By Rebecca Jackman.
Pictures by Leon Lestrade
Cape Town - It may seem that winter’s hardly got started, but on the farm Matjiesfontein, near the village of Nieuwoudtville, the fields are alive with splashes of yellow, orange and white as the first blossoms appear, heralding an early start to Spring.
Nieuwoudtville is the home to the Hantam National Botanical Garden, where Capetonians and tourists from much further afield flock every spring to enjoy hiking trails, guided bus tours, cycling routes, bird watching and beautiful flowers in season.
Another option is the Nieuwoudtville Flower Reserve, east of the town, which promises the chance to “be at one” with the wide variety of flowers.
To take the 7km Matjiesfontein farm flower route, about 14km from Nieuwoudtville, buy tickets for the self-drive or tractor and wagon tour at the Matjiesfontein farm stall, with prices ranging from R10 to R35.
You can also find spring flowers along the Cape West Coast and in the Cederberg and Namaqualand.
Flower season usually starts in northern Namaqualand in late July or early August, then moves south through Nieuwoudtville and the Cederberg, and finally to the West Coast.
The flower season usually begins around mid-August further south, and the season peaks between now and late next month, depending on the winter rains.
To view the flowers in Namaqualand, start in Springbok. In the Cederberg visit Nieuwoudtville and Clanwilliam. Further south, head to Darling or Langebaan.
The flowers are typically at their best between 10.30am and 4pm. - Sunday Argus