The first flowers usually show face around middle August, but in recent years they have started to adorn the untouched fields of this area from July. The window of opportunity to see them in all their glory is not that long, as most of the flowers will cease to exist come the end of September - so you better start planning your trip.
Because they bloom in almost every nook and cranny of the West Coast, these wildflowers can be spotted along the R27 or any of the roads leading to the R27.
The areas that are sure to showcase these wonderful wildflowers include the
Swartland (which includes towns such as Malmesbury and Moorreesburg), the
West Coast Peninsula (
Langebaan, Saldanha), the
Bergrivier area (Aurora and Velddrif), the
Cederberg region with it’s stunning small towns like Clanwilliam and Citrusdal which is a treat in winter, too, and the
Namaqua West Coast, which stretches from Vredendal all the way to Bitterfontein).
A great place to start your journey through the flower fields is Darling. This small, charming town is known for their beautiful fauna and flora and truly comes alive during this time. A highlight is to see the roads leading in and out of the town adorned with bright daisies - it’s no wonder that the annual Rocking The Daisies festival is held here!
Darling is also home to the
Renosterveld Flower Reserve, that is home to a wide variety of beautiful flowers, birds and other animals. It’s definitely the perfect place to snap some springtime photos with the family
Another must-see during this time is the renowned
West Coast National Park. The park stretches from the town of Yzerfontein up to the equally renowned Langebaan Lagoon. The park has its own flower reserve section called
Postberg.
Postberg is only open to the public during the time in which the wildflowers bloom, so naturally, no wildflower road trip will be complete without a stop at Postberg. Entry to the reserve is also relatively affordable, ranging in prices from R76 to R170 for international tourists.
Going a bit more in-land from the coast, is the stunning and sweetly small town of Hopefield. Hopefield looks like a small town described in the pages of many an Afrikaans novel, and its friendly locals will gladly point you in the direction of the best and most bright wildflowers.
The town also hosts an annual Fynbos Show, and this year, the
Hopefield Fynbos Show will be held from the 30th of August to the 2nd of September. The show will give you the opportunity to delight in the indigenous fynbos along with the vibrancy of the wildflowers.