Namaqualand: Flowers, Rock Art and the Kalahari

South Africa: Namaqualand - Flowers, Rock Art

and the Kalahari

Each southern spring the rugged mountainous plateau of Namaqualand explodes into colour as over 4,000 different floral species come into bloom, the majority found nowhere else in the world. We walk in spectacular scenery in the Cedarberg mountains, the West coast ‘sandveld’ and along the Orange River which forms the southern boundary of the Kalahari desert. The opportunity to visit the ancient rock art sites of the San people lends a special dimension to this unusual African journey.

TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1

L, D included

After meeting at Cape Town airport by 10 am, we head straight to the world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, for a guided tour of this perfect showcase for the Cape's unique flora, with its extensive grounds and fascinating arid species glasshouse collections. An hour's drive north of Cape Town takes us to our 4 star country house hotel overlooking Langebaan Lagoon.

DAY 2

B, L, D included

A full day exploring the West Coast National Park, where a diversity of habitat and soil types results in a wealth of species, especially the wildflowers of the Postberg Reserve. African mammals here include zebra, springbok, eland and bontebok, and a lagoon boardwalk gives access to a bird hide for viewing colonies of swift terns, Cape gannets, flamingos and the now rare African black oystercatcher. We return to our hotel for a memorable dinner of fresh fish, accompanied by excellent South African white wine.

DAY 3

B, L, D included

We follow the coastal road north, pausing to investigate spontaneous carpets of wildflowers as we chance upon them. At Elands Bay we whale watch from the shore - this is a good location for seeing southern right and humpback whales during their annual migrations. The area is also of historical interest as both Vasco da Gama and Bartholomeu Dias made landings here in the course of their epic voyages around the Cape. Tonight we stay on a private farm with traditional, tasty home cooking near Vredendal.

DAY 4

B, L, D included

Moving into the heart of Namaqualand, we walk in the wonderfully scenic Skilpad Wildflower Reserve, located on the first range of hills inland and the first place to catch any rain blowing in from the South Atlantic - thus ensuring extraordinary displays of orange and yellow Namaqua daisies and intensely blue heliophilas. A very comfortable guesthouse (4 star) in Springbok is our home for two nights.

DAY 5

B, L, D included

Remaining in the Springbok area, we spend the day exploring the Goegap (Hester Malan) Reserve, famous not just for its spring wildflowers, but also for its nursery of Karoo and Namaqualand succulents. We should also see ostriches, springbok and zebra during the course of our circular morning walk. After a picnic we visit a more remote part of the reserve for exceptional flower photography opportunities.

DAY 6

B, L, D included

After a morning searching for flowers around Springbok, we head northeast towards the Kalahari, picnicking in the vast spaces of the increasingly arid landscape. We break our journey to investigate the atmospheric mission station at Pella where the cathedral was built by French monks using wood retrieved from the river and handmade mud bricks, guided by an encyclopaedia! Our destination is Kakamas, a farming and wine-growing centre on the Orange River, where our family-run hotel (3 star) has a swimming pool set in a charming garden and an excellent restaurant.

DAY 7

B, L, D included

This morning we walk in a spectacular and remote mountain habitat, with a Nama guide explaining the traditional uses of indigenous plants and the myths about the ‘Halfmens’ trees. Verreaux’s eagle nest here and klipspringer can be seen bounding across the cliff faces. We picnic at the bottom of the canyon, with the chance to wallow in the natural hot springs, before returning to our hotel in Kakamas.

DAY 8

B, L, D included

We spend a full day in the Augrabies Falls National Park; visiting the Falls themselves where the river plunges spectacularly into a huge granite gorge (the sixth-largest waterfall in the world by volume and said to be guardian of a fortune in diamonds in its depths); watching dassies (rock hyraxes) and African fish eagles; and walking trails through a harsh landscape dominated by highly adapted plants such as the Quiver tree, camel thorn, the Shepherd's tree and euphorbia species.

DAY 9

B, L, D included

Heading east, then south, we follow quiet roads through countryside where brilliant displays of annuals (daisies, oxalis, gazanias) start to appear as soon as the land is better watered. In Calvinia, set in the foothills of the Hantamberg range, we visit the excellent local museum and follow the day's local advice, taking gravel country roads to the areas with the best displays of flowers - the transitional zone flora is of great interest, containing elements from Namaqualand, the Karoo and the Cape.

DAY 10

B, L, D included

We take a short flower walk in the Nieuwoudtville area (noted for its bulb species), then cross several magnificent passes as we drive to Bushmans Kloof, a South African Natural Heritage site spectacularly located in a remote area of the Cedarberg mountains. Once settled into our 5 star lodge (Relais & Chateaux) we go on a game drive by open Landrover and enjoy sundowners in an incomparable wilderness setting.

DAY 11

B, L, D included

On an early morning walk guided by a rock art specialist we view an extraordinary gallery of rock art (dating back 10,000 years) and gain some understanding of the sophisticated detail and depth of meaning of rock paintings and engravings produced by Late Stone Age people, ancestors of the San. In the afternoon there is time for a botanical walk or a swim in the natural rock pools of the Boontjies River. A second game drive precedes dinner and stargazing in the incredibly clear night skies.

DAY 12

B, L, D included

We are again privileged to be guided on foot to further examples of ancient rock art - the impact of the vivid figures enhanced by the beauty and wildness of their settings. Following a substantial brunch, we depart for Cape Town where we visit a private garden before settling into our home for the next two nights - a 4 star heritage hotel in a beautifully restored building dating from 1771, within walking distance of the city's museums, parks and restaurants. Dinner is in a restaurant noted for its ethnic flavours - African décor, dishes and music.

DAY 13

B, L, D included

A cable car whisks us to the top of Table Mountain to spend some time investigating the botanical riches of this National Nature Reserve (there are more species on this mountain than in the whole of the British Isles!). The geology is also fascinating, there are numerous dassies (rock hyraxes) and superb views stretch across Table Bay to the Hottentot Hollands Mountains. By special arrangement, we visit Cecil Rhodes’ former house and garden at Groote Schur, and this evening we dine in one of South Africa's most acclaimed restaurants.

DAY 14

B included

Our final day is free for handicraft shopping, exploring the Waterfront of the Cape Malay Quarter, sailing to Robben Island, or visiting some of Cape Town’s many museums and galleries. Our journey ends with a late afternoon transfer to the airport for flights home.

Price includes:

All accommodation for Days 1 through 14, on a double shared basis

All meals (with wine and beer at lunches and dinners) as listed in the daily notation

All land transportation in a private airconditioned minibus as described

All entrance and sightseeing fees except during free periods

All reserve and National Park entrance fees as described

Cable car trip up Table Mountain

Gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff

Visa and Health Requirements

Visitors from the EU, US, Australia and New Zealand currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to South Africa. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of South Africa.

At present there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to South Africa if you are arriving from Europe of North America. The Cape is malaria-free, so prophylaxis is not currently required. You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and the FCO.

Insurance

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If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.