Cederberg Mountains

These fantastic mountains which climb to some 2,000 meters in height, offer a dramatic landscape with beautifully eroded rock formations, and are easily reached from Cape Town, circa. 200 km away, along good roads. This protected district, which covers an area of some 710 km2 does not have many roads, but that is really the whole point  as Cederberg is a wonderful district for walking. There are many marked paths in the area, everything from short and easy paths to long multi-day treks that require a high level of fitness and sleeping in simple huts, can be enjoyed here. For the more adventurous there are plenty of opportunities to go climbing in these spectacular mountains. In many places it is possible to take a dip in the small, natural rock pools, while elsewhere you can find some fine rock paintings made by people of the bushman culture some 6,000 years ago.

You should not expect to see much in the way of big game in this district, but there are a number of small antelope species and baboons are relatively common. There is actually a very good population of leopards here, but they are very shy and very difficult to see – and they don’t create any problems for the many walkers and climbers who visit the area. The tops of the large, majestic blackthorn trees are an ideal perch for many birds. The mountains are actually named after a rare species of coniferous tree, a member of the cedar family, that only grows here. The vegetation of the Cederberg Mountains is quite unique and very beautiful, especially when the plants are in bloom during the spring, around September and October  – in fact this is where the now world renowned Roibos tea originally come from. There is a wide range of accommodation available around the Cederberg Mountains, but the most unique must be the hotel whose rooms have been built in amongst the beautiful rock formations.

Highlights:

   •      Walking in beautiful surroundings, amongst beautiful weather beaten rock formations

   •      Unique vegetation that is at its best when it is in bloom during the spring

High season: March to April and September to December