West Coast Spring Flowers 2011
After reporting on the Spring Flowers 2011 around Darling, South Africa, in my article yesterday, here is the continuation of this splendid day on our journey to see the West Coast Spring Flowers 2011.
We headed towards Yzerfontein and then turned right and Northwards on the R27 towards Langebaan. It doesn’t take long and you see the sign on the left towards the entrance of the West Coast National Park. Make sure you don’t drive too fast as you might easily miss it! Entrance fee during normal times is R30 per person and R40 during the flower season – and that’s what we came for, to see the West Coast Spring Flowers 2011 !
Once inside the park, you’re in a different paradigm. Try to feel it right away and let yourself be carried as you head through thick low Strandveld fynbos – including protea, restio and heath families – in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean. Be patient… things happen gradually like the opening of a majestic curtain! Here and there packets of bright pink flowers blitz past you, depending on how fast you go… and you should really leave your ‘city life hecticism’ outside the Reserve as all here is secluded, in a way beautifully silent, pristine, safe and perfectly African… Whoever is an African by heart knows exactly what I mean – no desciption needed.
You keep driving for quite a while with nothing but the breeze of the wind, loads of birds and many time travellers crossing the road: tortoises! First I felt compelled to stop, jump out and carry them gently into safety as I am so used to… until I noticed: they are safe… and they know it. Nothing to worry about! So they travel at their pace and everyone else slows down and respects it. Wow! Couldn’t we transport some of that back into ‘normal’ life?
West Coast Spring Flowers 2011
As you come towards the vast lagoon with a few houseboats rocking softly on it like listening to the rhythm of forgotten times, you will discover more and more orange and yellow pockets glistening in the sun as you drive past… until it really happens: you are literally hit by breathtakingly beautiful expanses of West Coast Spring Flowers 2011…snaking inbetween and up the sanddunes, creating spectacular rivers of yellow, white, orange and pink…
Wherever you turn is beauty! As you look around in complete amazement, be aware that this floral kingdom is considered as being a biodiversity “hotspot” of global importance, actually it is 1 of 6 in the world – and the only one within the borders of a single country! No wonder it enjoys such international acclaim… people coming from everywhere to see and experience this unique region that is home to about 1,200 flowering plants of which about 6,5 % are found nowhere else on the planet! While there is an eco-friendly retreat – the Duinepos – where little chalets can be booked… I was thrilled to see – at least on that trip – no other signs of typical mass tourism. Let’s keep it basic, let’s keep it natural for all.
Signs everywhere request visitors to stay within their vehicles… but of course there are certain places where the ardent photographer just needs to get out to take pictures… as long as he stays on the ‘pad’ (natural road with the odd pothole and clear bumps to force down the speedometer) or trodden paths! An ideal place to drive through on a motorbike… or do the one-day hiking trail which I put on top of my priority list for another time… as I will be back, that’s for sure!
Reminding me of my home in Namibia… obviously one of my favourite vistas: the rocky mountain kopje hovering above a cloud of snow… dainty white flowers expanding downwards towards the sea…
…endless … magnificent… and filled with life if you look closer:
…more life if you look further… discovering ostriches, springbok, eland, red hartebees, duiker and steenbok and – as you see here, berg zebra. These were really at quite a distance and it’s not the iedal shot without a tripod and the right telelens, but it’s to give you an idea and remind you: don’t forget your binoculars!
There are some beautiful spots where you can get out, have a picnic, walk along the white beach and relax. Given the right time, you may spot whales and dolphins in the dark blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
We didn’t come across any touristic coffeeshop or the like – so be prepared with your own things to eat and drink and make sure you leave the place with nothing but gratitude and love… and while the Reserve is wonderfully looked after and I did not see a scrap of paper, a bottle or tin glittering in the sand anywhere, it’s up to us to just care about this unique environment and keep it pure for many generations to enjoy.
I’ll be back soon!
