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The most north-western corner of South Africa, bordered by Namibia and the Atlantic Ocean, is a magical place of contrasts. During the summer and winter months there is little colour and seemingly little life, but during the springtime – from August to September – a spectacle of brightly coloured wildflowers bloom, covering the ground as far as the eye can see.
Stretching along the beach from north to south, clusters of campsites are available, offering some low rock-wall windbreaks where adventurous campers can set up their own camps.
View LodgeThe Skilpad Rest Camp in the Namaqua National Park has four beautiful self-catering chalets, each with a closed-in veranda with fold-out windows, offering uninterrupted views on the surrounding landscape.
View LodgeThe seasonal luxury tented camps provide catered accommodation for guests enjoying the comforts of beds with quality cotton sheets and warm duvets, while being close to nature.
View LodgeThe Namaqua National Park is home to a breathtakingly wide variety of plant species of which an unbelievable 3500 are not to be found anywhere else on earth. The harsh climate created the ideal habitat for a myriad of specially adapted life forms, including the Quiver Tree and the smallest tortoise to be found in the world – the Speckled Padloper.
The park is part of the semi-desert Succulent Karoo biome, creating a biodiversity hotspot with the largest concentration of succulent plants to be found in any of the world’s arid regions. Frequent mists and fog from the cold Atlantic Ocean is the only source of moisture for most of the year, and during the winter months a low average of between 100 and 160 mm of rain is measured annually.
For thousands of years, the San – a hunter-gatherer people – inhabited the region. Numerous relics were found to prove that these people moved around after game, edible plants and water and stayed in caves and on rocky outcrops. Today descendants of these herders still live in Namaqualand and farm in the region, although copper and diamond mining had a massive impact on the lifestyle and traditions of the people.
In 1988 a section of the farm Skilpad was managed as a wildflower reserve and from there on it expanded and developed to include more succulent habitats and the crucial coastal section. A variety of projects got underway and in June 2002 the Namaqua National Park was officially proclaimed. More land acquisitions and inclusions took place and the Park is still developing and expanding.
A variety of animals, insects and birds feed on the Succulent Karoo-veld and fluctuations in the populations of mammals and birds are related to major rainfall events and changes in the seasonal rainfall. Many animals that historically occurred in the area are locally extinct, but many of these only moved through the area when food and water resources were sufficient.
Because the Namaqua National Park is in a wide and undeveloped area,
only sand and gravel roads are available, but most of the roads are
accessible with a normal sedan vehicle. It will just be more comfortable
to travel in a 4x4-enabled vehicle or at least a vehicle with a high
ground clearance and diff lock.
Accommodation in the Namaqua National Park is offered as undeveloped campsites with very few facilities along the beach. Guest cottages are available in the Skilpad Rest Camp.
Once a year, when the flowers bloom, the Namaqua Flower Beach Camp is open for only 4 weeks to give more people the chance to experience this spectacular phenomenon.
There are very few amenities and facilities available inside the Namaqua National Park, although the nearby towns of Kamieskroon and Garies do have basic facilities and shops.
Fuel filling stations, banks and ATMs, as well as restaurants and shops for supplies, are scarce and should be utilised when available. Bring your own firewood as well as drinking water along.
Attracting adventurous travellers who prefer the peace and quiet of travelling off the beaten track during the off-season months, where silence, fresh air, and abundant photographic opportunities are your only companions.
During the flower season, the Park is abuzz with excitement and large numbers of guests travelling to enjoy the amazing flower show.
There are not many activities on offer, but relaxation and enjoyment of the natural surroundings are top priority for any visitor to the Namaqua National Park.
Travelling from:
| Gate | Area/Town | Gate Entrance Road/Street |
|---|---|---|
| Skilpad Gate | Kammieskroon, Northern Cape | N7 highway, turnoff to Kamieskroon |
| Groenrivier Gate | Garies, Northern Cape | N7 highway, west toward Groenrivier |