August and September mean springtime in South Africa and the landscape explodes into a technicolour carpet of wildflowers. Garden lovers can join Saga’s 16-night Wild Flora of the Cape tour to witness how Mother Nature works her magic, as well as visiting botanical gardens, private gardens and game reserves. Three talks are also included to give a full overview of the Cape’s floral wonders.
Guests fly to Cape Town and spend three nights at the Quayside Hotel (4Q), which is close to Boulder's Beach and the African penguin colony. One of the world’s top botanic gardens awaits – Kirstenbosch, which is home to around 9,000 of South Africa's 22,000 plant species, including the national flower, the protea. Next, a scenic drive inland takes guests to the Karoo Botanic Gardens to see indigenous and rare flora.
The tour moves on with a two-night stay at the Aquila Private Game Reserve (4Q) and includes a morning game drive, a visit to a hydroponic vegetable garden project and an evening of stargazing.
There is also time to explore the fertile valley of Tulbagh and see the Church Street Community Garden before spending two nights at Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort 3Q+. From here guests visit Clanwilliam Reform Church, dubbed the Flower Church because it boasts an incredible annual display of wildflowers.
In Ramskoop Nature Reserve guests can admire dazzling swathes of wildflowers from the Namaqualand region and later visit a farm to learn about the cultivation of Aspalathus linearis, the source of Rooibos tea. The tour then returns to the coast, pausing at the fishing town of Velddrif to see fields of colourful wildflowers.
The next three nights are spent at the waterfront Protea Hotel Saldanha Bay (4Q) and the stunningly beautiful Cape Columbine Nature Reserve is next on the itinerary. A full day at the West Coast National Park follows to see endemic plants in full bloom and guests also visit the Tienie Versveld Wildflower Reserve, where paths cut through almost 50 acres of wildflowers.
The final four nights are spent at Kleine Zalze Lodge (4Q) overlooking vineyards in Stellenbosch. Guests visit Stellenbosch University Garden and the Harold Porter Botanical Garden which is famous for its proteas and ericas. The tour also includes a stop at Hermanus for a spot of whale watching from the cliffs – Southern Right whales pass by in spring so guests may be lucky to see them.
The last, but nowhere near least, excursion is to Fernkloof Nature Reserve, a techicolour dream of wildflowers where the 1,500 plant species attract an exotic array of birdlife.
