Graafwater, Cederberg
Halfway between Clanwilliam and Lamberts Bay, and 300 km from Cape Town, lies the little town of Graafwater.
It lies in the northerly reaches of the Sandveld – a huge, sparsely populated area sandwiched between the West Coast and the Swartland, and adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.
Other than Leipoldtville, and Klawer further north, Graafwater is the only village for miles around – this is typical of the region where towns are spread far and wide, each surrounded by huge expanses of veld filled with spectacular fynbos, dense stands of indigenous vegetation, hardy bushes and reeds and, in spring, a tapestry of wild flowers.
The picture created is one antagonistic to farming. Low rainfall and poor, sandy soil means that any farms in the area breed mostly sheep and cattle. But the Sandveld also does well for bee farmers, potatoes (the area around Redelinghuys and the Verlorenvallei are regarded as the 'potato store' of the Western Cape), sunflowers and even some wheat on those farms closest to the Swartland.
Graafwater exists mainly as a link on the railway line to Bitterfontein, but the local hotel, now over 100 years old (which advertises itself as 'nothing fancy' but boasts a large dose of West Coast hospitality and neat, clean rooms) does a booming trade with the flower season as people pour into the Sandveld for the spectacle.
In particular there are numerous rosin bushes (Euryops) around Graafwater that are spectacular when in flower.
Visit the Heerenlogement (Gentlemen's Lodging), an overhanging rock that used to serve as an overnight facility for early settlers, go on a rock art tour, or boulder in Clanwilliam.
Graafwater, when translated from the Afrikaans, means 'water from a spade'.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
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Verreaux's Eagle
Verreaux's Eagle is a cosy self-catering eco-cabin offering Citrusdal accommodation perched on the side of the mountain, with sweeping views down...
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Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort
Situated in Citrusdal, Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort offers comfortable accommodation for up to 140 guests. You can play mini-golf at this reso...
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Dassie Den
Dassie Den boasts beautiful views. The carpeted, luxury tent is comprised of three rooms which are furnished with double, single and bunk beds. T...
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Leopard Valley Glamping
Leopard Valley Glamping Tents offers glamping accommodation in a peaceful valley between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam. The glamping tents are each ...
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Enjo Nature Farm
You will find Enjo Nature Farm far from the main tourist tracks in the wild and unspoiled Biedouw Valley of the Cederberg Mountains. The Valley i...
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Excelsior Farm Self Catering
Excelsior is an old colonial style farm house which offers five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large cozy farm kitchen, a small second kitchen and ...
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Clanwilliam Accommodation 5A
Clanwilliam Accommodation 5A, located on the ground floor, can sleep three guests. The bedroom is furnished with a double bed and there is an ext...
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Lebanon Citrus Resort
A quiet and peaceful small private resort consisting of a self catering cottage and 3 self catering rondawels all situated on the water's edge. ...
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Cederkloof Luxury Forest Camp
Cederkloof Luxury Forest Camp offers comfortable tented accommodation in the Cederkloof Botanical Retreat. The retreat forms part of a working fa...
Things to do in the area
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Boegoeberg 4x4 Trail
The magnificence of the Western Cape is unquestionable, and continues to entice visitors from all corners of the globe year after year. In fact, ...
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Elands Bay Cave
Booking accommodation in Elands Bay is like buying a ticket to the ultimate “chill zone”. This little town is only about 2.5 hours’ drive from Ca...
Noteworthy attractions
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Cederberg Wilderness Area
The Cederberg Wilderness Area lies some 200 km north of Cape Town. This vast area stretches from the Middelberg Pass at Citrusdal to north of the...
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Beaverlac Nature Reserve
This little talked about gem lies just 25 kilometres outside of Porterville, roughly 2 hours from Cape Town, in the Olifants River Mountains in t...
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Bushmanskloof Wilderness
Bushmanskloof Wilderness, lying in the northern Cederberg wilderness roughly 270 kilometres from Cape Town, is a South African Natural Heritage S...
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Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve
The beautiful Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve lies on the eastern edge of the Cederberg Mountains, managed as part of the greater Cederberg conserva...
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Pakhuis Conservancy
Set on the northern edge of the Cederberg Wilderness area, roughly 300 kilometres from Cape Town and close to the town of Clanwilliam, the Pakhui...
![](https://www.sa-venues.com/attractions/gallery/westerncape/831/1.jpg)
Middle Keurbooms Conservancy
On the beautiful Prince Alfred Pass lies the Middle Keurbooms Conservancy, or MKC for short. More than 30 000 hectares have been designated by la...
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Katbakkies Pass
Katbakkies Pass has what is commonly known as a descriptive name. Others in the area include Houdenbek and Skitterykloof - although Skitterykloof...
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Nieuwoudt Pass
The Nieuwoudt Pass is a dirt road that occurs roughly halfway between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam, off the N7. It is actually an alternative route ...
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Pakhuis Pass
The drive from Clanwilliam to Wuppertal in the Cederberg, the incredible wild and mountainous region that attracts hikers and lies roughly three ...
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