At Love Our Trails, we believe one of the best ways to connect with nature is by hearing from those who have spent years exploring and learning from it. We recently caught up with a close friend of Love Our Trails, Tim Lundy. Tim is a qualified tour and mountain guide, and the author of Family Walks in Cape Town, following in the footsteps of his father, Mike Lundy, who published Best Walks in the Cape Peninsula.
With September marking the start of spring—and for many, the start of hiking season in South Africa—we asked Tim to share his favourite hike for experiencing wildflowers: the Postberg Trail.
Tim’s Story
I’ve hiked the Postberg Trail seven or eight years in a row – it’s that good. As far as multi-day trails go, this one is fairly easy. But truthfully, it’s less about the trail and more about the flowers.
The Postberg Trail is only open for two months of the year, specifically for the wildflowers that bloom along the West Coast. While there are several areas in the Western Cape that put on spectacular floral displays between August and September, Postberg – inside the West Coast National Park – is one of the very few places where you can actually hike through them. Best of all, it’s close to Cape Town, making it a perfect, accessible getaway.
There is a one-day hiking option, but honestly, if you’re going to spend four hours in the car driving there and back, you may as well make the most of it and do the two-day overnight trail. While you can admire the flowers from your car, nothing compares to walking through endless fields of colour.
If you choose the overnight hike, be prepared to become one with nature. You’ll need your own tent, bedding, and food. The trail is classified as a slackpacking trail, though, because the rangers help lighten the load with the gear drop at camp and they deliver a bag of firewood, a braai kettle, a grid, 25 litres of drinking water, and a wash basin for dishes.. Each year, SANParks manages the reserve on behalf of the homeowners who own the land and generously open it to the public when the flowers are at their best.
Tim’s Tips
- Leave Cape Town early. Aim to be at the West Coast National Park gates by 8am, so you can meet the Postberg rangers by 9am.
- Bring your Wild Card or be prepared to pay park fees.
- After checking in, you’ll drop your gear at the overnight campsite, then return to the Postberg gate to park your car. No vehicles are allowed at camp. The hike starts and finishes at the Postberg gate.
Day 1 – 14km (5–6 hours)
At first, you might wonder where the flowers are – but give it five minutes, look back, and prepare to be amazed. Most people’s first words are, “Oh wow!” That’s when the cameras come out. The flowers follow the sun and become more vibrant as the day goes on, so take your time and enjoy. After all, the trail is about the flowers, not the finish line.
Pause for a relaxed lunch among the blooms, but aim to start walking again by 1:30pm. That way you’ll reach camp in time to set up and watch the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean, just a few hundred metres from camp. There are toilets, and the rangers will have delivered your firewood, water, and braai gear. End the day around the fire and fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing nearby.
Day 2 – 6km (about 2 hours)
Save a few pieces of firewood to boil water for morning coffee before packing up. I recommend setting off by 9:30am to avoid the day visitors who sometimes drive into camp to use the toilets. On a sunny day, crowds can take away from the peaceful atmosphere.
The second day is shorter, but no less impressive. Follow the red-and-white poles as the flowers thicken into breathtaking displays, sometimes even more spectacular than Day 1. The trail ends with a beach walk that leads back into West Coast National Park.
For some, the long beach stretch and dunes can be tough, so there’s a shortcut option: after the first beach, follow the road back to the cars. After all, this hike is about the flowers, not endurance. Just don’t forget to swing by the campsite to collect your gear before heading home.
Trust me – photos will never do it justice. You have to experience it for yourself.
Good to Know
- Bookings open on 1 June each year.
- Maximum 12 people per group (same for day hikes).
- Pack light – storage space is shared, and up to 24 hikers may need the corridor.
- Take tick spray and use it often. My personal record is 45 ticks in one day! Check yourself every 30 minutes.
- A folding chair for the fire makes a big difference.
- Keep an eye out for game along the trail.
Tim Lundy
Cape Town Hiking
