Wednesday 1 August marks the start of West Coast National Park's official flower season, which runs until the end of September. In celebration of the colourful blooms, the gates to the Postberg section of the park are thrown open wide and visitors can view flowers in an area normally off-limits to the public.

Postberg is also home to a variety of game and visitors may spot eland, bontebok, zebra, gemsbok, red hartebeest and kudu grazing among the pretty flowers. There are dedicated picnic areas and breathtaking views from the top of the boulders. For visitors who'd rather leave the cooking to someone else, Geelbek Restaurant is offering a delicious selection of traditional food. The park also offers a range of accommodation, including houseboats on the lagoon, for visitors who want to overnight.

As you can see from the pictures, flowers are already in bloom. "Flowers are covering the Postberg veld in vibrant yellows, whites, oranges and blues," says Nicole Biondi, regional marketing manager for the SANParks Cape Region. It's best not to delay your visit as there's no guarantee the brilliance will last until the end of September.

For the best flower sightings time your visit for the middle of the day when the blooms have opened their faces to the sun.

Opening times
West Coast National Park: 07:00 to 18:00 daily, last vehicle entry at 17:30
Postberg: 09:00 to 17:00 daily, last vehicle entry at 16:30
Tel: 022 772 2144 or westcoast@sanparks.org

Entry fees
Wild Card members free.
South Africans R44 a person
SADC visitors R64 a person
International visitors R88 a person
Children up to the age of 12 pay half price.

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