September 3, 2016
Namaqualand Daisies, Springbok, and Glossy-Eyed Mountain Daisy in Namaqualand and Namaqua National Park, South Africa

I just spent a few days in Namaqualand, a region renowned for its wildflower bloom in August and September. I've been in the area before in mid to late September and missed the peak bloom, but I hit it right this time. The flowers were amazing! I started with two nights in Springbok and headed out towards Nababeep on my first afternoon. I found a great area for some intimate scenes, and made my favorite wildflower image then. It's a small number of Namaqualand Daisy or Jakkalsblom (Dimorphotheca sinuata) among the interesting remains of a bush.

I found this huge hillside covered with Namaqualand Daisy or Jakkalsblom (Dimorphotheca sinuata, pictured) and other orange and yellow flowers to the right of the frame near Concordia. It was amazing to see such huge areas of color.

Then I spent three nights in Namaqua National Park at Skilpad, right in the heart of a dense wildflower area. On my first evening, I was thrilled to find this Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) buck out among the orange wildflowers (Namaqualand Daisies and Glossy-Eyed Mountain Daisies).

On my last morning, it was calm enough to do some macro photography. This is a Glansooggousblom or Glossy-Eyed Mountain Daisy (Ursinia cakilefolia) closed and covered with dew. Most of the wildflowers close when the sun goes down and they only open after a few hours of sunlight.