WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK
Postberg Flower Reserve
Sunday 29th August 2021

Our tour was originally scheduled for Saturday 28^th August until there were weather reports of a HUGE cold front approaching Cape Town, with heavy rain and snow from Thursday 26^th August through to Sunday 29^th August.

We were delighted when we woke up on Sunday to clear blue skies with the good ‘old sun’ showing its face!  We had planned an early start – leaving Constantia Village shopping centre at 08:00 and Tableview at 08:30. Having arranged a 15-seater coach there was much surprise when a 25-seater coach arrived – and to a certain extent disappointment as with Covid we are restricted to 70% occupancy, and this limits numbers on a 15-seater to 10 passengers.  Anyway, all said the 25-seater proved to be a great vehicle as it is higher than the 15-seater and visibility is so much better.

Spirits were raised even further when we arrived at the WCNP and drove straight up to the gate – well worth getting up earlier!  In flower season queues can extend a few km along the R27 if you arrive later than 11am!

Our ‘all-time-favourite’ spot, time and again is to have coffee and tea at TSAARSBANK – fabulous with the waves crashing and being early it gave the flowers time to open.  Flowers are always at their best when the sun is shining; temperature is about 18 degrees and no wind!  Conditions for us were near perfect – we just did not have the temperature as the Western Cape is surrounded by snow and it was chilly out in the open.

We were treated to ‘fields and fields’ of flowers all turning towards the sun – and it is always exciting to share this with others.  Cameras were clicking and one fabulous thing about being ‘flower children’ is that you can share your love of nature so easily with others.  Everyone chats to everyone about the splendour of the park.

We ambled through the park, stopping once to get an overall view of the flower fields and then at another spot where there are paths that one used to be able to walk along (just stay on the path!!)  BUT this time the park officials came along and quickly told everyone to  get off the paths…. Sadly, this is hard to accept but they obviously have a method in their ‘madness’ as with 1000’s of visitors, if everyone goes off the path these wonderful blooms will very quickly get flattened!

We made our way up to the Uitkyk Picnic area where one can find nature-made rocks to sit and enjoy a picnic lunch – albeit cool as the breeze off the mountain snow cooledl things down dramatically.  After lunch we drive down the hill, towards Plantjiesbaai, passing more fields of stunning colour – a feast for the eyes.

One thing we noticed this time is that we didn’t  see much game – only some Cape Mountain Zebra – thrilling to see their young ones.  Before we left the park, we were treated to two Bontebok and one Springbok sprinting away when they were frightened by the noise of hikers walking down a small hill – lovely treat to see indeed.

We ended this perfect day at the hide near the Geelbek restaurant – disappointingly also not many flamingos or other birds – perhaps the cold also affected them! (and it e=was low tide).

Passenger comments:

• Thanks for the special day – Sheilagh
• Thank you for the trip – a brilliant day – weather perfect – morning tea and biscuits – thank you – and the picnic outside with superb view of flowers, sea and snow – A well planned day – Margaret
• Thank you, Carol and Brian, for lovely trip – I thoroughly enjoyed it – Ann

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