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Spring Wild Flower Tour | South Africa | Cedarberg |
| The spring flowers of the West Coast, Cedarberg and north to Namaqualand have a worldwide reputation. The area receives little rain throughout the year but after winter rains, the landscape is swathed with vibrant bands of flowers. Our tour includes the Ramskop Nature Reserve in Clanwilliam, Skilpad Nature Reserve, Goegap Nature Reserve in Springbok and the Nieuwoudtville Nature Reserve. |
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| Meals |
Full Board |
| Accommodation |
Premier - Country guest lodges and wilderness lodges |
| Departure Dates |
18 Aug 08, 25 Aug 08, 1 Sept 08 |
| Transport |
Luxury VW microbus with Air-conditioning |
| Price Includes |
Meals and accommodation as shown in text, transport, services of a guide, all entrance fees |
| Price Excludes |
International flights, visas, items of a personal nature, meals not specified |
| Minimum Number |
2 |
| Climate |
Mediterranean (hot dry summers, cooler wetter winters but with many warm dry days) |
| Best time to go |
Mid August to early September |
| Health Requirements |
None |
| Combines well with |
Cape Town, Magic of the Cape |
| Other Ideas |
The spring flower period happily coincides with the time that the Southern Right whales are calving off the South Coast so many of our clients add on a two night extension to Hermanus, Cape Town or the Winelands. |
| Notes |
Daily flights London to Cape Town with SAA or BA from £560 including taxes |
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 Day 1 : Depart Cape Town for overnight Karukareb Wilderness Reserve, Clanwilliam
We leave Cape Town at 8.30am and head through the wheatfields of the Swartland and over the Pikienerskloof Pass. We descend into a different world. You are only two hours drive from Cape Town and yet the country has changed; wilder, warmer with a raw, dramatic beauty. Hopefully we will start seeing the wild flowers alongside the road as we continue to Clanwilliam where we visit the Ramskop Wild Flower Garden, which probably has one of the best displays of wild flowers in the country and looks especially fine during the flower season and beyond.
During some of our tours, we visit the Clanwilliam Flower Show, held at the end of August.
In the mid to late afternoon you head to Karukareb Wilderness Reserve to stay overnight. Karukareb is located in a secluded kloof (narrow valley), surrounded by the Krakadouw mountains at the foot of the Cedarberg Mountains. This is a very beautiful spot surrounded by the untouched beauty of the Cedarberg, with its dramatically rock formations and fascinating Bushmen (San) history. Elegantly decorated in an African-Colonial style, Karukareb Lodge exudes a tranquil charm. The comfortable living areas include a large open plan air-conditioned lounge and dining room with an indoor fireplace to takes the edge off those chilly winter evenings. The thatch-roofed restaurant and bar next to the sparkling salt water swimming pool is a favourite place to relax and enjoy delicious meals prepared with fresh organic ingredients. Four twin-bedded rooms and one single room all have en-suite bathrooms and either fans or air-conditioning.
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Day 2 : Overnight Naries Guest Lodge, Springbok
This morning we head off early to Springbok through the wide swaths of wild flowers in the semi-desert area of Namaqualand, which comes alive each Spring. Namaqualand, the coastal strip between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Karoo to the east, is a sun-scorched semi-desert for most of the year. But following the winter rains, the vast Sandveld plains are cloaked in the brilliant oranges, purples and yellows of spring flowers such as daisies, mesembryanthemums, lilies and many others.
En route we visit the Skilpad Nature Reserve near Kamieskroon. Our exact route will depend on where the flowers are particularly fine. We will also visit the Goegap Nature Reserve in the late afternoon. The Goegap is a wild flower paradise and is particularly known for its succulents in the Hester Malan Wildflower Garden.
We stay overnight at Naries Guest Farm just outside Springbok. Naries is known for its hospitality, personal attention, excellent food and breathtaking sundowners from their viewpoint. The historic Cape Dutch Manor House has six en suite bedrooms and is filled with character and history from the old glory days.
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Day 3 : Overnight Papkuilsfontein, Nieuwoudtville
After breakfast we head south so that we can stop and enjoy the flowers on the way . The flowers always face the sun and so are more spectacular when you are driving south than when you are driving north. The flowers are also generally open between 10-11am and 4pm and so we drive to cover the kilometres early and late in the day so that we have time to enjoy the flowers during the peak flower-viewing time.
We travel onto Nieuwoudtville on the Bokkeveld Escarpment, which looks west over Namaqualand?s arid Knersvlakte. The spring flowers here are particularly colourful with a varied range of species. We visit the Nieuwoudtville Wild Flower Reserve with its bulbs and orchid species not found anywhere else in South Africa. Time permitting we may also visit the Nieuwoudtville waterfall if the river is in flood. Your overnight stay is at Papkuilsfontein Guest Farm.
Papkuilsfontein Guest Farm is a little Northern Cape gem. The plant life is divided between the Cape Fynbos and the Karoo succulent?s species and so is particularly varied and you may also be lucky to see steenbok, klipspringer even porcupine on the farm.
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Day 4 : Overnight Oudrif Farm, Cedarberg Mountains
This morning we continue down the dramatic Botterkloof Pass to visit the Biedouw valley with its splendid flower displays with a picnic lunch in the valley. We leave the valley in the early afternoon to head to Oudrif by the Doring River with its spring flowers, rock art and beautiful river views.
The greatest attraction of Oudrif has to be its complete isolation ? it is literally located in the middle of nowhere. Oudrif has much to offer guests: 300 million year old fossils and rock art sites amongst wild flowers and fynbos and abundant birdlife.
The chalets at Oudrif are absolutely delightful, stylish and spacious with a clean-cut look, which is very refreshing. In keeping with the conservation philosophy of Oudrif, straw bale building blocks were used for all construction. This 200-year-old building method, is not only environmentally friendly, but also provides great comfort and shelter. Power for lights is gathered from the abundant sunshine that is collected by way of solar panels and constant hot water is provided by gas.
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 Day 5 : Return to Cape Town
This morning Bill will take you on a short flower drive to visit some of the flowers on the farm. Afterwards you may also like to hike to some of their particularly fine rock art sights.
In the mid morning we leave Oudrif and then head west to view the Sandveld flowers. We stop briefly at Lamberts Bay to visit Bird Island
We return to Cape Town where your guide will drop you at your Guesthouse or Hotel in the late afternoon/early evening (approx 6pm).
Our exact route will depend on which flower tour. Earlier flower tours will take a direct route to Cape Town after visiting the Sandveld areas whereas later tours may leave Oudrif earlier and take the coastal route via Langebaan, the West Coast National Park and end with the picture postcard view of Table Mountain from Bloubergstrand. Sometimes the foreground to this spectacular view is a mass of yellow daisy-like 'perdeblom' and 'vygies'
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1 Aug 2008
to
30 Sep 2008
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| Per person sharing |
ZAR R 8,130 |
| Single price |
ZAR R 8,875 |
| Prices may be based
on current exchange rates and are subject to change prior to booking. |
| Date |
Minimum Booked |
Single |
Double |
Twin |
| 18 Aug 2008 |
No |
Available |
Available |
Available |
| 25 Aug 2008 |
Yes |
Available |
Available |
Available |
| 1 Sep 2008 |
Yes |
Available |
Available |
Available |
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| Contact us for more information or book your trip by clicking on the appropriate button below. One of our consultants will gladly help you with any questions you may have. |
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