About Cederberg Wilderness Area
The Cederberg Wilderness Area lies some 200 km north of Cape Town. This vast area in the Cederberg region stretches from the Middelberg Pass at Citrusdal to north of the Pakhuis Pass at Clanwilliam, encompassing some 71 000 ha of rugged, mountainous terrain.
Did you know? The gorgeous Cederberg Mountains are only about 2.5 hours’ drive north of Cape Town. Trails on the Cederberg Heritage Route, as there are a number, start from Clanwilliam. It is a challenging, beautiful terrain, most of it designated Wilderness Area – read: wild, undisturbed, beautifully preserved with rather poor roads and very limited overnight accommodation.
The Cederberg was proclaimed a wilderness area in 1973, and as such enjoys the highest possible conservation status. The Cederberg is renowned for its spectacular landscapes and rock formations, as well as its namesake, the increasingly rare Clanwilliam cedar tree.
The Cederberg mountains are part of the Cape folded mountain series and consist mainly of Table Mountain sandstone. Weathered sandstone formations, most notably the Wolfberg Arch and the Maltese Cross, are typical of the Cederberg. The mountains fall within the catchment area of the Cape fynbos region, and are managed as a source of water.
Winters in the Cederberg are cold and wet, while summers are warm and dry. The most rain falls between May and September, and it often snows in the higher parts. In the winter, night temperatures drop sharply and heavy frost may occur. In summer temperatures may reach as high as 40°C. Lightning is the most common cause of periodic veld fires. South-easterly winds predominate in the summer and also contribute to the high veld fire risk.
Vegetation is predominantly mountain fynbos. The lower slopes support laurel protea, silky conebush, sand olive and yellow daisies, with wild olives and mountain maytenus on the rocky outcrops. Waboom veld also occurs at this lower altitude. The eye-catching purply-blue ridderspoor, as well as rooibos tea and buchu grow against the lower cliffs.
Higher up one finds fynbos restio veld, with red disas in abundance along streams on the plateau. The Clanwilliam cedar grows in the so-called cedar zone against cliffs and overhangs at altitudes of more than 1 000 m above sea level. In the wetter ravines red and white els, yellowwood, hard-pear and Cape beech occur, while wild olive, silky bark and spoonwood prefer dryer kloofs. The endemic snow protea is perhaps the most attractive plant on the highest peaks. It is very scarce, and is only found at a few sites in the wilderness area.
Baboons, dassies, grey rhebok, klipspringers, duiker and grysbok are fairly common here. Although porcupine, honey badger, Cape clawless otter and aardvark occur here, they are seldom seen. The leopard is the Cederberg's largest predator, and is fairly common although very shy. Smaller predators include African wild cat, lynx, bat-eared fox, aardwolf and Cape fox. The small grey mongoose and striped polecat are often seen. Various interesting rodents occur, including spectacled dormouse.
More than 100 bird species occur here, with black eagle, rock kestrel and jackal buzzard the most common raptors. The armadillo lizard is one of the endemic reptiles occurring in the Cederberg. About 16 snake species are found here, the most common being berg adder, puff adder and black spitting cobra. The Clanwilliam yellow fish, Clanwilliam red fin minnow and fiery red fin minnow are but some of the threatened fish species endemic to the Olifants River, which may be found in the larger rivers and streams of the wilderness area.
Conservation Programmes
Cedar trees are becoming scarcer despite the protection offered by the wilderness area. A cedar reserve of about 5 250 ha was created in 1987, in an attempt to prevent the extinction of these trees. Extremely hot fires which are disastrous for adult trees are limited, and instead cooler more frequent burning is practised. Cedar trees are also being cultivated and each year about 8 000 year-old trees are planted in suitable places within the reserve.
Recreation
The Cederberg Wilderness Area offers unsurpassed opportunities for recreation. In the primitive wilderness, away from city bustle, one finds space and peace. Activities which are compatible with the wilderness atmosphere, such as hiking and rock climbing, are encouraged. Various hiking routes crisscross the wilderness area (see Cederberg Wilderness Trails). These routes provide access to the wilderness, and hikers may explore the area at will. Rock climbing is popular and is permitted throughout the area, provided that rock surfaces do not become damaged. The cliffs of the Krakadouw and Table Mountain peaks are the most popular climbing sites.
There are hundreds of rocky overhangs and caves with fine examples of rock art. These paintings may be anything from 300 to 6 000 years old, and are very sensitive to damage. They are an integral part of the wilderness area's fascination and visitors should discover them for themselves. Rock art is protected by the National Monuments Act, and vandals who deface rock paintings face fines of up to R10 000 or two years imprisonment, or both.
Need to Know
WhereCederberg Wilderness Area, Cederberg Area, Olifants River Valley, Western Cape, South Africa
WhenBest during daylight hours.
OvernightStay in Cederberg Accommodation, Western Cape
Disclaimer
Please note, business details can change. While we endeavour to ensure all information provided by the service provider is correct at the time of publication, we do not assume any liability caused by errors or changes, such as price, cost, time, and location. Please check with the provider that the activity/business is still offered as described, before making any travel plans.
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Hotels & other accommodation options in Cederberg

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Klipbokkop House
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Yellow Aloe Guesthouse
Yellow Aloe Guest House is an upmarket, country-chic space born out of a love for the countryside and the town of Clanwilliam in particular. The ...

Kliphuis Cottage
Kliphuis Cottage offers Cederberg accommodation on the Northern side of Mount Ceder, closest to the olive grove and within a short walking distan...

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...

Malachite Sunbird Cabin
Malachite Sunbird Cabin offers Cederberg self catering in a one bedroom cabin located in the Cape Leopard Valley in Citrusdal. We are passionate ...

The Longhouse Guesthouse
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Puntjie House
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Boskloof Swemgat
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Leipoldt Accommodation
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Alpha Excelsior Farm House
The Old Farm House is over 100 years old and full of character and charm. It is located on the Alpha Excelsior Guest farm in the heart of the Ced...


Leeustert Cottage
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Olienhout Cottage
Olienhout offers Cederberg accommodation at Mount Ceder within easy walking distance from the main reception and restaurant. Nestled in a valley ...

Hebron Guesthouse
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Mount Ceder Camping
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Cederberg Park
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Boschkloof Farm Cottages
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Waboomhoek House
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Mount Ceder Lodge
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Taaibos House
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Lebanon Citrus Resort
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Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve
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Kamferboom House
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Clanwilliam Hotel
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Alpha Excelsior Guest Farm
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Verreaux's Eagle
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Clanwilliam Lodge
Only two and a half hour's drive from Cape Town, Clanwilliam Lodge offers air-conditioned rooms of different styles - from standard rooms to a pr...

Cape Sugarbird
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Lylius Farm Cottage
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Rondegat on Clanwilliam Dam
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Alpha Excelsior Riverside
Riverside Cottage is a beautifully designed stone clad and wooden panelled cottage nestled in the trees on the Alpha Excelsior Guest farm in the ...

Weavers Cottage
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Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve
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Enjo Nature Farm
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Ndedema Lodge
Situated in the village of Clanwilliam, Ndedema Lodge provides accommodation in five rooms. The establishment has a terrace, swimming pool and br...

Haus Muller
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Melkbos Cottage
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Citrusdal Guest Rooms
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De Pakhuys Glamp and Camp
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De Pakhuys
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Kleinfontein
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Blommenberg Guest House
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Alpha Excelsior Retro Caravans
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Cederkloof Luxury Forest Camp
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Blinkberg House
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Petersfield Mountain Cottages
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Cederberg Ridge Wilderness Lodge
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Alpha Excelsior Homestead
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Things to do in the area

Cederberg Private Cellar
Cederberg Wines are located on the highest lying vineyards in South Africa and their unique location adds something extra special to their wine.W...

Cederberg Astronomical Observatory
In the early 1980s, a British astronomer named Peter Mack, who was working for the SAAO (South African Astronomical Observatory), visited the Ced...

Maltese Cross Walk
In order to walk to the Maltese Cross in the Cederberg you will need to collect a permit which you can do at the Dwarsdrivier Farm, alternatively...

Cederberg Oasis MTB Route
There is nothing more beautiful than riding until your heart is content in the beautiful Cederberg Wilderness Area. This is an intermediate route...

Algeria Forest Station Short Walks
Start: Algeria Forest Station (Cape Nature's Cederberg office), central CederbergFinish: Algeria Forest StationDuration: variousFitness: moderate...

Sevilla Rock Art Trail
Start: Traveller's Rest farm, CederbergFinish: Traveller's Rest farmDuration: 4 km, roughly 3 hours, 9 different rock art sitesFitness: easy, goo...

Pakhuis Trail
Start: Pakhuis PassFinish: Pakhuis PassDuration: 3 nights, 4 days, 40 kmFitness: moderate to difficult; whilst there is no scrambling involved th...

Middelberg Waterfall Walk
Start: Algeria forest station campsiteFinish: Algeria forest station campsiteDuration: 6 km, roughly 3 hours return (but allow for time at the wa...

Pakhuisberg Day Walk
Start: Kliphuis campsiteFinish: Kliphuis campsiteDuration: 13 kmFitness: moderate to difficultOur tip: This is one of the routes mapped on the ne...
Noteworthy attractions

Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness area, with its extraordinary rock formations and popular hiking routes, lies about 120 km north of Cape Town in the W...

Olifants River Valley Wine Route
The Olifants River wine route starts at Citrusdal, 180 km outside of Cape Town and meanders along the river for 120 km until it reaches Lutzville...

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...

Bushmanskloof Wilderness
Bushmanskloof Wilderness, lying in the northern Cederberg wilderness roughly 270 kilometres from Cape Town, is a South African Natural Heritage S...

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...

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...

Katbakkies Pass
Katbakkies Pass has what is commonly known as a descriptive name. Others in the area include Houdenbek and Skitterykloof - although Skitterykloof...

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 ...

Pakhuis Pass
The drive from Clanwilliam to Wuppertal in the Cederberg, the incredible wild and mountainous region that attracts hikers and lies roughly three ...
Accommodation near Cederberg Wilderness Area
FIND / South Africa Accommodation / Western Cape Accommodation / Cape Town Accommodation / Olifants River Valley Accommodation / Cederberg Accommodation