The flower route from Cape Town to Nieuwoudtville

What it is

In August and September you can follow the flowers north from Cape Town over several days. The first stop is West Coast National Park, where the Postberg section opens only in flower season, with daisies running down to a blue lagoon. Nearby Darling holds a long-running wildflower show in September. Further up the N7 road, Clanwilliam has a wildflower garden and the Cederberg mountains behind it. The route then climbs to Nieuwoudtville, on a plateau known for its extraordinary variety of bulbs, and can continue to Namaqualand. Each stop has different soil and so different flowers.

Before you go

• Allow at least three days, more if you continue to Namaqualand.
• The season moves from north to south. The north often peaks in August, the Cape in September.
• Stay on roads and paths. Tyre tracks in flower fields last for years.

The flowers you will see

Glandular Cape marigoldA spring-blooming daisy from southern Africa with orange or yellow flowersLachenaliaBulbous perennials from southern Africa, often called Cape cowslipsBulbinellaTall flower spikes from South Africa and New Zealand with yellow, white or orange bloomsRomuleaSmall cormous wildflowers of the iris family from Africa and the Mediterranean

Also part of it, and being written: Gazania.

More in Cape Town

🇿🇦 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. 🇿🇦 Cape Town · Aug to NovFynbos walks on the Cape Peninsula and at HermanusDay walks through the Cape floral kingdom, the smallest and one of the richest plant regions on earth. 🇿🇦 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.