Riot in Namaqualand

The annual flower display in Namaqualand is famous, however it is an extremely unpredictable phenomenon. Not only is the extent of the flower bloom dependant on the rains in the preceding season but the display varies from day to day depending on temperature and sunlight. So even in an exceptional year, it is possible to see almost no open flowers. Furthermore if a warm wind blows, the flowers will disappear within days.

I have been chasing the flowers for years and finally this year I have been rewarded with an exceptional display . . . a riot of colour in The Goegap Nature Reserve in Namaqualand. It is impossible to capture the beauty and extent of the display on a photograph but here are some of my attempts. I hope that they bring a smile to your face and a desire to see this incredible natural phenomenon for yourself.

In addition to the flowers we also saw a variety of wild animals. These are Mountain Zebra feeding in a sea of colour.

I love these colour combinations:

This beautiful photograph is a contribution from guest photographer Carol Ireland

We are still in the flower lands and so please expect more psychedelic news . . .