A Wildflower Legacy: Chiefs Tented Camps Renews Namaqua Concession
As the earth bursts into bloom each spring in Namaqualand, a singular phenomenon unfolds: a fleeting, floral spectacle that has captured hearts for generations. Now, as Chiefs Tented Camps enters a second five-year concession with SANParks, the beloved Namaqua Flower Camp continues its journey as one of South Africa’s most enchanting seasonal retreats.
Originally launched in 2011, the Namaqua Flower Camp is a temporary, off-grid haven nestled within Namaqua National Park, operating exclusively during peak wildflower season—from late August to mid-September. For just four weeks each year, this remote corner of the Northern Cape is transformed into a living canvas of colour. But this isn’t just a camp; it’s an experience defined by simplicity, scale, and staggering natural beauty.
The brainchild of Lysta Stander and Allan Johnston, Co-Founders of South African Experiences, the camp was born from an ambitious idea: to offer guests front-row seats to the world’s most mesmerising wildflower display. That vision took shape under extraordinary conditions. On a rainy August night in 2011, with 30 tonnes of gear and a route swallowed by coastal sand, the team pushed through to set up their very first camp. As morning broke, the landscape revealed itself—and a legacy began.
Since then, the project has blossomed into an icon of sustainable adventure travel. Following a successful pilot and the award of their first SANParks concession in 2019, Chiefs Tented Camps has refined the experience into a curated seasonal retreat, with minimal environmental impact and maximal visual reward.
Their renewed concession for 2025–2029 ensures the story continues—with all the hallmarks of thoughtful luxury, ecological respect, and an awe-inspiring setting that has to be seen to be believed.
