Flower Season

It'll take your breath away! Feast your eyes on the magnificent, colourful flower-carpet in spring, best time to view from mid-August till mid-September. Secure your accommodation well in advance!

Tips while viewing the flowers

  • The flowers are open between 11:00 and 15:00, the warmest part of the day
  • Make sure you always have the sun behind you, this will give you the illusion the flowers are showing off just for YOU!
  • The sun must be out for flowers to open, thus rainy or overcast days are not ideal
  • The day temperature must be at least 18 degrees
  • Flowers face the sun, thus for viewing and pictures keep your back to the sun
  • Get out of the car and walk around, don't miss the special smaller species
  • Tread lightly, don't unnecessarily trample plants, and never pick flowers or bulbs

What to wear when viewing flowers

  • Long pants and insect repellent when walking around in the field
  • Comfortable shoes

Advice to tourists

  • Try to book your accommodation in advance
  • The West Coast Flower Hotline 072 938 8186 during flower season is available from 08:00 to 20:00, 7 days a week
  • Most towns along the flower routes have fuel stations, ATMs and mobile reception
  • The further north, the further apart the towns, keep in mind when planning
  • Stop and ask locals for advice on flower hot spots, distances, etc - they're friendly
  • Namakwa/West Coast flower maps are available at all tourism information offices

Flower Shows

  • Hopefield Fynbos Show: End of August, Hopefield Sports Centre, [email protected] or 022 723 1720
  • Clanwilliam Wild Flower Show: End of August until beginning of September, Clanwilliam church, [email protected] or 027 482 2024
  • Succulent Show at Kokerboom Nursery during August and September. Contact Christene on 072 219 1062 or visit www.kokerboom.co.za
  • Darling Wildflower Show: Mid-September at Darling Sports Club, more info 084 916 1111

Popular viewing spots in Flower Season:

Paternoster

On smallholding Pelgrimsrust (Farr Out is situated here) before entering town, Bekbaai, Cape Columbine Nature Reserve


Type of flowers: Slymbos, Surings, Kattekruie, Bobbejaankool, Bokbaai Vygie, Sand Viooltjie, White Rain Daisy, Gousblom, Bruinsalie, Poprosies, Various Veldkool, Bont Leeubekkie, Baster suring, Rolbos Kool, Vredenburg Froetang, Seepampoen, Koringblommetjie, Vygie, Elandsvy

Hopefield

In town on vacant plots, next to Soutriver in town, Langebaanweg (R45), next to roadside from Bloemendal farm to R27, Plaasmol (R45) 5km outside Hopefield, Gravel road between Langebaanweg and Cloeteskraal, next to the road at the entrance of the farm Sandvlei, Road between R45 and Moorreesburg (R311), next to Library, at Hopefield Sports Grounds, entrance to town from R45 via Church Street


Type of flowers: Wit Reënblommetjies (Daisies), Orange Gousblomme, Geel Bobbejaantjie, Pienk en Geel surings

Langebaan

Postberg, West Coast National Park, Langebaan Gate to Geelbek, Oostewal & Sunbird Drive, Langebaan Town / Langebaan Country Estate, Myburgh Park, Oliphantskop, Road to Geelbek and Kraalbaai, Kraalbaai to Tjaarbank, Road between Saldanha and Langebaan, Langebaan Park gate to Seeberg, Postberg Gate left to Plankiesbaai


Type of Flowers: Suring (Yellow & Pink Flower), Reenblommetjies (White), Orange Gousblom, Sukkelbossie, Sporrie, Geel Hongerblom, Harpuisbos, Blombos, Kapokbossie, Strand Sallie, Bietou, Vygies, Bobbejaankool, Geelmelkbos, Froetang, Pietsnot, Vygies, Kapokbossie, Bloubekkie, Varklelie, Vygiebos (Purple), Blouflaks

Darling

Darling Renosterveld Reserve (access at top of village behind the Darling Primary School or lower down gate in Langfontein street); also on the plot just below this reserve on Petunia Street, !Khwa ttu San Cultural & Education Centre, Groote Post Vineyards - Darling Hills Road

Type of flowers: Renosterveld - Gladiolus gracilis - early blou pypie; small showing of yellow Moraea galaxia (horlosieblom); early Spiloxene (yellow sterretjies); pink and white oxalis; lampranthus (vygie), arums and struthiola, !Khwa ttu - Sandlelie (veltheimia) and rooipypie (gladiolus priorii), Groote Post - mostly arum lilies, daisies starting to come through

Vredendal / Lutzville

On road R362 from Vredendal towards Lutzville - white,yellow and orange daisies - fields, R362 in Vredendal area - white,yellow and orange daisies - fields, on the winding road between Vredendal and Klawer - pink vygies - patches, white,yellow and orange daisies - fields, Bultweg in Vredendal - white,yellow and orange daisies - fields

Cederberg Area

Boskloof area; Vrede Oord Cemetery; Ramskop Nature Garden; N7 direction Klawer; R364 direction Lamberts Bay; Ou Klawer pad via Nardouwsberg and Pakhuis Pass

Type of flowers: Reenblom; Daisies; Vygies; Clanwilliam Daisies; Hongerblom; Sambreeltjies; Pietsnotjies;
Ridderspoor; Vygiebos; Perdebos

Bergrivier Area

Velddrif area. Bergrivier Golf course, Vygielaan, Velddrif. On the road to Pikerberg. On the shoulders of the R27

Type of flowers: Bobbejaantjies, Kantblom, Wilde Kamille, Blou Koringbos, Feëklokkies, Bobbejaankool, Weeskindertjies, Vyfpondbos, Wit Daisies, Oranje bitter Gousblom, Duinebessie, Geel Hongerblom, Pers kantblommetjies, Biddouw, Kinkelbos, Ghoebos, Gansogies, Geel Melkbosse