Start planning for flower season 2021

by Janine Avery June 17, 2021

Our first rains for the season have fallen, and we are waiting for the flowers to show their beauty.

Visiting Namaqualand during the flower season is an amazing experience. After the rainy winter months, the usually arid area along the West Coast turns into one big flower carpet with orange, yellow, red, and purple colors dominating the scenery. The transformation is incredible.

Unlike seeing cherry blossoms in Japan and tulips in The Netherlands, finding flowers in Namaqualand is a little trickier, since they’re dispersed in different areas, and many fields are actually on private farm land. If you’re looking to self-drive Namaqualand without a guide or local’s assistance, we’d recommend heading up to Nieuwoudtville, as the small town has tons of little flower fields scattered throughout the town, in people’s gardens and outside the local restaurants. It’s also home to the Hantam National Botanical Gardens which have many flowers on display.

There are also many fields between Doring Bay and Vredendal along the dirt road R362, and then once you take the Graafwater – Lambert’s Bay – Vredendal road towards Vredendal, you’ll want to stop a few times to admire the vast colour splashes. Along the R27 going from Vredendal to Vanrhynsdorp, there were tons of patches of yellow, purple and orange flowers, blooming with the view of the Matzikamma Mountain Range in the background, making a really beautiful sight.

Set on a working wine farm, Melkboomsdrift Guesthouse is one of the best places to witness this magical flower extravaganza. This mangificent guesthouse offers you 4-star luxury in superior accommodation situated in a tranquil rural environment with magnificent views of the vineyards and Olifants River flowing through the farm.

Can’t wait for flower season? Take advantage of the winter warner special at Melkboomsdift.

Enjoy long romantic walks, cuddle up under your duvet with a good book and a glass of your favourite wine, or perhaps a drive out to a wine farm for wine tasting around a crackling fire. From R995 per person sharing you can enjoy a two night stay with breakfast as well as a 2 course dinner with and a complimentary bottle of wine.