Summer's arrived in South Africa's Drakensberg Mountains

Escape short dark days and the chills of a British winter and head to South Africa’s spectacular flower-drenched Drakensberg Mountains, the Royal Natal National Park and coastal regions of Port Edward. Naturetrek’s 14-day Flowers of South Africa's Drakensberg Mountains tour departs London 7th January 2009.

The holiday is specifically timed to coincide with the wonderful alpine flowers carpetting some of the continent’s most spectacular scenery, from the lower slopes of the spectacular Drakensburg escarpment to the highland region of Lesotho and the coastal dune forests around Port Edward. After an initial taster in Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in the highveld grasslands just outside Johannesburg, travel to Royal Natal National Park where explorations of the magnificent natural amphitheatre formed by 1,000 metre-high basalt cliffs reveal abundant and colourful plantlife including the delicate blue hues of Agapanthus campanulatus, fresh whites and greens of Zantedeschia albomaculata and striking pinks of Hesperanhus grandiflora.

Here, guests may also be rewarded with sightings of Gurney’s Sugarbird feeding on the nectar in the protea patches. Next, drive through Golden Gate National Park to the small town of Oxbow, at an altitude of 2,600 metres, to search for floral gems including Moraea alticola, Phygelius aequalis and Watsonia confusa. For birdwatchers, Red-hot Poker patches will be alive with many varieties, in particular the flashing green of Malachite Sunbirds, whilst overhead soaring Jackal Buzzards are often seen.

Further ornithological treasures such as Southern Bald Ibis, Orange-breasted Rockjumper and Drakensburg Siskin are on offer during an exploration of Lesotho. More flowers are experienced during the incredible descent down Sani Pass where the elusive Ground Woodpecker may make a rare appearance. Leaving the mountains behind, the grassland slopes and steep cliffs of the Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve provide a remarkable back-drop for numerous plant species including the stunning pink inflorescences of Brunsvigia as well as host to several species of antelope and nesting places for Black Eagle.

The tour concludes in the coastal dune forests of Port Edward with an opportunity to search for Flame Lily before a visit to the highly biodiverse lands of Umtamvuna Nature Reserve where many endemic floral species flourish, before returning home to thermal underwear and snowdrops!

The tour costs £2,995 p/p including scheduled flights, half-board accommodation in guest houses, mountain chalets and hotels together with expert botanical guiding.

For more information and bookings, log on to Naturetrek.co.uk.