Namaqua National Park

Escape to the land of contrasts, where the rigorous climate has created a myriad of life forms superbly adapted to their specific habitat. Fields of flowers, star studded nights, quiver trees, enormous granite outcrops and the icy Atlantic are but a few wonders that await the visitor.

Situated in the heart of the Succulent Karoo the Park has grown enormously and stretches from the well-known Skilpad section, near Kamieskroon, on the escarpment westwards to the coast. The recently added ‘Groen-Spoeg’ coastal section is the only significant remaining untouched section of the Namaqualand coast. This dramatic upland to lowland gradient drives remarkable biodiversity. With its winter rainfall, Namaqualand is home to the richest bulb flora of any arid region in the world and more than 1 000 of its estimated 3 500 plant species are found nowhere else on earth. Furthermore, this diverse ecosystem supports a unique array of endemic reptiles and amphibians, and resilient mammals like gemsbok, springbok, and leopards, perfectly adapted to harsh conditions. Birds are typical of the dry arid western regions of the country.