Namaqualand

24 August to 3 September 2025

A world away from the lush, safari-visited jungles and plains of Africa, Namaqualand, a largely unknown and overlooked corner of South Africa, offers a beauty unsurpassed by all else.

Namaqualand is one of the great treasure-houses of the botanical world, haven to more than 3000 different floral species. Many of these, for a few weeks in springtime, burst into riotous life, clothing the countryside in a spectacular mantle of orange, yellow and white blooms. Apart from these instantly accessible, dazzling tapestries of bright spring colour, Namaqualand sustains a wide variety of perennials: geophytes, dwarf shrubs and a huge number of succulents. Three main vegetation types occur across the area being visited, namely Cape fynbos, mountain renosterveld and succulent karoo. Each is recognised by a suite of dominant shrubs, often of quite different plant families and usually with a distinctive leaf type and overall appearance.

We depart from Johannesburg on an early morning flight and head for the “Fairest Cape of All” at the start of what promises to be a memorable and rewarding trip.

Our routing on day one takes us via Vanrhynsdorp and the Knersvlakte to the most northerly point of our trip, Naries Namaqua Retreat, near Springbok.

Driving through the area known as the Knersvlakte without being told, you would cast a bored look across the white quartz-strewn plains and think there was nothing there. However, it is a world of miniature succulent plants, sheltered from the worst of the summer heat by the reflective quartz gravel. This botanical treasure is sprawled between the towns of Vanrhynsdorp and Bitterfontein. It falls within the Succulent Karoo region, considered one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world.

Knersvlakte means gnashing, or grinding, plains. Opinion is divided about whether this refers to the difficulty of crossing the plains in an ox wagon (and the attendant gnashing or gritting of teeth), or the crunching noise made by iron wheels on quartzite gravel.

Here you will find plants with names as cute as they look: baby bums, donkey ears, little buttons, and fingers-and-thumbs. Some look like tiny green marbles, others like flowering pebbles. Others emerge above the soil only during the temperate spring and retreat into the soil, almost invisible, when the summer heat arrives.

Heading northwards to Garies and beyond, our trip takes us into the heart of spectacular spring floral displays that provide such a colourful, yet ephemeral façade to a fascinating region. In a radius of 60km, one finds four different regions, each with its characteristic rock formations and natural flowers, developing at their own pace during the flower season to eventually display a kaleidoscope of colour–multi-coloured carpets stretching as far as the eye can see.

The Destinations

Naries Namakwa Retreat,

Our first overnight destination, for three nights, is a beautiful hideaway on the edge of the Spektakelberg, between Springbok and Kleinzee. Naries is located in the heart of prime spring wildflower country. Here one witnesses one of the Earth’s most spectacular floral displays in springtime as the usually arid area gets dressed up in floral splendour. .Daisies, perennial herbs, lilies, succulents, aloes-several thousand species of plant grow here. Many people flock to Namaqualand for its wildflower displays in springtime, but few are aware of the many succulent species that can be found all year round. Naries hosts several of these extraordinary gems.

Naries  hosts several mammal species, including, Eland, Cape Mountain Zebra, Bontebok and Springbok and is also a great birding destination throughout the year. Excellent “bush” birding is on offer, with key target species being Black Harrier, Southern Black Korhaan, Grey-winged Francolin, Black-headed Canary and Layard’s Warbler.  Five lark species can be found, with Red-capped, Large-billed, Cape Long-billed, Cape Clapper  and Karoo Larks being common residents.

Namaqua National Park

Using Naries as our base we pay a visit to Namaqua National Park, near Kamieskroon. The Park is best known for its spectacular display of wildflowers in early spring. It captures the full grandeur of the flower season and in years when surrounding areas have less than splendid displays, the Park is magnificent. As if by magic a tapestry of brilliant colours unfold enticingly along the winding roads. Butterflies, birds, and long-tongued flies dart around among the flowers, seemingly overwhelmed by the abundance and diversity. Every turn in the road paints an unforgettable picture: valleys filled with Namaqualand daisies and other spring flowers that pulse with sheer energy and joy.

This is also the best time to visit the area, as many of the birds are opportunists which move into the area and breed after winter rain. Cape Clapper Larks, performing their courtship displays, are usually abundant and the grating call of Southern Black Korhaan rings out in the early morning. Both races of Black-headed Canary occur when conditions are favourable and Layard’s Titbabbler is common. A pair of Booted Eagles has bred in some exotic trees near the Park reception for the past few years.

We also spend some time in the Goegap Nature Reserve, 15km south-east of Springbok. The reserve features most of Namaqualand’s natural riches on 15000ha of typically granitic, rocky hills and sandy flats. It supports close on 600 indigenous flower, 96 bird and 45 mammal species. The Hester Malan Wildflower Garden is a spectacular additional feature, showcasing many Namaqualand succulents and a spectacular rock garden.

Birding highlights include Pale-winged Starling, Ground Woodpecker, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, Layard’s Tit-Babbler and Black-headed Canary.

Garies

Fields of flowers, star studded nights, quiver trees, enormous granite outcrops and the icy Atlantic are but a few wonders that await the visitor to the area around Garies. To describe Garies as in the middle of nowhere does not do any damage to the reputation of the town.

It lies in the heart of the Namaqualand and makes an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding area. Garies and Kamieskroon lie in the heart of an arid biodiversity hotspot – the succulent Karoo.

A landscape carpeted in wildflowers, starry skies that stretch as far as the eye can see and a luxury tent with a spectacular view is what awaits us at the luxurious Agama Tented Camp, our home for two nights.

In good seasons the veld around the camp is carpeted with flowers in breathtaking hues.

The sheer lavishness of blooms during spring, after good rains, draw visitors to this part of the Namaqualand from around the world.

A recent extension of the Namaqualand National Park, between the Spoeg and Groen rivers, allows us to explore the somewhat flat and undulating landscape along the coastline known as the Sandveld.

Much of Namaqualand’s coastal plain is covered with deposits of loose, windblown sands which are somewhat alkaline and rich in nutrients. Fringing the dunes is a kind of shrubby vegetation known as Strandveld, which runs into another low shrubland called Duneveld, that is dominated by erect and creeping leaf-and stem succulents as well as annuals. In good years, the Duneveld can present spectacular floral displays. Scattered patches of acidic sands poor in nutrients support stands of different Sand Fynbos vegetation.

Target birds in the area include Booted Eagle, Black Harrier, Ludwig’s Bustard, Southern Black Korhaan, African Black Oystercatcher, Grey Tit, Bokmakierie, Cape Long-billed and Karoo Larks, Pririt Batis and Cape Penduline-Tit.

En route to our final destination in Namaqualand, we visit Aardvark Kloof, one of western South Africa’s great endemic bird sites. The diversity of habitats here supports a bird community that will leave any desert bird enthusiast spellbound.  Cinnamon-breasted Warbler’s calls echo through the roadside boulders, while Red Larks display nearby. Other specials include Large-billed and Karoo Long-billed Lark, Karoo Eremomela, Grey Tit, Fairy Flycatcher and White-throated and Black-headed Canary.

Nieuwoudtville

The village of Nieuwoudtville lies on the Bokkeveld Plateau, where the Cape Fynbos meets the Hantam Karoo, Bushmanland and the Knersvlakte. It is a place where the experience of silence, space and stars contribute to a tranquil way of life. Nieuwoudtville is world famous for its flowers and the incredible density and diversity of bulbs produces a spring floral display that is nothing short of spectacular. The great diversity of flowers, and particularly geophytes, that occur on the Bokkeveld is what makes Nieuwoudtville both special and different from the rest of Namaqualand. In good rainfall years the display of spring annuals around Nieuwoudtville transforms the landscape into a picture of colour and, when these have set seed, there are still many interesting flowers to be found long after the first flush of spring. The diversity of geophytes is particularly astounding.

The area around Nieuwoudtville has around 309 species of geophyte. To put this in perspective, there are about 1550 geophytes in the entire Cape Flora and this is 4-5 times richer than other Mediterranean regions such as California, Western Australia, and the Mediterranean basin. To get the most out of the area one must take one’s time. It is not uncommon to find up to 50 different species within one square metre of Renosterveld!

SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute) has found it fitting to establish the Hantam National Botanical Gardens on a farm outside Nieuwoudtville. Many botanists and researchers, from all over the world, visit this area each year. Flowerwatching is at its best in the Nieuwoudtville Flower Reserve and we will also visit the Nieuwoudtville Falls, a 100 m natural wonder on the Doring River.

Interesting bird species in the area are Blue Crane, Ludwig’s Bustard, Verreaux’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black Harrier, Ground Woodpecker, Cape Clapper Lark, Grey-winged Francolin, Rufous-eared and Namaqua Warblers, Layard’s Tit-Babbler, Karoo Eremomela, Fairy Flycatcher, Cape Siskin and Black-headed Canary.

We spend three nights at De Lande Farmouse, a spacious Karoo-style house on the iconic Papkuilsfontein Farm, near the town.

Clanwilliam area

We head northwards to our first overnight stop for two nights, a guest farm in the peaceful and tranquil Boskloof valley near Clanwilliam. Here we are surrounded by the majestic Krakadouw and Cedarberg mountains. Clanwilliam is a picturesque town of white Cape Dutch homesteads. One of the ten oldest towns in South Africa, Clanwilliam, rich in settler history, is surrounded by picturesque vineyards, fragrant orange orchards and wildflowers in spring. The town is the centre of various short flower routes. Graafwater, Lamberts Bay, Leipoldtville, and the Biedouw Valley can be combined with history and rock art viewing. The Ramskop Nature Reserve, above the Clanwilliam dam, is home to endemic wildflower species and is a must-see during August and September.

During our stay in Clanwilliam we visit the Cape Gannet colony at Lambert’s Bay and Kransvlei Poort, a reliable site for Protea Seedeater and Ground Woodpecker.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and after an exhilarating and soul enriching experience we must take our leave of Namaqualand and head for “civilisation”. We travel to Cape Town International Airport for our return flight to Johannesburg.

This 11 day tour departs from Cape Town. We travel in an air-conditioned VW Caravelle, 4-wheel drive Microbus or similar vehicle.

Includes

Flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town

Ground transport, all meals and accommodation, guiding, conservation fees, entrance fees.

Excludes

Alcoholic beverages, gratuities and items of a personal nature.