It is that time of the year again when Namaqualand changes into a vibrant outfit, changing from an arid landscape to carpets of flowers across the landscape. Read this old post for more flower insights and tips on viewing this spectacle.
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Weekly flower updates from Namaqua National Park: 19 September 2023
There are still flowers to view at the Skilpad Section, regardless of the heavy winds and cold conditions that we had the previous week. The flowers are still in abundance and look good on the circular route and hiking trails. One can still view flowers like your daisies, sporries and vygies. The Groenrivier coastal section does not have many flowers left.
Expected weather conditions for the week. Note that the temperature should be at least 18 degrees for the flowers to open up fully.
| Date | Min | Max |
| 19 September 2023 | 7 | 19 |
| 20 Sepember 2023 | 10 | 21 |
| 21 September 2023 | 14 | 23 |
| 22 September 2023 | 10 | 24 |
| 23 Seprember 2023 | 13 | 21 |
| 24 September 2023 | 8 | 20 |
Weekly flower updates from Namaqua National Park: 11 September 2023
The flowers are still relatively abundant throughout certain places of the park, although it is noticeable that they are starting to go down. The Groenrivier Coastal Section does not have many flowers left. The Skilpad Section still has some flowers like daisies, sporries and vygies. It does seem that they will last a few days more due to the saturation of the ground. On the other hand, is it difficult to predict exactly how long they are going to last. The season is now in its 6th week starting from the beginning of August and this is the normal timeframe for the flowers to bloom before going down.
The cold conditions predicted for the coming week will also have a negative impact on the flowers. It will probably be the last week that visitors will be able to get a view of some of the flowers. Expected weather conditions for the week. Note that the temperature should be at least 18 degrees for the flowers to open up fully.
Min Max
Monday 11-09-2023 2 8
Tuesday 12-09-2023 10 15
Wednesday 13-09-2023 5 22
Thursday 14-09-2023 7 17
Friday 15-09-2023 8 16
Saturday 16-09-2023 11 23
Sunday 17-09-2023 7 18
Weekly flower updates from Namaqua National Park: 28 August 2023
Namaqua National Park received 12mm of rain last week, so we will experience a good flower display due to the good weather this week. Guests who visit the park to view beautiful flowers are encouraged to walk the two walking trails and 5km route to see most of the good flower sightings.
Flowers to view along both walking trails are, pink evening flower, drumsticks, cape dandelion, sambreeltjie, bobbejaantjie, bobbejaangesiggies, bokbaaivygies (purple and yellow), t’neitjie, ramhoringkie, reksening and different daisies. The area between Skilpad and Koeroebees is covered with a mix of flowers like blousporries, bokbaaivygies (purple and yellow), kappieblom, rasmusbas, witsporrie, meidestert, different Moraea spesies (tulp), skaapbos, dassiegousblom and hongerblom.
The caracal-eco route offers a display of dubbel gousblom, bittergousblom, wit-sôe and other daisies. Around the Wildeperdehoek as well as the coastal side carpets of a variety of vygies, daisies and other wildflowers can be expected.
We expect windy conditions from the east and southeast for the rest of the week with temperatures above 20.
Expected weather conditions for the week.
Weekly flower updates from Namaqua National Park: 21 August 2023
Namaqua National Park received showers of rain today. The flower display wasn’t good today due to the low temperature, we are expecting a good flower display on Thursday. We are predicting a long flower season this year due to the good rain that was received this year. The Namaqua landscape is still covered by beautiful flowers and scenic views. We are already experiencing carpets of flowers in both sections (Groenrivier and Skilpad). We have different variety of plant species in full bloom.
There are flowers to view on the 5km circular route and also the two hiking trails at Skilpad. The best flowers in the area are visible within the park and surroundings. Visitors will experience a scenic sighting with carpets of diverse flowers around Koeroebees, the Caracal Eco Route, Wildeperdehoek Pass, Soebatsfontein, and the coastal part of the park.
Flowers for viewing between Skilpad and Soebatsfontein: blou sporrie, wit sporrie, Drumstick, and different daisy species. Other flowers to see are: Ramhoringkies, Bobbejaan gesiggies , Rasmusbas, Namakwa knikker, Meidestert, Varkiesknol, Suring(wit & geel), Dubbele gousblom, Bitter gousblom, Wit-sὄe, Skaapbos, Viooltjies, and Katstert.
Along the Coastal Section of the park, visitors will see mostly vygies and daisies.
We expect light rain showers this week and that will definitely extend our flower season.
Weather forecast for the next 7 days:
| Date | Temperature (degrees) | Rain |
| 21/08/2023 | 10 | 5.4mm |
| 22/08/2023 | 13 | 0 |
| 23/08/2023 | 13 | 4.4mm |
| 24/08/2023 | 22 | 0 |
| 25/08/2023 | 11 | 3 mm |
| 26/08/2023 | 16 | 0.1mm |
| 27/08/2023 | 23 | 0 |
Please note that the minimum temperature should be at least 18 degrees for the flower crowns to open up fully
Weekly flower updates from Namaqua National Park: 14 August 2023
Namaqua National Park (both the terrestrial and Coastal sections) is experiencing a good flower season this year with warm to windy weather the past week. We have received light rain showers on Saturday. The Namaqua National Park landscape has transformed compared to the previous week. The area is now covered by carpets of flowers. We already have a variety of plant species in full bloom.
There are flowers to view on the 5km circular route and the two hiking trails at Skilpad. The best flowers in the area are visible within the park and surroundings. Visitors will experience a scenic sighting with carpets of diverse flowers around Koeroebees, the Caracal Eco Route, Wildeperdehoek Pass and Soebatsfontein.
Flowers for viewing between Skilpad and Soebatsfontein: Blou sporrie, Wit sporrie, Drumstick, and different daisy species. Other flowers to see are: Ramhoringkies, Bobbejaan gesiggies , Rasmusbas, Namakwa knikker, Meidestert, Varkiesknol, Suring(wit & geel), Dubbele gousblom, Bitter gousblom, Wit-sὄe, Skaapbos, Viooltjies, and Katstert.
The flowers mostly vygies and daisies are in bloom along the Coastal Section of the Park. The Groenrivier flower display looks way better than the attached pictures, there’s a variety of flowers with beautiful attractive colours that one can think of. It is so amazing!!
Weather forecast for the next seven days:
| Date | Temperature (degrees) | Rain |
| 14/08/2023 | 15 | 0 |
| 15/08/2023 | 21 | 0 |
| 16/08/2023 | 15 | 0 |
| 17/08/2023 | 14 | 0 |
| 18/08/2023 | 17 | 0 |
| 19/08/2023 | 15 | 0.6mm |
| 20/08/2023 | 16 | 0 |
Please note that the minimum temperature should be at least 18 degrees for the flower crowns to open up fully.
Weekly flower updates from Namaqua National Park: 7 August 2023
The flowers at Skilpad are starting to bloom but it’s still very patchy. We predict to have carpets of flowers in the coming weeks all depending on the weather. We expect beautiful sunny conditions for the rest of the week. We already have a variety of different plant species in bloom. The 5km circle routes are patchy, but the flowers started to bloom with a beautiful flower display around Skilpad. Visitors will experience a scenic sighting with carpets of diverse flowers around Koeroebees, the Caracal Eco Route and around Soebatsfontein. Dominating daisy species: Glansooggousblom followed by Namaqualand daisy. Other flowers to see are: Ramhoringkies, Bobbejaan gesiggies , Rasmusbas, Namakwa knikker, Meidestert, Varkiesknol, Suring (wit & geel), Dubbele gousblom, Bitter gousblom, Wit-sὄe, Skaapbos, Blousporrie, Viooltjies, and Katstert.
The flowers mostly vygies and daisies are in bloom along the Coastal Section of the Park.
Weather forecast for the next 6 days:
| Date | Temperature (degrees) | Rain |
| 07/08/2023 | 28 | 0 |
| 08/08/2023 | 26 | 0 |
| 09/08/2023 | 28 | 0 |
| 10/08/2023 | 25 | 0 |
| 11/08/2023 | 27 | 0 |
| 12/08/2023 | 25 | 0 |
| 13/08/2023 | 30 | 0 |
Weekly flower updates from Namaqua National Park: 3 August 2023
Namaqua National Park received good rainfall this year, exceeding the annual rainfall from January to date compared to the past three years. We will experience a good flower season this year. Namaqua National Park flowers started to bloom in both sections (Groenrivier and Skilpad). The landscape is not entirely covered with flowers. The coastal section flower display looks better than the terrestrial section for now. We were unable to take good pictures of flowers due to the cold weather last week and moderate wind from Monday till yesterday. Today’s temperature was perfect compared to the past days, and the flower display was looking good.
The flowers at Skilpad are starting to bloom but are still very patchy. We expect to have carpets of flowers in the coming weeks, depending on weather conditions. We already have a variety of different plant species in bloom. The 5km circle routes are patchy, but the flowers are starting to bloom accompanied by good flower display. Daisy species, Glansooggousblom, and Namaqualand daisies are the most dominating species. Other flowers to see are: Ramhoringkies, Bobbejaan gesiggies, Rasmusbas, Namakwa knikker, Meidestert, Varkiesknol, Suring and Dubbele gousblom.
The flowers primarily vygies and daisies are in bloom along the Coastal Section of the Park.
Weather forecast for the next 4 days:
| Date | Temperature (degrees) | Rain |
| 03/08/2023 | 26 | 0 |
| 04/08/2023 | 21 | 0 |
| 05/08/2023 | 24 | 0 |
| 06/08/2023 | 22 | 0 |
| 07/08/2023 | 24 | 0 |
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My first visit was in 1981 which was a great year – since then I have been there on numerous occasions and was never disappointed – in fact all these pictures are in my album !!! – this year I regret not being able to get there (but then I regret every year I could not)- it seems to be as good if not better than all the years I had the privilege to live this unbelievable experience – surely heaven can never be as beautiful