Wild flowers are a major attraction in late winter and early spring - along with other attractions such as the whale season, wine, exquisite cuisine and typical rural hospitality and friendliness, it attracts both locals and tourists to the towns that depend on the seasonal appearance of the flowers to attract visitors to their regions.


 










To make sure you don’t miss out, check out our regularly updated Flower Report to find out where the flowers are blooming .
 
The Western Cape is home to one of the world’s smallest but most diverse floristic kingdoms.  Although the Cape West Coast region and Namaqualand are famous for fields of spring flowers, good blooms also occur in the Cape Karoo, Overberg and Cape Garden Route.












Here are some flower viewing tips for you:

• Flowers are best viewed from 10:00 to 16:00 on a sunny day.
• On cold, overcast or rainy days, flowers will not open at all. Most flowers will only open at temperatures of 17 degrees or higher. 
• Allow for extra travelling time.
• Do not plan your trip according to the distance in kilometers. Always ask a local person how long it will take for you to reach a certain place, then add a couple of hours viewing time.
• Always stand with your back to the sun, or drive with the sun behind you – the flowers always face the sun.
• Stop frequently.
• Get out of the vehicle and take leisurely walks in the veld. Most of the flowers are so tiny that you won’t be able to see and appreciate them from a moving vehicle. Most of those “fields of daisies” only occur in soil disturbed by man or animals.
• Always have extra drinking water and refreshments in the vehicle.
• If you are in a town, re-fuel. Also have a good map on hand and if possible, ask for the best and most scenic routes to your destination.
• It is always a good idea to pack an “on-the-go lunch”.

 

 







Make sure you make a trip to the Cape West Coast and other regions to view the kaleidoscope of colour.