Namaqua National Park

By Vicky · Published Nov. 14th, 2025

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Namaqua National Park is split into the Skilpad Wildflower Area and the Groenrivier Coastal Area, with great spring flowers and dramatic ocean sunsets.

How to get to Namaqua National Park

Namaqua National Park is in the Northern Cape, roughly 6 hours north of Cape Town. There are two sections of the park – the Skilpad Wildflower Area and the Groenrivier Coastal Area.

Driving to Skilpad Wildflower Area

The best way to reach the Skilpad reception is via the town of Kamieskroon. You might see other potential routes on a map, but several of these have locked gates along the tracks. Kamieskroon is next to the N7, and the turnoff to Namaqua Park is on the northern side of town, passing Kamieskroon Hotel*. From Kamieskroon, the route is a decent gravel track and fine for all cars, but better with a 4×4.

Alternatively, you can reach the Skilpad section via the west, but this requires a 4×4. You can either drive from Soebatsfontein or via the Caracal Eco Route (see below). The former is roughly 24 km and a very easy drive that takes about 1 hour.

Driving to Groenrivier Coastal Area

You can enter the Groenrivier Coastal area from the north, south, or east (inland). To reach the southern entrance where the main reception is, turn off at a junction on the N7 roughly 37 km north of Bitterfontein and 24 km south of Garies. From the N7 junction, it’s 60 km along a good gravel road to the entrance gate of the park.

The northern entrance of the Coastal area is 14 km east of Hondeklipbaai. From the N7, head west on the paved road via Klipfontein, roughly 10 km north of Garies. To get to the east (inland) entrance, take the dirt road leading west just north of Garies.

Namaqua National Park Map with Campsites

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Arid landscapes that come alive with flowers in the spring and wild, coastal campsites are the highlights of this park. Read our guide to find out all you need to know about Namaqua National Park.

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Information and Itinerary

There are two main sections of Namaqua National Park – the Groenrivier Coastal Area and the Skilpad Wildflower. With a 4×4, you can drive between the two sections via Soebatsfontein and Hodeklipbaai. Within the park there are no shops and no fuel, so make sure to bring everything you need with you.

Skilpad Wildflowers

This area is best visited in spring when the wildflowers are blooming; you can drive around a short flower loop and hike two short trails. At other times of the year, there’s less to see. The main reception of this section is at the Skilpad entrance on the east side of the park, where there are also four self-catering chalets. You don’t need a 4×4 to visit the Skilpad reception area or do the flower drive, but you do need a 4×4 to leave via the west.

Groenrivier Coast

This area covers a stretch of wild coastline between the Groen and Spoeg Rivers and is a great place to visit year-round, though slightly cold in winter. The main reception of this section is at the southern end, at Groenrivier Estuary and there are several little campsites dotted along the coast. You need a 4×4 to enter this section as the roads have thick sand in places.

Things to do in Namaqua National Park

Wildflower Viewing in Namaqua National Park

The Sklipad Reception is the centre of the wildflowers. There’s a 4.5 km drive along gravel tracks (suitable for all cars) and two walks (see below) of roughly 3 km each that allow you to see the flowers. The drive from Skilpad reception to Soebatsfontein is also full of flowers carpeting the valleys

Hiking in Namaqua National Park

In the Skilpad section of the park, there are two short flower trails that both start from the main reception. The Skilpad Walking Trail heads west from the main office, while the Korhaan Walking Trail leads east. These are both 3 km long.

The Skilpad Walking Trail takes you through more flowers and overlaps with the road for a short distance, while the Korhaan Walking Trail leads through a bushier area with fewer flowers, but many flower varieties.

In the Coastal section of the park, the Heaviside Hiking Trail leads along the beach and coastline. It’s a one-way trail, so you probably have to walk the same way back unless you can arrange transport from one end. On this trail, you might see dolphins, whales, many seabirds, and there are lots of tide pools you can explore. If you don’t want to walk the full trail, the southern part is the most interesting.

Caracal Eco Route 4×4 Drive

The Caracal Eco Route is a 175 km 4×4 drive that leads from Skilpad Camp to the Groen River Mouth, taking you through some of the remotest areas of the park. It takes about 6-8 hours to drive. It’s not that technically difficult, but there is some thick sand, especially near the coast. Inland, there are some sections of the route that are quite steep and the track is slightly eroded. It’s best to drive in a convoy if your vehicle is less capable, if you are pulling a trailer, or in mid-summer when the sand is hot, as these conditions mean it’s more likely you might get stuck.

Note that in the wet season (June-Sept), the route may be closed in places if there has been heavy rain. Before setting off, collect a route booklet at either the Skilpad or Groenrivier receptions. This has gridpoints, which are useful as the caracal signs that mark the route are not always clear.

Explore the Coastline

A drive along the coastline (4×4 needed) is lovely at any time of year. There are bird hides at the Spoeg River in the north and the Groen River at the south. Near the former, the Spoeg River Caves are worth checking out for a few minutes. Further down the coast, you can see seals, and during flower season, you can drive a circular route inland to see the blooms.

Wildlife Viewing

Namaqua National Park is not teeming with wildlife, but if you take your time, you can see a few interesting animals. For example, the tiny Padloper tortoise can be found here. You can also see several antelopes, including gemsbok, hartebeest and more. If you’re lucky, you can see jackals, bat-eared foxes and even meerkats in the arid inland section. At the coast, dolphins, seals, whales, oyster catchers and many other birds abound. In particular, flamingoes and pelicans can often be seen around the Spoegrivier and Groenrivier Estuaries.

Other Activities in the Park

Mountain biking along the gravel trails of the Skipad section is another great activity in the park. Note that you have to bring your own bike, and that the coastal section tracks are too sandy for biking. Stargazing, camping, and simply enjoying the park’s remoteness are other activities you can enjoy in Namaqualand.

Visit Hondeklipbaai

Hondeklipbaai is a small village at the coast, outside of, but near the park. Here you can go on a short walk, sit on the beach, or enjoy delicious food in one of the good restaurants. There are also several places to stay here (see the accommodation section below).

Example Week Itinerary in Namaqua National Park

Below is an example itinerary for spending a week in Namaqua National Park, for which you need a 4×4. If you visit outside of the springflower season, you may want to skip the Skilpad section and focus on the coastal area.

• Day 1: Drive to Skilpad Restcamp and stay in the chalets. If these are booked, stay nearby in Kamieskroon for the first night.
• Day 2: Explore the Skilpad area, hiking the two short trails and driving the flower loop. Stay overnight in the restcamp or drive the lovely route to Soebatsfontein.
• Day 3: Visit Hondeklipbaai, perhaps going on a short walk and having lunch at Rooi Spinnekop or DopEnKreef Restaurant. Continue into the Coastal Area of the park and stay at one of the more northerly campsites.
• Day 4: Drive the Horizon Circle Route, check out the caves and bird hide at Spoegrivier Estuary, and look for the seal colony. Stay at the same campsite.
• Day 5: Drive south, walk part or all of the Heaviside Hiking Trail, and stay at a campsite in the south of the park.
• Day 6: Visit the lighthouse and the bird hide around Groenrivier and explore the rest of the southern section of the park. Stay at the same campsite.
• Day 7: Drive back to Cape Town.

If you want to fit in more, in flower season, spend two nights on the way at Goegap Nature Reserve, an hour further north, then stay fewer nights in the coastal section. To condense your trip to a long weekend, spend one night near Skilpad and two nights at the coast.

Best time to visit Namaqua National Park

Namaqualand is in a winter rainfall area, so it’s hot and dry in summer (Dec-Apr) and slightly more rainy in winter (though often not that rainy as it’s generally an arid area).

The best time of year to visit the park is in the spring to see the wildflowers. These bloom in mid-August to mid-September, though the exact timing depends on the year. Orange and yellow Namaqualand Daisies are the most common flower, and carpet the landscape in most years. Outside of flower season, the inland Flower section of the park receives few visitors.

If you are just visiting the coastline, any time of the year can be pleasant, though it can be quite windy. In winter, the wind can be bitingly cold and mist is not uncommon, though this normally clears by the afternoon. In summer, it may still be windy, though a lot less cold.

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Accommodation in Namaqua National Park

There is limited accommodation within Namaqua National Park. There are four chalets at Skilpad Rest Camp, several small campsites along the coast, and in flower season, luxury glamping also at the coast. Otherwise, there are several places to stay outside the park (see below).

Skilpad Rest Camp

Chalets: R953/1597 per night for two in low/high season, plus an extra R345 for a third person. There are four 4-person chalets, with 2 single beds in a bedroom and a sleeper couch in the main room. Each chalet has a fully equipped kitchen, deck, braai area and there’s electricity. Bring your own firewood.

Coastal Campsites

There are roughly 10 campsites along the coast, most with just two to six spots that are fairly private. All sites are right next to the ocean and have great views, though it can be windy. At each campsite, you’ll find at least one eco toilet, water tap, stone braai, and the individual spots almost all have circular stone wind shelters. No sites have electricity or water.

To reach any of the campsites apart from Groenrivier, you need a 4×4. The spots are all the same price, R250 per night for up to six people and two vehicles. When you book, you choose the campsite, but not the specific spot. From north to south, these campsites are:

Individual Campsites

Boulderbaai: Six spots. These sites are all fairly close to each other on a spacious, level grassy/dirt area. This makes it a good choice for camping in groups. The spots are also fairly sheltered from the wind and there’s a large, sandy beach 100 metres south.

Skuinsbaai Noord: Two spots. These sights are slightly separated from each other, above a wild and rocky section of coastline.

Koringkorrelbaai: Five spots. There’s a sandy beach just below the campsite.

Skuinsklip: Two spots. Slightly separated spots above a rocky coastline.

Bamboeskamp: Four spots. The sites all share the same flat area, so good for groups, located above a rocky coastline.

Varswater: Four spots. These sites are separate but fairly close to each other, with a sandy beach below.

Kwass Se Baai: Four spots. The sites are separated into two groups of two, with a lovely, calm beach and that’s good for swimming just below the campsites.

Moonbay: Two spots. Slightly separated spots, with a long sandy beach just to the north.

Seeduiker: Two spots. These sites are close to each other and above a sandy/rocky beach.

Delwerskamp: Six spots. These spots are fairly separate from each other and above a rocky coastline with a sandy beach to the north. In Flower Season, the Namaqua Flower Beach Camp takes over this campsite.

Groenriviermond: Twelve spots. This campsite is the largest and the only one south of the Groenriviermond and outside of the park gate. The spots are fairly spread out, with the southernmost spots right by Groenrivier Lighthouse. The coastline is very rocky in this area.

Namaqua Flower Beach Camp

From August to mid-September, Delweskamp transforms into the Namaqua Flower Beach Camp. Run by a private operator, the Flower Camp operates only in flower season from roughly mid-August to mid-September. There are 12 luxury tents with electricity and en suite bathrooms. Breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner are included, and lunch can be ordered as an extra. Rates are R4,645 per person per night, with children under 15 half price. See their website for more details.

I hope you found this guide to Namaqua National Park useful. If you like national parks and hiking, discover more in our South Africa Guide.

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