: Betty's Bay

Where to stay: Pringle Bay Villa or Restio River House

Where to eat: Bistro 365

Fun fact: The zigzag paths and the waterfall trail, still in use today, were marked out by Harold Porter himself.

Entry: R50 (adults), R30 (students), R40 (pensioners), R20 (children 7 - 18 years), R45 (Botanical Society members)

Contact 028 272 9311, Harold.Porter.NBG@sanbi.org.za

 

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

No plans to travel up the coast to flower-gaze? Fear not, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is a thing of beauty between August and September, when the spring flowers are in bloom. This 36-hectare garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain needs no introduction, as it has one of the most impressive expanses of flowers found so close to the city centre.

Distance from the city centre: Around 20 minutes

Floral expectations: Daisies, fynbos and pincushion proteas are just a few of the numerous flowers to be found.

Fun fact: It is the first botanic garden in the world dedicated to indigenous flora.

Entry: R100 (SA adults and SADC nationals with ID), R220 (standard, adults), R60 (students/learners with a valid card), R40 (children 6 - 17 years), R140 (African nationals with ID), Free (children under 6), Free (senior citizens with ID on Tuesdays, except public holidays)

Contact 021 799 8782, Kirstenboschinfo@sanbi.org.za

 

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