The Best Places to View the Cape’s Spring Flowers

For a few precious weeks each year – from mid-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.

We’re not joking when we say “Blink and you’ll miss it”; because before you know it, the fields have turned brownish-grey again and the floral splendour is over for another year.

If you’re keen to make hay while the sun shines and get gazing at nature’s magnificent plan, here is our pick of floral hotspots for prime viewing this spring. (Make sure your cameras and smartphones are charged!)

Which is your favourite spot to view the Cape’s spring flowers? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Where to view the Cape’s spring flowers by region:

The Cape’s West Coast
The Overberg
The Karoo

The Cape’s West Coast

Postberg and West Coast National Park

SA Venues

Only open during springtime, Postberg is an almost completely undisturbed floral landscape in the West Coast National Park, open 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 Geelbek Restaurant (or Die Strandloper in Langebaan, for its festive atmosphere)
Fun fact Eve’s Trail is a two-and-a-half-day hike through the park that traces the footsteps of Eve, a young woman said to have lived 117 000 years ago.
Entry During flower season, August – September 2021:
R94 (SA citizens and residents with ID)
R47 (children, 2 – 11 years)
R144 (SADC nationals with valid passports)
R72 (SADC children with valid passports)
R210 (international adults; standard conservation fee)
R105 (international children; standard conservation fee)
Contact 022 772 2144

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 R26 (adults)
R20 (pensioners)
R10 (children)
Contact 027 482 8000

The Renosterveld Reserve

Southern Vines

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 eat 1910 The Old Forge
Fun fact This is the vegetation that used to cover the crop fields and vineyards before they were cleared for agricultural activities.
Entry Free

Citrusdal

Lanz von Horsten

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 honour of the mythical ox).
Entry Free

Tienie Versfeld Wildflower Reserve

amy_alexandra_druce

Another stop along the R315, this reserve hosts a wide variety of flowers due to its varying topography. On this small patch of land, around 10% of the Cape Floral Kingdom can be found.
Distance from Cape Town Around 1 hour and 10 minutes
Floral expectations Butterfly lilies, lachenalia, chincherinchee and bulbs.
Closest town Darling
Where to stay !Khwa ttu Guest Houses and Bush Camp
Fun fact Marthinus Versfeld (also known as Oom Tienie) donated a portion of his farm to SANBI for the reserve.
Entry Free
Contact 022 492 3361

Columbine Nature Reserve

Paternoster

A relatively short way along the R27, this reserve offers candidly beautiful views of the spring flowers, as well as whale- and dolphin-spotting opportunities.
Distance from Cape Town Around 2 hours
Floral expectations An array of fynbos and Karoo succulents.
Closest town Paternoster
Where to stay Gonana Guesthouse
Where to eat Wolfgat
Other stuff to do and see Hiking, cycling, kayaking, nature walks, picnics and game-spotting.
Fun fact It is named after the last manually controlled lighthouse built in South Africa.
Entry R29 (adults)
R20 (children)
Contact 022 7522 718

The Overberg

Harold Porter Botanical Garden

Kure Kure

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 The Tides Restaurant
Fun fact The zigzag paths and the waterfall trail, still in use today, were marked out by Harold Porter himself.
Entry R35 (adults)
R22 (students)
R25 (pensioners)
R15 (children)
Free (Botanical Society members)
Contact 028 272 9311, Harold.Porter.NBG@sanbi.org.za

Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Bicycle South

Distance from Cape Town Around 1 hour and 50 minutes
Floral expectation a variety of fynbos– proteas, ericas, bulbs and orchids.
Closest town Hermanus
Where to stay Stonehaven Eco Cabins
Where to eat Lizette’s Kitchen Bar and Restaurant
Fun fact The Fernkloof Nature Reserve comprises 0.002% of the Cape Floral Kingdom but contains 18% of its plants in just 18 square kilometres.
Entry Free (donations welcome)
Contact 028 313 0819

The Karoo

Karoo Desert National Botanical Gardens

This unique 154-hectare garden lies at the foot of the Hex River Mountain range in Worcester, and boasts 143 hectares of natural vegetation (of which only 11 hectares has been cultivated). During spring, the annuals and vygies come to life, creating a beautiful tapestry of vibrant colours that can be enjoyed while exploring the cultivated section.
Distance from Cape Town Around 1 hour and 30 minutes
Floral expectations succulents, annuals and vygies.
Closest town Worcester
Where to stay Eikehof Farm
Where to eat Kokerboom Restaurant
Fun fact Because of a lack of water and the re-routing of the national road, the garden moved from Matjiesfontein to Worcester in 1945.
Entry R35 (adults)
R15 (students)
R25 (pensioners)
R10 (children)
Free (Botanical Society members, disabled persons and preschool children)
Contact 023 342 1298, Karoo-Desert-NBG@sanbi.org.za

Blooming marvellous!

No plans to travel up the coast to flower-gaze? Fear not, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in the leafy suburb of Newlands is a thing of beauty between August and September, when the spring flowers are in bloom.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

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 R80 (SA adults)
R200 (standard, adults)
R45 (students with a valid card)
R25 (children 6 – 17 years)
Free (children under 6, BotSoc members)
Free (senior citizens with ID on Tuesdays, except public holidays)
Contact 021 799 8782, Kirstenboschinfo@sanbi.org.za
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