Where to see The Wildflowers in Cape Town

In Cape Town, spring season is flower season! Every spring, from mid-August till end-September, the Western Cape comes to life as it transforms into a wildflower wonderland. The Cape Town landscapes is scattered with beautifully coloured blooms that stretch as far as the eye can see. The glorious and vivid colours of the Cape Wildflowers last until the deadly summer heat descends and turn the hills into plain brown fields.

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The wild unapologetic natural beauty of the Mother City’s flower season has people travelling from all around the world to witness Cape Town in full bloom. On a clear, sunny day, you can drive a short distance out of Cape Town city center and be mesmerized by nature’s own art gallery.

The following are a few of the best spots around the city to go hunt for the very best views of the Cape wildflowers in full bloom. On an overcast day, the flowers will hide their pretty faces, so best to travel when the sun is out.

We know you’re eager to see the Western Cape’s wildflowers in all their glory – We’re right there with you, trust us – So, to ensure you get the most out of the Cape’s magical flower season, here are the best places to see the wildflowers in Cape Town and surrounds. 

*Disclosure: This article was last updated 16/08/2022 and is subject to change.

**Make sure you check out our ‘Flower Season in Cape Town: The Official Guide’  blog & our ‘Everything You Need To Know About Flower Season in Cape Town’ blog to find out all there is to know about the array of Cape wildflower hotspots and floral gems you ABSOLUTELY have to add to your Mother City flower season bucket-list!**

Are you ready to go on the ultimate Western Cape wildflower adventure? Let’s do it!

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#1 Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

• Distance from Cape Town City Centre: +/- 20 minutes

This is the easiest option to see the flowers. Nestled against the Eastern slopes of Table Mountain, this amazing botanical garden will take your breath away. The 36-hectare garden is the first in the world that is specifically dedicated to indigenous flora.

It is also ranked no. 6 on National Geographic’s list of Top 10 Picnic Spots in the world. Take in the splendour of pincushion proteas, Daisies, and of course the famous fynbos. Hike up to the Boomslang to view the spring display from a higher vantage point.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Entry Fees: Valid from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

**Entrance tickets can be purchased online at Webtickets.

• Standard Adult: R220
• Discounted fee for South African Residents & SADC Nationals South African Residents & SADC residents 18 years and older (with ID/proof of residency)*: R100
• Discounted fee for African residents outside SADC 18 years and older (with ID/proof of residency): R140
• Students/learners of 18 years and older from a South African institute (with student card): R60
• All children from 6 to 17 years: R40
• All children under 6 years: Free
• BotSoc members (with membership card): Free if membership renewal was done by 31 March 2023 (only until 31 March 2024) or less 10%
• South African residents over the age of 60 (with ID): Free on Tuesdays except on public holidays

**Important Note: To claim the discounted entry fee, South African residents can show their ID, a certified paper copy of their ID, an electronic copy of their ID or their driver’s license.

Garden opening times:

• The garden is open every day from 8am to 7pm during summer (September – March) | 8am to 6pm during winter (April – August).
• The Conservatory is open every day from 9am to 5pm.
• The Curator’s Office is open Monday to Friday only, from 7:30am – 4:20pm, except on public holidays.

Contact Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens:

• Ticket Office: 021 799 8782 / 021 799 8602
• Information Office: 021 799 8783 / 021 799 8773
• Concert Information: 021 799 8620
• Curator’s Office (weekdays, 07h30 – 16h20): 021 799 8800 / 021 799 8752 / 021 799 8757
• After Hours and Emergencies: 021 799 8618 / 072 945 7804
• Email: [email protected]
• Postal: Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735, Cape Town, South Africa

#2 West Coast National Park & Postberg

• Distance from Cape Town City Center: +/- 1 hour and 50 minutes

The West Coast National Park is a popular destination every year for flower hunters. During the peak flower months of August and September, the Postberg area is open for the most amazing undisturbed floral display. You will be greeted by magriets, sporries, and Daisies.

While driving through the park, look out for tortoises and snakes crossing the road, plus zebra and buck lazily grazing. You can explore the area by car, on foot, or with a mountain bike.

• Fun fact: walk in the footsteps of Eve, a young woman reported to have lived in the area 117 000 years ago. The Eve’s Trail is a special two-and-a-half-day hike meandering through the park.

Daily Conservation Fees from 1 November 2022 – 31 October 2023:

Daily Conservation Fees for 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023
Outside Flower Season
South African Citizens and Residents (with ID)	R70 per adult, per day R35 per child, per day
SADC Nationals (with passport)	R110 per adult, per day R55 per child, per day
Standard Conservation Fee (International Visitors)	R110 per adult, per day R55 per child, per day

In Flower Season (August & September)
South African Citizens and Residents (with ID)	R104 per adult, per day R52 per child, per day
SADC Nationals (with passport)	R160 per adult, per day R80 per child, per day
Standard Conservation Fee	R234 per adult, per d R117 per child, per day

#3 The Renosterveld Reserve

• Distance from Cape Town City Centre: +/- 1 hour

This area you can explore for free. It is located above the Darling Primary School. The 20-hectare flower reserve offers you endless fields of spring flowers including vygies, kapokbos, bellendini, and renosterbos. Keep an eye out for the cute little red-bellied tortoises. It’s also a great spot for bird-watching.

There is a circular hiking route that you can follow around the reserve.

• Fun fact: The Versveld family donated the land to the community in 1958.
• Entry fee: Free.

#4 Tienie Versfeld Wildflower Reserve

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnzXP_iBoa7/?tagged=tienieversfeldwildflowerreserve

• Distance from Cape Town City Centre: +/- 1 hour and 10 minutes

You can also stop at this reserve for free. It’s located on the R315 on the way to Darling. The varying topography makes it perfect for a wide range of flowers. You can see about 10% of the Cape Floral Kingdom in one go here. Enjoy the beautiful chincherinchee, lachenalia, and Butterfly lilies.

The area is also great for game-spotting, bird-watching, hiking, and picnics.

• Fun fact: the reserve was named after Oom Tienie or Marthinus Versveld who donated a part of his farm to create the reserve.
• Entry fee: Free.

#5 Harold Porter Botanical Garden

• Distance from Cape Town City Center: +/- 1 hour and 30 minutes

This one is located on the side of the Cape Town coastline, towards Hermanus. Travel on the N2 and take the R44 to find this mesmerizing garden. Tucked away between mountains and the beach, it has stunning little waterfalls and pools to explore. Perfect for a leisurely Saturday or Sunday outing!

Fun zigzag paths were created by the garden’s namesake, Harold Porter. The expansive garden has all things indigenous to marvel at including orchids, daisies, and stunning proteas. While you’re in the area, stop at the penguin colony close by. If you’re lucky you might also spot a whale.

Harold Porter National Botanical Garden Tariffs / Entry Fee:

• Adults (18 – 59 years): R50
• Seniors / Pensioners (60 years plus): R40 (Only Free entry on the 1st Tuesday of the month)
• Students (with valid student cards): R30
• Learner (Gr1 – Gr12): R20
• Child (under 6 years): Free
• SA Botanical Society members: R45
• Wild Card Members do not qualify for free entry to SANBI gardens
• Key Deposit for Leopard’s Kloof Trail: R50 (refunded on the timeous return of the key)

#6 Namaqualand National Park

• Distance from Cape Town: +/ – 530 km | approximately 6 hours 45 minutes

If you’re looking to go on an adventure-filled Cape wildflower roadtrip, you could drive as far north as Namaqualand National Park to see the famed Namaqualand daisies. Every spring the landscapes of the Namaqualand National Park undergoes a stunning transformation from semi-arid scrubland to colourful, vibrant carpets of wildflowers.

Visitors to the Namaqualand National Park can look forward to a glorious diversity of fauna and flora as this natural gem boasts more than 3,000 different species of plants, a third of which are totally endemic to the region.

• Other activities: Besides witnessing the beautiful Cape wildflowers in full bloom, the Namaqualand National Park is known for its incredible range of hiking, walking and mountain biking trails. It is also an amazing bird watching destination and is home to a variety of Cape wildlife. Make sure you keep a look-out for the Namaqualand speckled “padloper”, the world’s smallest species of tortoise!
• More information: Phone 027 672 1948 or visit the Namaqua National Park website

Daily Conservation fees from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023:

Daily Conservation fees for 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023
South African Citizens and Residents (with ID)	R52 per adult, per day R26 per child, per day
SADC Nationals (with passport)	R104 per adult, per day R52 per child, per day
Standard Conservation Fee (International Visitors)	R104 per adult, per day R52 per child, per day

#7 Citrusdal

• Distance from Cape Town: +/-180 km | approximately 2 hours

Located along the famed Cape Flower Route, Citrusdal is widely known as the centre for South Africa’s fruit farming industry. However, during Cape Town’s spring season, the landscapes are covered in a glorious display of Cape wildflowers, including fields of maartblom, bloedblom, daises and endemic Cape fynbos.

• Other activities: Thanks to its hot water springs, rock art, zip-lining activities, and location on the Cape Flower Route, Citrusdal is one of the Western Cape’s most popular family holiday destinations. Visitors to Citrusdal can also look forward to hiking, fishing, bird-watching, camping, and various culture and historical attractions.
• Entry fee: Free
• More information: 022 921 3210

#8 Karoo Desert National Botanical Gardens

• Distance from Cape Town: ± 120 km | approximately 1 hour 30 minutes

The Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden is a 154-hectare reserve that sprawls across the foothills of Worcester’s rocky and majestic Hex River Mountain range. As the Karoo Desert National Botanical Gardens is dedicated entirely to indigenous vegetation such as succulents, annuals, and vygies, nature lovers are in for quite a treat. Seeing the desert landscapes of the magnificent Karoo covered in a vibrant carpet of spring wildflowers should definitely be on everyone’s Cape Town spring season bucket-list.

• Other activities: Besides its beautiful display of indigenous flora and fauna, visitors to the Karoo Desert National Botanical Gardens can also enjoy a variety of thrilling hiking trails, tours around the garden, bird-watching and picnicking.
• More Information: Phone 023 342 1298 | Email: [email protected] or visit the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden website

Entrance Fees:

• Adults: R50
• Students: R20
• Pensioners: R40 (No free Tuesdays for pensioners)
• Children / Scholars: R15
• Botanical Society members: R45

#9 Ramskop Nature Reserve

• Distance from Cape Town: +/- 230 km | approximately 2 hours 40 minutes

Besides being one of the best places to see the Cape wildflowers in the Western Cape, Ramskop Nature Reserve boasts a spectacular backdrop of the dramatic Cederberg Mountains, fields of rooibos tea, and orange groves. The 66-hectare reserve has established itself as a top destination to visit for nature lovers. It is home to over 350 species of wildflowers, including daisies, sporries, sugarbos, and proteas, all of which come to life as soon as the Cape Town spring season arrives. Although the Ramskop reserve is only 66 hectares, more than a tenth of this is planted with wildflowers from the entire Namaqualand. As a result, you’ll be able to view flowers here that represent the Knersvlakte, Richtersveld and Boesmanland.

The Ramskop Nature Reserve has a variety of pathways criss-crossing the reserve, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy all its magnificent views over the surrounding landscapes, Cape wildflowers, Clanwilliam’s dam, and the majestic mountain ranges.

• Other activities: Ramskop Nature Reserve is widely known as a top destination for bird-watching, hiking, walking, wildlife viewing and picnicking.
• More Information: 027 482 2024 | [email protected] | [email protected] | or visit the Ramskop Nature Reserve website.

#10 Cape Columbine Nature Reserve

• Distance from Cape Town: +/- 155 km | approximately 2 hours

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in a glorious display of Cape wildflowers along the Cape west coast, a visit to the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve should definitely be on your Cape Town spring bucket-list. Covering 263 hectares of wild, rocky coastline and peninsula near Paternoster, the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve is a beautiful coastal habitat that’s home to an abundance of Cape wildflowers, including a variety of Karoo succulents and fynbos.

• Other activities: There is no shortage of things to do, see and experience at the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve. From hiking, kayaking, beach camping, nature walks, diving and cycling to wildlife viewing, bird watching, whale and marine life spotting, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Cape Columbine Nature Reserve is also home to the country’s very last manned lighthouse (built in 1936).
• More Information: 022 752 2323 | 022 7522 718

#11 Agulhas National Park

• Distance from Cape Town: +/- 224 km | approximately 2 hours 40 minutes

Lying in what is known as the Agulhas Plain at the southernmost tip of Africa, the Agulhas National Park is a sought-after national park located in the southern Overberg region of the Western Cape. While it is renowned for being the meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the Agulhas National Park is home to some of the most splendid examples of lowland fynbos and lowland fynbos on limestone soils – considered endangered and restricted largely to the southern Overberg.

The Agulhas National park truly is a nature lover’s paradise, boasting over 2000 species of indigenous flora and fauna, including 100 that are endemic to the area. This makes it a must-visit destination during Cape Town’s spring season as all the Cape wildflowers come to life in a glorious celebration of colour.

• Other activities: Other highlights of a visit to the Agulhas National Park include the cairn that marks the southern-most tip of Africa, the lighthouse at Cape Agulhas, and the graveyard of ships that lie just off the coast once known as ‘the Cape of Storms’, where some 250 ships have been wrecked over time. It is also known as one of the best places in the Western Cape for whale and marine life sightings.
• More information: Visit the SANPark’s website for more information.

Daily Conservation fees from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023:

Daily Conservation fees for 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023
South African Citizens and Residents (with ID)	R52 per adult, per day R26 per child, per day
SADC Nationals (with passport)	R104 per adult, per day R52 per child, per day
Standard Conservation Fee (International visitors)	R208 per adult, per day R104 per child, per day

#12 Bontebok National Park

• Distance from Cape Town: ± 224 km | approximately 3 hours

Bontebok National Park is one Western Cape Nature Reserve that should be on every nature and wildlife lover’s bucket-list. The Bontebok National Park boasts the highest density of rare and endangered bird life, fynbos species and animal life in South Africa. It also contains indigenous plant life found nowhere else in the world. The Bontebok National Park is undoubtedly one of the best places to see the Cape wildflowers in full bloom during Cape Town’s vibrant flower season.

• Other activities: Visitors to the Bontebok National Park have access to the lovely Breede River, for angling, canoeing and refreshing swims. Visitors will also be able to enjoy incredible game viewing, birdlife sightings, fishing, and hiking.
• More information: Visit the SANPark’s website for more information.

Daily Conservation fees from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023:

Daily Conservation fees for 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023
South African Citizens and Residents (with ID)	R52 per adult, per day R26 per child, per day
SADC Nationals (with passport)	R80 per adult, per day R40 per child, per day
Standard Conservation Fee (International Visitors)	R160 per adult, per day R80 per child, per day

Check out our ‘Everything You Need To Know About Flower Season in Cape Town’ blog & our ‘Flower Season in Cape Town: The Official Guide’ blog to find out everything you need to know about the array of Cape wildflower hotspots and floral gems you ABSOLUTELY have to add to your flower season in Cape Town bucket-list!

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