WHAT AWAITS YOU IN NAMAQUA?

Namaqualand describes an area up the coast from Cape Town, to the Namibian border, and extending some way inland. The flowers in Namaqualand, South Africa It is a high plateau that seems inhospitable, but once a year, after the winter rains, there is a springtime explosion of wildflowers.

This occurs some time from mid-August to mid-September, and by its very nature is unpredictable but worth the effort to try and see. Even without the wildflowers, the austere landscape still impresses, and with plants like the kokerboom (quiver tree) and the elephant trunk succulents there is always plenty to marvel at.

The movement of birds within the biome appears to be related to the availability of resources, both food and nesting material. Fluctuations in bird and mammal populations (especially rodents) are related to major rainfall events or changes in rainfall seasonality.

Historically, mammal numbers would have fluctuated with resource availability and the activity of predators. The animals that historically occurred in the area and which are now locally extinct include elephant, black rhino, lion, cheetah, wild dog, eland, red hartebeest, gemsbok, springbok and Hartmann’s mountain zebra.

Coming soon

FACTS

Northern Cape province of South Africa.
The capital is Kimberley.

Springbok Airport [Springbok]
Cape Town International Airport [Cape Town]
Upington international Airport [Upington]

The Namaqualand region of South Africa falls within the Succulent Karoo biome, identified as one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots. The Succulent Karoo has approximately 6,356 plant species, 40% are endemic. When compared to regions with similar semi-arid environments the richness of this biome is exceptional.

Namaqualand falls within the winter rainfall region of South Africa. The highest rainfall period is between June to August. It is dry for 215 days a year with an average humidity of 52%. The summer averages 29C [84F] while winter temperatures average 19C [66F].

English, Afrikaans and Xhosa

Rand [ZAR]
US Dollars are not accepted.
Foreign exchange services are available in big cities and airports.

Wild Flowers
Bushman Rock Art
Wildlife & Birding