Page 72 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

70  WILD SOUTH AFRIC A

Visitors should be aware that darting among the blooms,
the approach to the falls is very Namaqua National Park is best
slippery and people have fallen visited during August and
in the past. The area is known September. More than 1,000 of
for its traditional domed huts its estimated 3,500 plant species
and excellent bird life. Sudden are unique to the park, which,
temperature changes are not though arid, is designated a
unusual, so it is worth bringing biodiversity hotspot. Skilpad
extra layers of clothing. Rest Camp offers self-catering
Colourful flowers bloom in chalets, and a private luxury
spring at Goegap Nature camp operates during the
Reserve. The circular walks and flower season.
challenging mountain-bike
trails attract many visitors. The Western and
Accommodation includes a
self-catering guesthouse, bush Southern Cape
huts and camping sites. Addo Elephant National Park Penguins waddling at Boulders Beach in
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is home to more than 600 the Table Mountain National Park
is an “international peace park” elephants, as well as the unique
comprising Kalahari Gemsbok flightless dung beetle. The which to relax by the tranquil
National Park in South Africa PPC Discovery Trail has a Breede River and to tour
and the much larger Gemsbok 500-m (547-yd) boardwalk, to the Wine Routes and
National Park in Botswana. This accommodate people with surrounding areas.
desert of glistening red sand mobility and sensory De Hoop Nature Reserve
dunes bisected by two dry rivers impairments. Overnight visitors is a special reserve with an
covers almost twice the area of can choose from safari tents, abundance of marine life such
the Kruger National Park (see forest cabins, rondavels, and as dolphins, seals and whales.
p68). Accommodation is either luxury guesthouses, as well More than 260 species of
in traditional rest camps or as caravan and resident and migratory birds
in unfenced wilderness camping sites. are also found here. There are
camp sites, guarded by Named after the several hikes to choose from,
armed guides. Guests can species of antelope including the Whale Trail,
experience the bush at it was established to which has five overnight stops
close hand during their conserve, Bontebok and provides an excellent
stay, so these sites are National Park is part opportunity to explore the area.
popular. The park is also of a World Heritage Table Mountain National
famous for its gemsbok Site. The park has a Park is a unique mix of natural
and birds of prey. wonderful view of the wonders within the bustling city
World-renowned for Langeberg mountains, life of Cape Town. Unusually,
its spectacular and as part of the Cape entrance to the park is free,
displays of spring Floral Kingdom it has except at three points: the Cape
flowers, with Young baboon, particularly rich flora. of Good Hope, Silvermine and
butterflies and birds De Hoop Reserve This is an ideal spot in Boulders Beach, which is worth

A floral feast for the eyes at Namaqua National Park, the Arid Interior region

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