The Cape Floral Region was made a World Heritage Site in 2004. The eight protected sites that make up this region are Table Mountain, the Cederberg Wilderness Area, the Boland Mountain Complex, the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Areas, De Hoop Nature Reserve the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, the Swartberg Mountains and the Baviaanskloof.
Covering just 0.04% of the earth's surface, The Cape Floral Kingdom is listed as the smallest of the world's six plant kingdoms. 68% of the 8,600 species of plant here are endemic (found no where else in the world).
Most people are familiar with the spring flowering extravaganza that falls on this region each year, particularly popular for viewing this sight is the Namaqualand region. The flowers appear after the rain which can be any time July - October. The first blooms appear usually in July after the first rain at the coast and north of Springbok and then the mountains around Kamieskroon are at their best into September. Carpets of bright coloured flowers spread over the ground in all directions and spread south as the weather becomes warmer.
Fynbos blooms all year but can be best views late winter and spring, so the same time as the Namaqualand flower carpets.
At the foot of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is the only botanical garden in the world that is actually inside a World Heritage Site.
For the best views of the flowers you should stand or drive with the sun behind you as flowers always face the sun and they are at their best during the hottest time of the day.
Namaqualand is most botanists idea of heaven with it's spring displays. Carpets of colourful daisies and bulbs of an estimated 3000 species flower here. The displays change by the week and walking is the best way to view them.
Northern Cape is a vast region which is home to unusual species of plant such as the forests of quiver trees, roadside tumbleweeds, succulents and miniature Karoo bushes. Silver grasses spread over the desert areas after good rains. Red dunes of the Orange River meet the rocky areas of the Kakamas then into sandy plains and black mountains of Aggeneys and Pofadder. South of this region are splashes of flower colour in spring into the Karoo.
Cape Garden Route and Klein Karoo is a huge natural garden and combines evergreen forests with mountain passes, home to proteas, ericas and pelargoniums. There are Giant Outeniqua Yellowood Trees, tree ferns and Ironwood trees. Vegetation varies from fynbos through forests to dune scrub, succulent covered cliffs and rocks and the warm ocean gives a comfortable climate.
Cape Karoo is home to over 7000 species of plants and lies on the centre of the South African plateau so much drier than the coastal regions. Sporing and autumn rain is followed by colourful daisies, vygies and flowering shrubs. There are arid plains, rocky outcrops, grasses, mountains and open skies.
Cape Overberg is the centre of the Cape Floral Kingdom and has a year round display of wild flowers on dramatic coast with fynbos mountains to the south east of Cape Town. Flower shows are held here in the spring along the coastal towns such as Hermanys and Betty's Bay. There are many walking and flower trails in the nature reserves such as De Hoop, Agulhas, Bontebok and Kogelberg. Spring here coincides with the best Whale Watching and migrating birds too.
Cape West Coast covers many small reserves in easy reach of Cape Town. White rain daisies, blue flax and pink nemesias shelter amongst taller plans such as winecups, babianas and sparaxis. Rain can fall into October making the flowering season longer here. Mountains are home to heathers, proteas and perennial daises. Autumn here is good with the rust coloured plants and in winter the wetlands and roadsides are full of arum lilies.
Cape Winelands as well as being famous for it's vineyards is alos one of the Cape Floral regions with mountain ranges and fertile valleys. Farm gardens, landscaped wine estates and protea and wild flower farms can be explored here.
Cape Town itself has plenty of protected natural areas with easy walking trails around Table Mountain, Cape Peninsula and of course Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Spring flowers here last into November and summer includes red disas and orchids on cloud coverd peaks. There are everlasting flowers on the sand flats and in autumn the coast has plenty of red and rust coloured plants on show.
