|
Namaqualand is a lovely region to visit
throughout the year, although it is best known for the wildflower
displays in spring. These may start as early as mid July and
end as late as mid November. The duration of the display
depends on the rainfall, temperatures and winds. The best time to visit is usually from mid-August to
mid-September, but no two years are the same.
What to see:
Namaqua National Park: The Skilpad wildflower reserve
is now part of the 80 000 hectare National Park. This unique
area which is partly in the sandveld and partly on the
hardeveld offers to the visitor beautiful scenery, animals,
insects, reptiles and many plant species. The park is 21km
from Kamieskroon and it is open throughout the year.
Bowesdorp: You can see the ruins of the first Dutch
Reformed Church in Namaqualand in Bowesdorp, 8 km north of
Kamieskroon.
Leliefontein, Nourivier and Rooifontein are among several small villages in the general vicinity of Kamieskroon. Leliefontein is 30km south east of Kamieskroon and can be
reached via picturesque mountain passes. The Methodist Church
and parsonage are National Monuments. In Leliefontein and
Nourivier you can find traditional reed huts (matjieshuise) and
some people still use the traditional ways to plant, harvest,
make bread (outside oven) and to make reed mats. Coast: You may drive from Kamieskroon (in the hardeveld) down Grootvlei and Killian Passes to the sandveld and continue to the coastal village of Hondeklipbaai which has an old shipwreck on the rocks and spectacular breakers behind the village. Approximately ten kilometers south is the beginning of the proposed coastal section of Namaqua National Park. |