Namaqualand

During the summer months Namaqualand is a harsh, dry environment that gives the impression of lifelessness to the place. However, after the winter rainfall an incredible array of flowers literally blankets the namaqualand landscape. If you can think of no reason to visit the Northern Cape then this should be one, it is a fantastic experience of nature at its most beautiful. Originally it wasn’t the beautiful flowers that brought people to the Namaqualand region; it was the rich copper and diamond veins that can be found in the surrounding mountain sides. The flowers were a reason to stay once the diamond rush had slowed down.

Namaqualand Flowers, Northern Cape

Springtime, between July and September, is when you’ll find most people visiting Namaqualand. The flowers have blossomed and tourists have the pleasure of seeing the colorful blanket that nature throws over its landscape. Driving the various roads between the small towns like Springbok and Pofadder, each with its own story to tell, is a perfect way to see the flowers; however, there are plenty of nature reserves and gardens that should be singled out. Goegap Nature Reserve is near Springbok and probably a good place to start your flower tour. The Richtersveld National Park is another, which is home to one of South Africa’s many World Heritage Sites