A seasonal guide to West Coast Private Game Reserve

Flowers in spring, whales in summer and wildlife all year

Last updated: Monday, 22 December 2025

Depending on the season you visit West Coast Private Game Reserve, you might find vibrant-green plains after winter’s first rains, September veld exploding with wildflowers, a honey-coloured savannah stretching to the horizon or even whales off Yzerfontein’s coast in summer.

On West Coast Safaris’ game drives, you can spot giraffes moving across dunes; a stay at Rooikat Safari Collection allows you to wake up with wildlife browsing just beyond your deck and a seasonal whale experience lets you venture to the nearby Yzerfontein Beach.

It’s the kind of safari that changes throughout the seasons. Image: West Coast Safaris

SUMMER: WEST COAST WHALE WATCHING

This is when it’s a honey-coloured savannah. As the veld dries, the vegetation thins out and water sources draw animals together, making wildlife easier to spot: buffalo rest in the shade of acacias, giraffes stand tall, and the rare golden wildebeest glows even brighter against the backdrop.

It’s also one of the most special periods of the year because many of the game gives birth so it’s common to see wobbling calves, protective mothers, and young herds across the open veld.

It’s also when the coastline comes alive. From November to March, humpback whales move past Yzerfontein coast, sometimes forming remarkable “supergroups” that can number over 100 whales. Guests can complement their land safari experience with a whale watching tour or eco-boat tour, spotting dolphins, seals, penguins and sunfish.

With the beach only a 10-minute drive from the reserve, combining land and sea is effortless. The Whale & Game Drive Package includes a private game drive, a marine tour, and a three-night stay at Rooikat Safari Collection.

You can watch whales in the morning, followed by eland and giraffes in the afternoon. Image: West Coast Safaris

SPRING: BEST MONTH FOR WILDFLOWERS

This time of year is when the reserve is at its lushest and most colourful. By July, salt pans brim with water, drawing flamingos and pelicans to the glittering shallows.

In August and September, the wildflower season starts to bloom. The reserve becomes a tapestry of daisies, vygies, wild sage, honey bush and rare ericas. Botanists have identified at least six erica species on the property, which is unusual for a coastal reserve, as most ericas prefer cooler mountain areas.

Despite being the reserve’s most spectacular period, it’s still far quieter than the famous West Coast flower hotspots. Guests are often surprised to find wildlife roaming in entire stretches of blooming veld, which they get to all to themselves. This makes it one of the best places to see flowers and wildlife without the crowds.

Spring is also one of the coolest and most comfortable times for long game drives. Image: West Coast Safaris

AUTUMN & WINTER: GREEN PLAINS + INTIMATE DRIVES

After the first rains in May and June, the veld responds almost immediately: grass glows vivid green, dunes show new growth and springbok race through puddles.

The cooler months are the quietest time on the reserve, and the game drives are intentionally intimate because the open-air Land Rover only carries up to nine guests at a time.

They’re led by guides who share stories of the land, point out plants used as teas or medicinal remedies, and reveal small behaviours guests wouldn't notice on their own, like how a female springbok only roams alone when she’s pregnant.

Guests can also explore the reserve differently by booking a horseback safari (with the option to continue onto Yzerfontein Beach) for experienced riders, or book the full-day Safari & San Heritage Experience, which pairs a three-hour game drive with a visit to !Khwa ttu, the renowned San heritage centre. You’ll be collected from Cape Town, and a three-course lunch is included.

A baby zebra and the parent. Image: West Coast Safaris

WEST COAST ACCOMMODATION

While you can visit the reserve as a day trip, staying overnight is the best way to experience everything the West Coast Private Game Reserve has to offer.

The Salt Mine has two self-catering houses which form part of the Rooikat Safari Collection. They’re in the middle of the reserve and draw heavily from the region’s old gypsum mining heritage - dark green exteriors that blend into the landscape, local botanical illustrations on the walls, and, of course, they are solar-powered and sustainably built.

Set just 100 metres apart, the two cabins offer the best of both worlds: space and seclusion when you want it, and an easy walking path between them when you don’t. Families can spread out while still staying connected, and groups of friends can enjoy shared moments without giving up privacy.

Each bedroom includes a desk and reliable Wi-Fi, making the cabins just as inviting for digital nomads - imagine answering emails in the morning, then closing the laptop and stepping straight into nature for the rest of the day.

Read more about Rooikat Safari Accommodation at West Coast Private Game Reserve.

Rooikat’s The Salt Mine officially opened in August 2025. Image: West Coast Safaris
 

VISIT WEST COAST PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Whether you visit for wildflowers, whales, golden veld or quiet winter wilderness, each season reveals a different side to the West Coast - one that’s wild, uncrowded and close to Cape Town.

Bookings: Book your safari
West Coast Safaris is open: Daily, 8am to 5pm
Find it: West Coast Safaris Bookings Office | Weskus Padstal, Corner of R27 & R315, Yzerfontein
Website: westcoastsafaris.co.za
Contact on: 066 525 1994, info@westcoastsafaris.co.za

By Khadeeja Adams

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!Khwa ttu is the world’s first heritage museum dedicated to the San.

There’s always 7+ things to do this week(end).

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