Leaving Goegap we stop on the roadside to rest and to take a few more pictures of the multitude of flowers in the area. Our next goal is Namaqualand National Park – Skilpad Wildflower Reserve section which is one of the most reliable flower areas even though we cannot think of anything that could top what we have already seen. As we start on the dirt road towards it we rapidly change our opinion – the views of the orange flowers are mesmerizing and they are everywhere.
After arriving at the National Park and paying the entrance fee we stop at the visitor center and discover a hiking trail which is not described neither on the park map nor in our printed information.
We start to hike and almost immediately we are in the middle of the flowers and the views are spectacular, it feels we stepped in a Van Gogh painting.
We stop almost at every step to take pictures of the flowers both as an ensemble and also individually.
Besides the Gazania and the daisies there are violet Storkbills and Yellow False Iceplants for an otherwordly mix of colors.
After some hiking we turn around and return to our car but continue snapping pictures all along the way especially of the picturesque bridge on the trail.
It is quite difficult to not stop and gaze at the flowers at every step, we had no idea that such a spectacle of nature existed.
Next we drive on the loop road through the preserve which is short if you are in a 2WD vehicle…with a 4WD there are multiple longer roads which probably are also less packed with people.
The views are impressive even on this short loop and we don’t have time for the longer loops anyway, there is still some ways to go till our next accomodation so we have to leave as soon as possible.
On the return trip we notice a few sheep near a water tank, almost everywhere the grazing animals seem exhausted from the overabundance of food. And then it is time to continue south to Clanwilliam where we will stay the night.
