Alexa, play "Daisies" by Katy Perry.
It's springtime in Cape Town, and that means one thing - wildflowers.
The West Coast (only a one-hour drive from the Mother City) transforms into a rainbow-hued wonderland with indigenous flowers covering almost every inch of the wetlands, farms, fields and dunes in the area.
Get in on the action by visiting one of these hotspots for a day of sun, fun and flower power!
Best Places to See Wildflowers Along the West Coast
West Coast National Park
The West Coast National Park is one of the best places in the Western Cape to catch a glimpse of the wildflowers.
Every August and September, the park opens up its famous Postberg Flower Reserve.
Get here early (by 9:00 there is usually a queue of cars waiting to go in), pack your camera, your favourite pair of sunnies and drive around the reserve.
If you're not a morning person, plan your visit after 15:00. Last entry to the Postberg section is at 16:30, and the gate to the park closes at 17:00.
Keep an eye out for zebra, wildebeest, antelope, ostrich, mongoose and tortoises grazing in the mind-boggling display of wildflowers!
Don’t forget to head to the Seeberg Lookout Point for an explosion of colour before you leave the park.
Entrance Fee for South Africans: R90.00 per adult / R45.00 per child
Distance: West Coast National Park is 1-hour from Cape Town
Blaauwberg Nature Reserve
Blaauwberg Nature Reserve is the start of the West Coast's flower season.
Come here for spectacular views of Table Mountain and Robben Island in the distance and an incredible coastline dotted with wildflowers.
Pack your hiking boots, and traverse across the reserve's Coastal Hiking Trail or The Two Hills Trail.
The best part? The flowers can hang around as late as October depending on the weather.
Entrance Fee: R17.00 per adult / R10.00 per child
Opening Hours: 08:00 to 17:00
Distance: Blaauwberg Nature Reserve is 30km from Cape Town
Darling Renosterveld Reserve
Darling is a small town in the Western Cape, home to one of South Africa's biggest music festivals Rocking the Daisies and a kaleidoscope of wildflowers.
The Darling Renosterveld Reserve is an incredible place to see the flowers. The landscape erupts into colour between July and October, and entrance is free.
The 20-hectare reserve also plays host to the annual, century-old Darling Wildflower Show. Held over the third weekend in September, it celebrates the 1,200 different species of flowers found in the area.
Entrance Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 08:00 to 17:00
Distance: The Darling Renosterveld Reserve is 72km from Cape Town
Want more Darling flower power? Add these reserves to your road trip bucket list:
- Harold Versfeld Nature Reserve
- Darling Groenkloof Reserve
- Tienie Versfeld Nature Reserve
- Waylands Wildflower Reserve
Tips for Getting The Most Out of Flower Viewing
- The best time to see the wildflowers along the West Coast is between August and September.
- The flowers are fully open and looking their best in the afternoon sun. Don't go flower hunting on a cloudy day.
- Don't step on the flowers. Protect South Africa's unique biodiversity.
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Use sun protection. Pack your sunglasses, hat and sunblock.
- Stay safe out there by wearing a mask and practising social distancing when you're around other travellers.
Cover Me in Daisies
Which West Coast wildflower hotspot are you adding to your weekend plans? Got any tips for your fellow wildflower chasers? Sound off in the comments!