FLOra and FAUNA ROUTE

For many years the spring flower route of the West Coast has had an international acclaim. The area receives little rain throughout the year but after winter rains, the entire landscape becomes a carpet of drifts of wild flowers with vibrant swathes of gousblomme and vygies.

The South African west coast area boasts an exceptional diversity of wild flower species due to the differences in topography, from the dry Karoo through to the wetter vlei areas of the Oliphants River and the Sandveld coast. The flower season peaks between early August and late September and its delights depend on the amount of winter rains.

There are a number of species are found nowhere else in the world such as the yellow Leucospermum reflexum, the Snow Protea (protea cryophylla), blue Lachanaea filamentosa, yellow sparaxis, pink Cyanella alba and the Clanwilliam Cedar (widdringtonia cedarbergensis). Every year about 350 species from 32 families are exhibited in their typical setting, at the fascinating Clanwilliam Wild Flower show where their botanical, as well as their very descriptive tongue-twisting local names are given.

Delicious, healthy Rooibos tea grown in the area is distributed all over the world. The growing and processing of this tea is fascinating. Indigenous wildlife including klipspringers, grey rhebok, steenbok, rock hyrax and the elusive Cape Mountain leopard are to be widely seen, while . Birdwatchers will be in their element at the profusion of birdlife, with the most popular birdwatching spots being the Cederberg Wilderness Reserve, Lamberts Bay, Verlorenvlei and Kranskloof.

Below are listed some particularly good flower routes though these vary from year to year depending on rains received, so we recommend a visit to the Tourism Bureaus for the best flower routes during your stay. Flowers are at their best on a sunny day from 11am until 4pm. Flowers turn towards the sun, therefore they should be viewed ideally while driving or walking with the sun behind you.

• Clanwilliam Wild Flower Show (last weekend in August to first weekend in September) is a unique chance to experience the Cederberg and Namaqualand floral display under one roof with a representative display of all the flowers growing in our area. About 350 species from 32 families are exhibited. (027 482 2024)
• Ramskop Wild Flower reserve, Clanwilliam (027 482 8000)
• Rooibos and Fynbos Tours at Elandsberg Eco-Tourism (027 482 2022)
• Lamberts Bay Boat Charters for whale & dolphin watching (082 922 4334)
• Dassiepoort Reserve at Lamberts Bay (027 432 1017)
• Cederberg Wilderness Area for fynbos species at their best from July to October (022 931 2900/7 or 027 482 2403). Good fynbos routes are marked in ORANGE.
• Game drives to see indigenous plains species are available at Bushmanskloof Wilderness Reserve (021 797 0990, residents only), Panorama Park (027 432 1722) and Elandsberg Eco-Tourism (027 482 2022).
• Bird Island at Lamberts Bay B2 is one of only six sites worldwide, where Cape Gannets breed, and the only breeding site easily accessible to the public. Various bird species are also on view in their natural habitat eg. African Penguin, Cormorants, Terns, Gulls, Cape Fur Seals. (082 455 5992)
• Birdwatching at 'Jakkalsriviermond' to view Flamingos and local birds.
• Verlorenvlei close to Elands Bay is a beautiful wetland with numerous good birding spots. The wetland has been identified as one of the Important Bird Areas in the Ramsar listed site.
• Whale watching - the Southern Right Whale visits during August to November. Easily spotted from the beach. Heaviside's Dolphins appear only off the West Coast in Southern Africa and are frequently spotted from the beach.
• Escorted flower tours with Cedarberg African Travel (027 482 2444)