Africa Deluxe Tours The Wolfberg Arch in the Cederberg Mountains

The Cederberg Mountains & Wilderness Area

where

The Cederberg Mountains and Wilderness Area (71 000ha and managed by Cape Nature) are located to the north of Cape Town and to the interior from the West Coast. Clanwilliam, ±230km (2.5-hours’ drive) from Cape Town is a popular access point into the mountain range from the north and to the south Citrusdal. The latter is ±175km (just under 2-hours’ drive) from Cape Town.

rock formations & rock art

The Cederberg Mountains has a truly unique character, featuring large jagged sandstone rock formations. Many of the formations are red-orange in colour due to iron oxide deposits. Amongst the countless unique shapes and sizes the Maltese Cross and the Wolfberg Arch formations are legendary in the South African hiking fraternity and a definite item on any hiker’s bucket list. The Cederberg also feature scores of San rock art paintings, which dates back thousands of years. The San people were early hunter-gatherers, also known as ’The Bushmen’.

exploring the easy bits

Exploring the fringes of the Cederberg Mountains is a very accessible option for regular travelers, especially using Clanwilliam as a base. Options range from simply driving up the scenic Pakhuis Pass, with easy stops enroute to wander off into a myriad of rock formations; going for a short hike on the self-guided Sevilla Rock Art Route beyond the Pakhuis Pass (featuring both rock art and rock formations) to visiting the excellent Rooibos Tea House in Clanwilliam or heading out to one of the local Rooibos Tea farms.

venturing in deeper

Venturing deeper into the mountain range takes some planning and time though. This may entail anything from a three day donkey cart trail into the mountains, to a strenuous week-long hike. As with any major mountain range planning and safety for these kind of activities are paramount. If you’re an experienced hiker though, it is absolutely worth the effort. Because of the countless large boulders and rock formations in the range is is also a global hotspot for rock climbers to do ‘bouldering’.

routing

The Cederberg can be a destination in its own right for a one day outing or a month-long stay. It fits in well with a circular route from Cape Town together with the Swartland and West Coast.

Tours that include Cederberg Mountains & Wilderness Area

Fishing boats at Paternoster

Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: ***
Price: R10,945 per person sharing (±US$ 789 )
R250 single supplement (±US$ 18 )

Valid dates: Feb 2015 - Oct 2015


This tour gives you the opportunity to visit the Cape Winelands, taste some of our best estate wines and experience the special kind of West Coast hospitality and cuisine. Visit two factories at Clanwilliam producing two quintessential South African products: velskoene and rooibos tea. Overnight at the quaint Paternoster. Visit Saldanha Bay harbour and the West Coast National Park. In season you might enjoy vast expanses of indigenous flowers.

Highlights: Cape Winelands , Riebeek Valley , Paternoster , The West Coast , Cederberg Mountains & Wilderness Area , Bird Island Nature Reserve .

Cederberg Mountains & Wilderness Area attractions

Camps Bay beach is one of Cape Town's top destinations for families and couples alike. The Twelve Apostles buttresses, part of the Table Mountain range forms a majestic backdrop.

Western Cape

The Western Cape is the most Southwestern province of South Africa and boasts many of the most popular tourist attractions. Cape Town is the hub of many of these attractions. It includes Table Mountain, The Cape Peninsula with its scenic beauty and wildlife, The Cape Winelands and the The Garden Route.

A scene in the Ramskop Wildflower Garden In Clanwilliam.

Clanwilliam

Clanwilliam is a town in the Western Cape situated in the Olifants River Valley. The town lies between the Cederberg Mountains to the east and the Clanwilliam Dam to the west. It is one of the ten oldest towns in South Africa and the town centre contains no less than 7 National Monuments.

Landscape at the Elandsberg Eco Reserve between Clanwilliam and Lambert's Bay in South Africa.

Elandsberg Eco Tourism

Elandsberg Eco Tourism is located between Clanwilliam and Lambert’s Bay within South Africa’s indigenous Rooibos Tea growing centre, the fringe of the Cederberg Mountains and close to the West Coast. They offer a Rooibos (growing & processing) tour, a Fynbos & rock formation tour or a combination of the two.