Ecoguide: Namaqualand

Famous for its brilliant displays of spring annuals, the area known as Namaqualand is a narrow stretch of country along the south-west coast, extending for 200 km in a band little more than 80 km wide from the mouth of the Olifants River in the south to the mouth of the Orange River in the north. This semiarid and arid strip is home to a unique collection of plants that is without equal in the world. Packed into an area of around 50 000 km2 are about 3 000 different species of wildflowers, half of which do not occur outside of it. This guide covers more than 200 of those wildflowers that are most likely to attract the visitor's attention. Each species is illustrated and described, with information on its common and scientific names, habitat, distribution map, flowering times and local uses. Introductory sections extensively cover the birds, insects, spiders, reptiles and mammals that also make their home here as well as historical sites in the area. A travel adviser at the back of the book provides information on National Parks, nature reserves and other prime flower viewing destinations in the area, with contact details and recommended routes, to enable visitors to make the most of their visit to the area.