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Cederberg Wilderness Area

Cederberg Wilderness Area

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The Cederberg Wilderness Area is a beautiful destination for nature lovers and is located just two hours from Cape Town. The wilderness area comprises about 71 000 hectares of rugged, mountainous terrain, making it a great spot in the Western Cape for hiking and rock-climbing enthusiasts. The landscape also boasts spectacular plant life and animal life as well as mountains, caves, rivers, and cascading waterfalls, ideal for outdoor recreation. Local attractions and towns surrounding the area include Lambertsbaai and Elandsbaai, Clanwilliam and Citrusdal, as well as ancient San and Khoi rock art. This World Heritage Site is the perfect destination for those looking to escape the city for a weekend.

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The Cederberg Wilderness Area is rich in wildlife and plant life and those visiting can enjoy a splendid time in nature. Wildlife in the area includes porcupines, honey badger, the Cape clawless otter and aardvark. Those lucky enough may catch a glimpse of the elusive leopard. Furthermore, the smaller predators in the area are the African wild cat, lynx, bat-eared fox, aardwolf and Cape fox. Other more common animals include baboons, dassies, grey rhebok, klipspringers, duiker and grysbok.

The nature reserve is located in a winter rainfall area, with 70% of the annual rain falling between May and August, especially on the mountain's west-facing slopes. Snow falls frequently, and frost can last for up to ten days. Summer temperatures range from 29°C to 40°C, while the average low in winter is 4°C.

The Cederberg Wilderness Area offers a fantastic escape into the great outdoors of the Western Cape. Here, visitors can enjoy a plethora of outdoor recreation all year round. For those with a sense of adventure, there is an extensive network of hiking trails — from short nature walks to day-long hikes into the mountains. Mountain biking is also a popular activity here, while those looking for a thrill will be in their element with rock climbing cliff faces all around. For the history buffs, Cederberg's remarkable San and Khoi rock art is a sight to see. These paintings, discovered in rocky overhangs and caves are between 300 to 6 000 years old. They contribute significantly to the value of the wilderness. Over 2,500 sites have been discovered, with many of them being easily accessible.

The Cederberg Wilderness Area offers several accommodation options to suit any discerning traveller. Numerous self-catering cottages sleep up to eight guests, as well as two well-maintained campsites which offer camping and caravaning. For those who are looking for a more luxurious experience, there are a few lodges to choose from.

Do you have further information? If so, please email us at contact@wildsafariguide.com