Description

New for 2024! Visit the Cape Floral Kingdom, a veritable flower feast and an unrivalled area with the highest concentration of plant species anywhere, most of which are endemic!

After rainy winters, the South African spring transforms the otherwise barren and hostile semi-desert of western South Africa into a vibrant, colourful landscape. We will travel through different habitats of savanna, thicket, grasslands, fynbos and desert. To travel through the changing landscape is to travel through several worlds in one subcontinent. Above all, bulbous plants, which belong to the families of the iris and hyacinth family, are numerous, but also orchids, pelargonium and many species that have adapted by their succulent form of growth to the climatic conditions.

Will visit the Cederberg mountain about 200 km north of Cape Town, known as a hiking and climbing paradise. A 50,000 hectare area of ​​this mountain range enjoys the status of a nature reserve. The bizarre landscape of the southern Cederberg   houses a variety of native plants, which are not flower carpets, but often very beautiful and photogenic. Likewise Nieuwoudtville, where we will be based for 3 nights has an extremely high biodiversity in the plant world, especially with regard to bulbous plants such as iris, hyacinths and amaryllis. Langebaan, our two-night stop, is located on a large lagoon in the West Coast National Park,  known for its abundance of flowers, which often cover large areas of the park.

On our itinerary is also the Kogelberg Nature Reserve,  comprising the Kogelberg Mountain Range, to the east of Cape Town, South Africa. With about 1,600 plant species, it contains a floral diversity per unit area that is greater than anywhere else in the world. We shall also spend some time in the world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, an excellent place to observe birds too. We shall go to see the African Penguins and during our travels we shall take in other birds, mammals and reptiles that come our way.

Weather: We can expect temperatures between 0 and 30 degrees in Nieuwoudtville and Clanwilliam. Mostly it is not that extreme, but it’s important to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures, best done with several layers that can be added/removed during the course of the day.  Since it is the end of the rainy season we also have to be prepared for some rain. Therefore waterproof/resistant clothing will come in handy should we experience rainfall.

Passport requirements: To enter South Africa, a passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure is required. Passports must have at least two blank pages for entry stamps. EU citizens get their 3-month tourist visa when entering the country.

Health and fitness: We won’t undertake major hikes and there will be virtually no inclines, so anyone with ‘normal fitness’ is able to participate. Walks will happen on natural, sometimes uneven ground, over rocky, sandy and gravelly terrain, so sturdy shoes with good adhesion are required. Hiking boots with ankle support for uneven ground are ideal.

Languages: The guides are native and/or fluent speakers in English, German and Greek.

This promises to be a fantastic and very popular tour – we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment!