The Northern Cape is an undiscovered gem in South Africa. It is home to a number of small and interesting towns, such as Springbok, Pofadder and Kathu as well as being home to the most breathtaking display of wildflowers in the Southern Hemisphere. And while the Namaqualand daisies are certainly an attraction that everyone should see, there are dozens of other attractions which will surprise and delight visitors to this stunning area.
Going to see the Namaqualand daisies means that you will have to plan ahead of time in order to see them in all their glory. The flowers start blooming in late July and early August, so be sure that you travel there during this time, and not in September when most of the flowers are no longer on display.
It is important to note that the flowering dates will differ slightly according to the rains that occur, and whether there was a heavy or light rainfall during the months leading up to August. And if it is still raining in August when you want to view the flowers, it can be difficult to spend time outside exploring the region in the rain. You can look online for weather reports for the year to see what the rainfall has been like and plan your trip accordingly.
Source: Namakwa Info
The Baviaanskloof River is a river flowing through the Cape Fold Mountains of the Western Cape and eventually Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. The river’s origin is in the eastern extremity of the Little Karoo, and follows a valley between these mountains eastwards.
It is flanked by the Baviaanskloof Mountains to the north and the Kouga Mountains to the south, and it receives numerous small tributaries from both. Agricultural settlements along the river include Studtis and Sandvlakte. The valley is situated about 35 km north of the Langkloof, which is comparable though larger.
The Kouga River, which rises in the Langkloof has the isolated Baviaanskloof River as its major tributary. The Baviaanskloof river is part of the Fish to Tsitsikama Water Management Area.
Baviaan, meaning baboon, is a translation of the river’s original Khoikhoi name, i Ncwama, also believed to mean “baboon”. Beutler consequently named the river the Gomee or Baviaans.Robert Gordon however named it the Prehns River, in honour of a commander of the Cape garrison.
