Fynbos walks on the Cape Peninsula and at Hermanus

What it is

The south-western tip of Africa has its own plant kingdom, recognised by UNESCO as the Cape Floral Region. Its typical vegetation is fynbos: proteas, heath-like ericas and reed-like restios, with thousands of species packed into a small area, most found nowhere else. You can walk in it within the city. Silvermine and the Cape Point section of Table Mountain National Park have easy trails through flowering slopes above the sea. At Hermanus, ninety minutes away, Fernkloof Nature Reserve has a network of paths and a very long plant list for its size. After a fire, bulbs and orchids flower in great numbers.

Before you go

• Spring, from August to November, has the most in flower, but something blooms in every month.
• Carry water and a windproof layer. Weather on the peninsula changes quickly.
• Walk in a group on the mountain and tell someone your route.

The flowers you will see

ProteaLarge-headed South African flowers called sugarbushes, with many wild speciesEricaEvergreen shrubs with tiny needle leaves and nodding flowers, known as heaths or heathersRed DisaA striking red orchid from the mountain streams of South Africa

Also part of it, and being written: Leucadendron, Watsonia.

More in Cape Town

🇿🇦 Cape Town · Aug to SepThe flower route from Cape Town to NieuwoudtvilleA spring road trip north from Cape Town through a chain of wildflower reserves. 🇿🇦 Cape Town · All yearKirstenbosch National Botanical GardenA garden of South African plants on the slopes of Table Mountain, at its best from late winter to spring. 🇿🇦 Cape Town · All yearAdderley Street flower sellersA covered lane off Cape Town's main street where families have sold flowers for generations. 🇿🇦 Springbok · Aug to SepNamaqualand daisy seasonA semi-desert in the north-west of South Africa that turns orange with daisies after winter rain. 🇿🇦 Pretoria · Oct to NovJacaranda season in PretoriaTens of thousands of street trees turn South Africa's capital purple each October. 🇿🇦 Plettenberg Bay · Aug to NovGarden Route coastal fynbos walksCoastal paths along South Africa's southern shore, through fynbos and old forest.