After a cold and wet winter, flower fans are holding thumbs for a bumper display of Spring flowers across the Northern Cape and West Coast. And while a road trip to Namaqualand and Nieuwoudtville is the surest way to soak up the seasonal displays of spring flowers, the West Coast National Park offers spectacular fields of flowers a whole lot closer to Cape Town.
The hotspot for the flowers here is the Posberg section in the north-west of the Park. Though the West Coast National Park is open year-round, Posberg is only open to the public in August and September, at the height of the wildflower season. Access is through either of the main park entrances: the southern gate located on the R27 West Coast Road, or the Langebaan Gate in the north of the Park. From the R27 it’s a 30-minute drive to the Posberg entrance gate.
Once in the Posberg section, you’ll find a network of scenic drives to explore, leading through remarkable fields of wildflowers and up to scenic viewpoints overlooking the Langebaan lagoon. The Atlantic shoreline at Plankiesbaai is a great place to stop for a picnic lunch, and keep a keen eye out for Southern Right whales offshore.
If you’re new to the spring flowers of the Cape it’s worth buying the helpful new ‘Spring Flowers’ guide, available for purchase at the entry gate to the Posberg section.
This comprehensive illustrated guide will help you identify and discover more about the diversity of flora you’ll find here, and was developed as a fundraising project by the SANParks Honorary Rangers for the West Coast Region. The Honorary Rangers have also launched a new ‘West Coast Birding Booklet’ and a fun-filled ‘Adventure with Captain Gannet’ booklet for kids.
The main Park is open as follows:
August: 7am-6pm, last entry at 5.30 pm
September: 7am-7pm, last entry at 6.30pm
The Posberg section is open from 9am-5pm, with last entry at 4.30pm
Have you heard? The West Coast National Park is getting a R30-million upgrade!