Blooming Beautiful: Where To See Wildflowers In And Around Cape Town

Spring in Cape Town heralds the beginning of longer, warmer days and carpets of vibrant, colorful wildflowers as far as the eye can see. Every year, from August to October, thousands of locals and tourists alike make day trips to the countryside to marvel at the beautiful displays of nature. Read on for the best spots to experience the Cape’s indigenous floral kingdom.

Cape West Coast

In spring, the outlying areas of Cape Town are transformed into a kaleidoscope of iridescent color that calls for a fun day trip or weekend getaway.

Situated 142 miles (228 km) from Cape Town, Clanwilliam offers an excellent wildflower experience. The town’s Wildflower Garden in the Ramskop Nature Reserve contains more than 350 species of wildflower and offers spectacular views of the Clanwilliam Dam and distant Cederberg Mountains. The best viewing times are between 11am and 3pm when the sun is high in the sky.

Ramskop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa

The Citrusdal area, situated 106 miles (170km) from Cape Town, is famous for its citrus orchards and is another great place to see wildflowers.

Further south, an hour’s drive from Cape Town will bring you to the famous West Coast National Park. Here, the Postberg and Seeberg areas of the park is a sight to behold, where wildlife can be found grazing among the wildflowers on the plains. The towns of Yzerfontein, Hopefield and Darling are also great flower spots.

Cape Meander

Out in Worcester, 70 miles (112 km) north-east of Cape Town, the Karoo Desert National Botanic Garden is a must-see, with displays of rich succulents and colorful desert wildflowers. The 154-hectare garden lies at the foot of the magnificent Hex River Mountain range.

Further east, visit Caledon on the Cape Meander – a 100km route connecting eight delightful country towns in the Overberg region. Caledon is renowned for its scenic beauty and offers spectacular floral displays within the Caledon Wildflower Reserve. For an even better experience, hike the Wildflower Trail – a 6.2-mile (10km) route that takes you through natural mountain fynbos up to the summit of the Swartberg mountains. The trail itself is steep but offers breathtaking views of the area.

Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, Worcester, South Africa

Table Mountain National Park

Closer to home, various areas of the Table Mountain National Park will be covered in an array of wildflowers. Take a walk through the Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden and delight in the fields of daisies, vygies (mesembs), pincushions, strelitzias and watsonias on display.

Spring is the best time of the year to hike in Cape Town, so be sure to visit Silvermine, Cape Point and the iconic Table Mountain where you’ll see vast numbers of stunning wildflowers.