Come early August, the western coast of South Africa transforms from the normally dry and arid landscape to a vibrant and colourful facade that bursts into a multitude of colours. This natural wonder of the world lasts until October and attracts photographers, artists, botanists and sightseers across the globe every year. The first flowers pop up along the North and the rest follow suit to the South soon afterwards.
If you’re planning on making your way to this region, make sure you visit the Namaqua National Park which features a magical tapestry of flowering faces all along the winding roads in the National Park. To the north west of Garies you will find the spectacular Skilpad Wild Flower Reserve which forms part of the Namaqua National Park. The Hester Malan Wildflower Garden is located within the greater Goegap Nature Reserve and showcases a range of Namaqua succulents and a rock garden. Ramskop Nature Reserve is located in the Cederberg region and includes a wildflower reserve which stretches for 7,5 ha. The West Coast National Park showcases colourful carpets of wildflowers throughout this season and if you happen to be in Darling on the weekend of 16 – 18 September, be sure to pop into the Darling Wildflower Show.
This is the perfect self-drive vacation if you’re looking for great photo opportunities that will take you all along the back roads of our beautiful western coastline all the way from Springbok in the Northern Cape to Darling in the Western Cape.
If these bright photo’s of our establishments don’t persuade you to jump in the car and go, we have a few gems from our past that might do the trick.
All images come from the profiles on LekkeSlaap.co.za unless otherwise stated. * Bokbaai vygie: Livingstone Daisy by grassrootsgroundswell on Flickr * African Daisy: DSC_0064 by The Greenery Nursery and Garden Shop on Flickr * Pigface, Ice plants or Sour figs: Carpobrotus edulis by pointnshoot on Flickr * Grazania: Grazania by Roberto Ferrari on Flickr * Senecio: Bigstock