The 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.

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.

Postberg and West Coast National Park

Postberg is an almost completely undisturbed floral landscape in the West Coast National Park, famed for its rolling fields of bright colour against a wide blue horizon of lagoon, sea and sky. It’s open between 9am and 5pm only in the peak flower months of August and September.
Distance from Cape Town Around 1.5 hours
Floral expectations Daisies, sporries and magriets.
Closest town Langebaan
Where to stay Slipway Cottage in Churchhaven, which has a sunny verandah overlooking the sparkling, translucent waters of the Langebaan Lagoon.
Where to eat Die Strandloper in Langebaan, for an authentic West Coast seafood feast.
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 fee During flower season, August – September 2024:
R110 (SA citizens and residents with ID)
R55 (children 2 – 11 years)
R169 (SADC nationals with valid passports)
R85 (SADC children with valid passports)
R247 (international adults; standard conservation fee)
R124 (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 2.5 hours
Floral expectations Daisies, sporries and proteas
Closest town Clanwilliam
Where to stay Cederberg Ridge Wilderness Lodge, an intimate nine-roomed guesthouse tucked into the foothills of the Cederberg mountains.
Where to eat Velskoendraai Farmstall, situated on the R364 as you drive into Clanwilliam from the N7.
Entry fee R50 (adults)
R27 (pensioners)
R10 (children under 12)
Contact072 833 4917 (Daleen)

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, in a restored Victorian home in the heart of town.
Where to eat The Marmalade Cat, a welcoming cafe and gift shop on Main Street.
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 you’ll find self-catering cottages overlooking the Olifants River.
Where to eat Salome’s Grapevine, a coffee shop on Oewer Street in town.
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

Just outside Darling, on the R315 to Yzerfontein, 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 Just over an hour
Floral expectations Butterfly lilies, lachenalia, chincherinchee and bulbs.
Closest town Darling
Where to stay Yzerfontein Boat House, a quirky holiday home with Scandi-esque beach vibes.
Where to eat Rosemead Artisan Bakery in nearby Yzerfontein.
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

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 Casa De Praia, a pet-friendly boho-chic house for four on Voorstrand Beach.
Where to eat Wolfgat, Kobus van der Merwe’s award-winning beachfront restaurant.
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 R31 (adults)
R22 (children)
Contact 022 752 2718

Harold Porter National Botanical Garden

Set between mountain and sea within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, this national botanical garden has 10 hectares of cultivated fynbos, 90.5 hectares of pristine natural fynbos and an abundance of rock pools and waterfalls.
Distance from Cape Town Around 1.5 hours
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, a four-bedroom holiday home with a front-row seat to the crashing waves of the Atlantic.
Where to eat The Garden Restaurant with inside and outside seating looking over the garden towards the mountains.
Fun fact The zigzag paths and the waterfall trail, still in use today, were marked out by Harold Porter himself.
Entry R60 (adults)
R35 (students)
R40 (pensioners)
R20 (children 7 – 18 years)
Contact 028 272 9311, Harold.Porter.NBG@sanbi.org.za

Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Covering about 1 800 hectares in the Kleinrivier Mountains above Hermanus, Fernkloof is filled with flourishing and diverse plant and bird life. To help you enjoy it all, a network of colour-coded hiking trails runs through the reserve, offering spectacular views of town, the bay and Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Less active souls can enjoy the tranquil gardens for a walk and picnic, and visit the Fernkloof Indigenous Nursery.
Distance from Cape Town Around 1 hour and 50 minutes
Floral expectations A variety of fynbos – proteas, ericas, bulbs and orchids.
Closest town Hermanus
Where to stay Ridge House, a luxury guest house offering ocean views, tranquillity and a quiet but central location next to the reserve.
Where to eat Fisherman’s Cottage, serving deservedly famous seafood platters.
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

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 you’ll find a beautifully refurbished Manor House, dating back 200 years, and three quaint cottages where modern creature comforts and uninterrupted serenity combine.
Where to eat Cafe Hugo, an espresso bar in Worcester with its own roastery.
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 fee R55 (adults)
R35 (students)
R15 (children six and older)
Free (children under 6)
Free (senior citizens with ID on Tuesdays, except public holidays)
Contact 023 342 1298, Karoo-Desert-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 fee R100 (SA adults and SADC nationals with ID)
R230 (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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Which are your favourites? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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