Namaqualand - Must See South Africa. by Gerald Crawford

The land of the Nama is the Creator’s playground, a land of mystery, magic and contrasts where the indescribable beauty has been molded by an unforgiving climate.

Namakwa is truly a land of contrasts. For the major part of each year this seemingly arid expanse of sunbaked, sandy plains and granite mountains hides a wondrous secret. With the first rains in early winter, these dry lands are transformed into a kaleidoscope of brilliant colour in spring. Daisies, perennial herbs, aloes, lilies and a host of other species create a tapestry of indigenous spring flowers which are unparalleled anywhere. Adapting to a climate defying all life, they survive and thrive in a beautiful land of blistering extremes.

After the wonderful rainfall this winter the veld has come alive, with some species making showings for the first time in many a season. The fields are looking the best they have for many, many years. Water is oozing out of the mountains with fountains flowing at full strength again and the whole countryside is lush and green. Many of the fields already have acres and of wild flowers especially in the Namaqua National Park and Goegap Nature Reserve.

Namaqualanders are confident that the flower season of 2006 will equal the very best they have ever had. It is anticipated that the best time of year will be towards the end of July and last until the end of August. Hopefully more rain will fall which will extend the wondrous carpet of colour until September 2006, but this cannot be guaranteed. Remember that no two visits to this magical land are ever the same (especially in springtime) and it becomes exciting to hunt for the ever-new flower spectacles in different places on each successive visit, even in the same season.

What to do for a when planning your Flower Escapade:

Flowers are best viewed from 11:00 to 15:00 on a sunny day.

It is no use whatsoever to set off early in the morning! Most flowers will only open at temperatures of 17 degrees or higher. If is a cold overcast of rainy day, they will not open at all.

Allow for extra traveling time.

Do not plan your trip according to the distance in kilometers. Always ask a local person how long it will take for you to reach a certain place then add a couple of hours viewing time.

Always stand with your back to the sun, or drive with the sun behind you – the flowers always face the sun.

Stop frequently.

Get out of the vehicle and take leisurely walks in the veldt – yes you can still do it safely in Namaqualand. Most of the flowers are so tiny that you won’t be able to see and appreciate them from a moving vehicle. Most of those “fields of daisies” only occur in soil distributed by man or animals and it is really quite ‘unnatural’.

Always have extra drinking water and refreshments in the vehicle.

If you are in a town, re-fuel. Also have a good map on hand and if possible ask for the best and most scenic route to your destination.

The towns in Namaqualand are few and far between with cell phone reception sometimes only nearby or in the towns.

It is always a good idea to pack an “on-the-go lunch”.

The Namaqualanders are friendly, helpful and always knowledgeable about the whereabouts of the best flowers. Please don’t be afraid to ask!

If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on gerald@12234455.co.za or call me on +27-0720390184.

About The Author

Gerald Crawford: born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa and the United Kingdom. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: gerald@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za