Hantam National Botanical Gardens Hike

By Vicky · Published Jan. 27th, 2026

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This easy hike in Hantam National Botanical Gardens leads you past cool rock formations and many flowers in the right season.

Hantam Botanical Gardens Hike Map

Location

This hike starts at the Information Centre at the entrance to Hantam National Botanical Gardens. To get to the centre, you pass a gate to pay your entrance fees (see below), then at the centre you’ll find a car park and a small shop. Hantam Botanical Gardens are free outside of flower (R50/25/15 per adult/student/child).

Tips

The main flower season is Aug-Oct, at the same time as all the other flowers along the west coast. In Hantam Gardens, there’s also a ‘secret flower season’ when the beautiful pink Candelabra Lily blooms in March-April.
Opening times: Flower Season (Aug-Oct) every day, 8am to 5pm, Outside of Flower Season Mon-Fri, 7:30am to 4:30pm.
Hantam Botanical Gardens is free outside of flower season, but in flower season (Aug-Oct), entrance fees are R50/25/15 per adult/student/child.
This route is an easy stroll, but there’s no shade, so don’t forget a sunhat and plenty of water.
If you prefer a guided walk, these cost R80, or a guided tour in a vehicle costs R180 (both during flower season only). Book these in advance: +27 (0) 27 2181200, [email protected].
There’s a lovely picnic field by the office for relaxing.
Useful for many hikes, get an offline hiking App such as Organic Maps.
Read our guide to nearby Nieuwoudtville or find even more hikes in our South Africa Hiking Guide.

Hantam Botanical Gardens Hiking Route

On a hike with flowers in Hantam Botanical Gardens

This walk follows a mix of the named hiking routes. These are not signed well, so it’s actually very difficult to follow one of the named routes! This hike starts the same way as most of the hikes, leading directly into the gardens.

After crossing a couple of fields, you reach the rougher area. The dirt path is narrow but quite clear. Make sure not to step off the path, as it could damage the flowers!

Dolerite rocks in Hantam Botanical Gardens

You soon reach a T-junction, where you turn right. This diagonal path leads you past a porcupine den (you can’t miss it, as there’s a sign), before reaching a larger junction. After walking through the fence, turn right, then in a short distance turn left after another fence. This is on a smaller path leading to the rocky hills in the distance.

Camel Koppie in Hantam Botanical Gardens

This ridge is made of dolerite, an igneous rock (similar to basalt). This rock is harder than the surrounding rock, which has been eroded away, leaving the cool dolerite rock formations on the surface. Turn right to walk along this rocky ridge and you’ll come to Camel Koppie. This is a rock formation that looks like a camel (from some angles).

A track leads down from the Koppie and bends right at the bottom of the hill. Don’t follow it, but take the smaller path to the left. After a bit more than a kilometre, the path reaches a track again. Turn left, then follow the track to the right, which leads you straight back to the information centre and the Hantam National Botanical Gardens Hike.