The cederberg area in the western cape is a mountainous, wilderness region on the west coast of south africa, famous for its unique and fantastical rock formations. South africa western cape cederberg region algeria backpack and hike in the wolfberg cracks of the cederberg. The beautiful cederberg, a wilderness area dominated by a craggy mountain range and a nature reserve that stretches from the middelberg pass at citrusdal to just north of the pakhuis pass at clanwilliam over 70 000 hectares of spectacular, rugged terrain lies roughly two to three hours drive, depending on how leisurely the pace, from cape town. Apr 19, 2012 cederberg wolfberg cracks hiking pictures the easter weekend stumbled upon us and it was a tough decision of where to go or what to do. Bushmans kloof wilderness reserve and wellness retreat is located at the foothills of the cederberg mountains. Walk up to the wolfberg cracks from sanddrif in the cederberg, about 3 hours. Climbing at wolfberg, sanddrif cederberg, south africa.
The tour allows occasional rider, with no previous offroad experience, to discover the desert areas of the tankwa karoo, the magnificent sceneries of the cederberg mountains, and to ride the legendary old postal route, with the comfort of a backup 4x4 vehicle transporting petrol, food, drinks and luggages. Different options on walks through the cracks at the end, need experience to ge. At the bottom of the pass you will see a sign that shows you the direction of the cederberg. Hiking in the kingdom of the cederbergs kagga kamma south africans love the outdoors, which is hardly surprising, since the overall climate, seasons, and weather patterns in each region are so conducive to being outside in open spaces, where the air is clean, clear, and fresh the way nature intended. These hikes are moderate and your personal level of fitness should guide you in deciding which route to follow. The impressive rock outcrop is your reward for walking up the fairly steep kloof. Wuppertal can also be reached from citrusdal, along a back 4.
Cederberg accommodation 49 unique places to stay in cederberg. Cederberg accommodation 49 unique places to stay in. Once over the piekenierskloof pass, the country has changed. Cederberg, western cape welcome to the official cederberg tourism site learn all about the towns situated in the cederberg municipal region as well as about the cederberg mountains and cederberg wilderness area, what you can do here, where to have delicious meals and where you can stay. May 10, 2012 the cederberg in general is known for is fantastical rock formations, and the cracks will not disappoint. Cederberg senior scout adventure, western cape south africa. Rock climbers boost economy of south africas cederberg mountains duration. Hiking wolfberg cracks and wolfberg arch cederberg south. Clanwilliam and citrusdal with its towering mountains, brilliant purple and orange sunsets, laden with the scent of orange blossom in the spring. Hiking the wolf cracks in the cederberg mountains action. Here is a route description, map, and gps waypoints for hiking the route. The dominating characteristic of the area is sharply defined. The main access road, the n7, runs to the west of the range. Rates please contact us for off season rates rates chalets.
South africa south africa western cape cederberg region algeria backpack and hike in the wolfberg cracks of the cederberg. Unless arranged for example sunday could be 14h00 if not peak season. Why you need to visit the cederberg mountains bushmans kloof. In winter, the area around the cederberg is awash with ripe citrus orchards and snowcapped mountains. The cederberg is renowned for its quality of rock climbing routes particularly around the krakadouw and tafelberg peaks. From the car park at the start of our hiking route, wolfberg didnt seem much different from the other mountains wed passed on our fourhour drive from cape town. The best things to do in cederberg 2020 with photos. Purchase permits and a map from the office at dwarsrivier or algeria forest station cape nature hq for the cederberg wilderness. The rock climbing at wolfberg is concentrated at the towering cliffs at the wolfberg cracks. Wolfberg cracks southern cederberg, a climbers guide.
Once you have reached the top of the uitkykpass, you will be about 20km from the wolfberg cracks. Cederberg private cellar 2020 all you need to know. I would recommend adding the additional miles to see wolfberg arch as well. Whinge direct 25rx an alternative third pitch to whinge taking the blank face left of the arete.
If there is one adventurous hike to do in the cederberg wilderness area, this is it. The two lie fairly close to one another and either will supply you with maps and permits. North of cape town, on the southern fringes of namaqualand, lie the cederberg mountains. A perfect weekend destination from cape town, mount ceder camping in the cederberg mountains, offers visitors exhilarating peace and relaxation in this unspoilt cederberg paradise.
The vineyards here are the highest in the cape at 11001150 metres up in the cederberg mountains, most of them on dramatic shale slopes. Far away from the city lights, in a vast open space where rock formations frame the horizon, there is a place where lovers of nature can experience a truly unique environment. Wolfberg cracks, sanddrift, cederberg, south africa youtube. Check out the klein krakadouw trail or wupperthal trail. Cederberg south africa hiking in south africa living. Wolfberg lies within the awesome cederberg wilderness area, which is. Characterized by rugged sandstone formations, plentiful water, and abundant wildlife, the mountains of the cederberg were inhabited by san bushmen from the very earliest times the wealth of rock art left behind by this now extinct cultural group is one of.
The table mountain sandstone creates ideal conditions for spectacular routes. Wolfberg cracks is the adventurous hike to do in the cederberg natural area. Hiking wolfberg cracks and wolfberg arch cederberg south africa. Sanddrif holiday resort offers a choice of accommodation, from 16 cosy and fully equipped selfcatering holiday cottages with breathtaking views of the famous wolfberg cracks and the river to more than 40 wellrun camping facilities with a safe playground for children. Aug 21, 2014 wolfberg cracks, sanddrift, cederberg, south africa ryan vd merwe. Day hikes cederberg conservancy, south africa, western cape. Visitors can relax at accommodation facilities or engage in bird watching, swimming. This is a steep mountain walk with some easy scrambling at the top to get into the largest crack, a narrow cleft reaching 30m into the bowels of the wolfberg. Through the wolfberg cracks to the arch, across to the welbedacht cave and down the mountain. Cederberg conservancy the solitude and breathtaking natural beauty of the area is captivating. This epic formation can be reached by traversing a set of monumental clefts in the mountain known as the wolfberg cracks. By albert van niekerk i knew i should have printed the directions but, like always, i never did.
To take this route, drive about 28km from citrusdal and turn right onto the cederberg mountains algeria road. Even though i was convinced that we must have missed a turnoff somewhere, i refused to admit that we were lost. Wolfberg cracks and arch, cederberg wilderness area. The mountain range is named after the endangered clanwilliam cedar widdringtonia wallichii old name was widdringtonia cedarbergensis, which is a tree endemic to the area. At the bottom of the mountain is a sport crag called sanddrif there are a number of. The cederberg region is only two hours from cape town and yet the landscape is completely different. Cederberg private cellar 2020 all you need to know before.
Look out for south africas most uniquely situated wine farm, the cederberg private cellar. Cape rock, by julian fisher, nomad mountain publications, 3rd edition. One of the easiest ways to ensure that you catch the flowers in bloom is to hire a car and drive the length of the cape flower route. It features a spa and wellness center, heated outdoor swimming pool and lush garden. The drive from yzerfontein to richtersveld national park takes approximately 7. The cederberg wilderness area falls within the cape floral region, a world heritage site. Wolfberg cracks western cape, south africa alltrails. Majestic mountain ranges that tumble across the western cape terrain for mile upon endless mile give the cederberg an ethereal quality that is close to impossible to define. In a valley, surrounded by the breathtaking cederberg mountain, mount ceder is in a wilderness area that offers a range of activities from spring flowers in august. The riot of colour that accompanies the coming of the namaqua spring flowers does reach south into the cederberg, although it is the stunning backdrop of dramatic mountains speckled with tenacious fynbos and cut through with tortuous passes that draws people here yearround. So we have an expert knowledge of the cederberg lodges and touring options. My advice, if you want to visit this area, book cederberg accommodation or citrusdal accommodation far in advance. To reach the wolfberg arch, via wolfberg cracks some hikers start from dwarsrivier farm, others from sandrif holiday resort. Cederberg astronomical observatory high in the cederberg mountains, 240km north of cape town, a nonprofit organization.
Head straight up through the break in the step section above. They are bordered on the west by the sandveld, the north by the pakhuis mountains, the east by the springbok flats and the south by the kouebokkeveld mountains and the skurweberge. After all, south africas west coast is a trove of littleknown treasures, from. As you can see on the map the cederberg mountain area is vast and still underdevelopped, but there are various accomodation and facility options in the area, mainly basic camping facilities, but for those who want to be spoilt there is a special treat waiting for yo u at bushmanskloof mountain resort the roads in the nature reserve are mostly untarred, so we would really recommend to go. Cederberg local municipality is a local municipality which governs an area of the western cape province of south africa stretching from the cederberg mountains through the middle valley of the olifants river to the atlantic coast. Red and tan rugged rocks rise in dramatic forms to meet the high blue skies of africa, while jadecoloured tracts of vegetation flank the little rivers winding their way through the foothills of the mountains. Welcome to kagga kamma, a nature reserve nestled in the scenic cederberg mountains. With 67 listings in cederberg, our handy cederberg map search and great low prices, its easy to book the perfect holiday accommodation for your.
These cracks consist of a series of narrow canyons that have been cut deep into the rock, and which vary in width from a few meters to just about one body wide. Enjoy a complete wining and dining experience in fantastic restaurants with expansive views of vineyards and the maskam mountains. The towering cederberg mountains, brilliant purple in the late afternoon light, preside over a fruitfilled valley laden with the scent of orange blossom in the spring. Wolfberg cracks and arch map click to display the map wolfberg cracks and arch is 3. The two main towns nearby are clanwilliam to the north, and citrusdal to the south in the western cape province it is a 200kms drive north. The mountain range is named after the endangered clanwilliam cedar widdringtonia cedarbergensis, which is a tree endemic to the area from the family cupressaceae. Very popular, and for good reason, this is a hike with an adventurous feel and is a lot of fun. It covers 83000ha of mountains, valleys, fynbos vegetation and streams. This spectacular, mountainous region was once home to a dazzling variety of flora and fauna, which included endangered species such as the black rhino and the now extinct quagga. Pull through on the left side, then traverse 2m right.
The cederberg in general is known for is fantastical rock formations, and the cracks will not disappoint. Original image from the guide book wolfberg cracks a climbers guide by tony lourens with permission. Walks in the central cederberg our recommendations. In the event of an incident, guides are connected to the geos emergency service system. The 12 000ha matjiesrivier nature reserve, obtained in 1995 with the assistance of the world wide fund for nature sa, is situated on the drier eastern boundary of the cederberg mountains. The cederberg escarpment is a rocky, alienlooking mountain range just 200 kilometers from cape town. The 30 best places in cederberg best price guarantee. Wolfberg cracks, sanddrift, cederberg, south africa ryan vd merwe. Cederberg camping nuwerust, camping in the heart of the.
The towering cederberg mountains, brilliant purple in the late afternoon light, preside over a fruitfilled valley laden with the scent. Cederberg, experience nuwerust rest camp, accommodations in the heart of the cederberg mountains, at the conservancy. Always carry enough water, warm clothes and snacks when embarking on any hike. David niewoudt took over the amazing cederberg estate from his father in 1997. Climb up a few meters to some small crimps in a thin rail. Groups must not split up as this could result in group members getting lost and having to spend an unplanned night in the mountains. Once you reach the summit of wolfberg mountain, look for a path leading to wolfberg arch. The guide was also very informative, forgot his name, but he comes from upington. Here, among the fynbos and spectacular rock formations, youll find the highest altitude vineyards in the western cape. Cederberg mountains luxury safaris safari tours classic. Good natural rainfall, around 550600mm, cool temperatures occasionally snow showers in winter, with.
Apr 12, 2012 walk up to the wolfberg cracks from sanddrif in the cederberg, about 3 hours. Situated in the cederberg mountains, the cederberg chalets are located in wide open spaces of unspoilt wilderness and tranquillity, spectacular rock formations, rock art, hiking and game viewing. The arch itself is certainly the largest such natural beauty of its kind that i know of in south africa, and stands in an area of great beauty and silence. The cederberg is a mountain range stretching approximately 100kms in a vast wilderness area. This is one of the highlights of any trip to the central cederberg. Here you will find the largest collection of ancient san bushmen rock art in. Notable landmarks include the maltese cross, wolfberg arch and wolfberg cracks. It includes the towns of clanwilliam, citrusdal and lamberts bay, and the surrounding villages and farms. Start about 4m to the left of the arete at a good rail. Wolfberg didnt seem much different from the other mountains wed passed on our fourhour drive from cape town. The cederberg was named after the hardy clanwilliam ceder tree, now close to extinction. Seasoned hikers should only attempt the spectacular hike to the wolfberg arch via the wolfberg cracks. There are numerous day and overnight hikes including the popular and spectacular wolfberg arch, wolfberg cracks and the maltese cross. The sun was setting and darkness approached quite rapidly as the mist eerily started to swallow the gravel mountain pass that we were driving on.
The cederberg wilderness area is a scenically beautiful and historically significant region just three hours drive north of cape town. Citrusdal tourism citrusdal is a bustling rural village set amongst lush green citrus orchards. Cederberg wolfberg cracks hiking pictures the easter weekend stumbled upon us and it was a tough decision of where to go or what to do. Hiking the wolf cracks in the cederberg mountains action gear. Walk 20m right to a large bush at the base of set vertical cracks. The 10 best cederberg hotels where to stay in cederberg. Rooibos tea natural coastal belt west coast infrastructure roads n7, r27 economy agriculture is the highest contributor to employment agriculture is the highest contributor to gdp. But in the heat of the day it can feel difficult, so start early. Lamberts bay and elands bay, with their perfect waves.
In spring the fields are carpeted in colourful and unique wildflowers. The cederberg region starts approximately 300 km north of cape town. The cederberg mountains are located near clanwilliam, approximately 300 km north of cape. This is where you will also pass the algeria resort, but continue with the road in the direction of the uitkykpas. The cederberg mountains extend about 50 km northsouth by 20 km eastwest. The cederberg mountains a hiking paradise attractions of hiking in the cederberg the cederberg region, 2. If you are looking for cederberg holiday accommodation, safarinow has a selection of selfcatering, camping and caravanning, bed and breakfast holiday accommodation in cederberg and surrounds.
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