A colorful sea of flowers
Namakwaland or Namaqualand is a special region in the far north of South Africa. In summer (our winter months) it is a hot, dry, barren and inhospitable area, yet this region has a particularly rich and fascinating flora. The most remarkable transformation occurs in the months of August through October, right after the first rain falls. Then the landscape turns into a colorful patchwork of bright orange, yellow and white seas of flowers. Many of the flowers and plants are unique, such as the orange Namakwa daisies.
Hotspot of biodiversity
To survive in the harsh climate, the plants had to develop special adaptations which led to the creation of this unique, very fascinating flora. You can follow car routes here that pass through the most beautiful areas, but there are also hiking trails that you can take - with or without a guide. Namaqua National Park is a true hotspot of biodiversity, with the highest density of succulents in the world. Over 3,500 plant species manage to survive in the semi-desert. The tube tree(Aloe dichotoma) catches the eye, but also look for small species almost hidden among the boulders and grass clumps, such as species of the Lithops family - better known as "living rocks" - and several varieties of Euphorbia or spurge.
