It's also not a bad track to kick off a spring-flower road-trip. With the sun shining and the birds a' singin', spring is the time to hit the N7 north of Cape Town to marvel at what all that winter rain has given rise to.

The annual explosion of spring flowers has become one of South Africa’s most popular natural events, drawing tourists from across the globe to marvel at the swathes of colour that carpet the Western and Northern Cape each year.

After two years of bumper displays – the best in living memory according to more than one farmer I met – good winter rains this year mean that the scene is set for another spectacular splash of spring flowers.

You can find flowers on a day-trip from Cape Town, but to see the hillsides of colour that the postcards are made of you’ll need to head further north. Namaqualand is without doubt the Shangri-La of spring flowers, but if you’re short of time you can do just as well a few hours from the Mother City.

Heading out of Cape Town on the N7 you’ll start to see the tell-tale daisies along the roadside as far south as Citrusdal, with splashes of orange and white amongst the citrus orchards hinting at what’s in store.

Fifty-odd kilometres further north brings you to Clanwilliam; one of South Africa’s oldest towns and a popular spot to spend the night if you’re taking things easy. The Strassberger Hotel is the most famous guesthouse in town, offering comfortable rooms and warm country hospitality. While you’re in town, make sure you pay a visit to the Ramskop Nature Reserve, which includes the Clanwilliam Wildflower Garden, on the eastern shore of the dam. The garden contains dozens of species of indigenous plants, and in flower season you can buy bulbs and seeds from the tea room.

…The dry, desolate Knersvlakte …

Clanwilliam is the place to leave the N7 if you want to explore the northern reaches of the rugged Cederberg mountain range. It's here that you'll find the Biedouw Valley, about 55kms north-east of town. This fertile valley between the Biedouw and Tra-Tra Mountains is famous for its veld flowers and – because it’s a little off the tourist trail – is less popular than other flower areas, so you can have it all to your bloomin’ self. If you've saved your pennies and want to spoil yourself, the Bushmanskloof Wilderness Reserve offers five-star flower-viewing in five-star luxury.

Back on the N7; keep heading north from Clanwilliam until you hit Vanrhynsdorp. This small 'dorpie' is known as the 'gateway to Namaqualand', but also offers spectacular spring flowers of its own.

The dry and hostile Knersvlakte surrounding the town may seem lifeless, but take a closer look and you’ll find that in amongst the dry white pebbles are thousands of tiny succulents eking an existence from the harsh landscape. The best place to see the succulents in all their glory is on Buys Wiese’s farm Quaggaskop, where a section of land left untouched for the last 20 years shows off the boksportjies, kameelspoor, baby toes, hitch-hikers and candy toes in all their glory. You can also see the succulents at the nursery (also started by Wiese) in Voortrekker Street.

Vanrhynsdorp is the point where you need to choose between left and right. Left takes you north along the N7 to Namaqualand, but your best bet if you've only got a few days is to keep right at Vanrhynsdorp and head over the winding Vanrhyn’s Pass to the Bokkeveld Plateau and Nieuwoudtville.

Hit the road to Nieuwoudtville on Page 2…