The Cederberg Tour

The Cederberg Tour

The Cederberg named after the endangered Clanwilliam Cedar a magnificent and breath taking wilderness north of Cape Town, famous for its so called savage beauty the mountains are known for dramatic rock formations, most famous thereof being the Stadsaal Caves and San Rock Art. The Cederberg extends 50km north-south by 20km east-west. Most notable mountains are Sneeuberg ( 2026 m ) and Tafelberg. (1969 ) and interesting landmarks are Maltese Cross, Wolfberg Arch and Wolfberg Cracks. Predominant vegetation is mediterranian Fynbos in the wetter South and West changing to semi desert scrub in the north and east. Home only to the Snow Protea in the higher attitudes of the mountains. Apex preditors are the Felids Leopard and Caracal . Other mammals include Rock Hyrax ( Dassie ) , Meerkats, Mangooses, Bontebok, Gemsbok and Cape Mountain Zebra , Baboons , African Wild Cat, Porcupines , Honey Badger, Cape , Cape Clawless Otter, Aardvark, Lynx, Bat- Eared Fox, and Aard Wolf,

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort, N7 Piekenierskloof Pass, Citrusdal, 7340, South Africa

Collect clients at designated hotel and proceed on the N7 to Citrusdal via Malmesbury, Moorreesberg and Piketberg arriving at 12h00 at the Piekenierskloof Hotel for lunch

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Cederberg Wilderness Area, West Coast DC, South Africa

The magnificent Cederberg Wilderness, also known as the Rock garden of the Gods starts about 20 minutes north of Citrusdal where we turn left and along a sand road for roughly 1½ hours via the Middelberg Pass a world heritage site, covered in mountain fynbos, Laurel Protea, Red Disa, Rooibos, and the Snow Protea, the wilderness stretches from the Middleberg Pass in Citrusdal in the north to the Pakhuis Pass at Clanwilliam. The Wilderness encompasses 71,000 hectares of rugged mountain’s terrain a must for hikers and rock climbers. This area is home to porcupines, honey badger, cape clawless otter, aardvark, African wildcat, lynx, bat – eared fox, aardwolf, African wildcat, lynx, bat - eared fox, cape fox, baboons, dassies, grey rhebok, klipsingers, duiker, grysbok, and the rare and elusive cape leopard.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Cederberg Private Cellar, Dwarsrivier, Cederberg 8136 South Africa

We do a wine tasting at Cederberg Private Cellar Wine Estate, is South Africa`s highest winery, owned by David Nieuwoudt now in the family for over 5 generations since 1893 , the first grapes were planted in 1973 on what was originally a fruit farm – Known for their Ghost Corner Elim series , their wines have consistently won critical acclaim – Cellar Master David Nieuwoudt – Wine maker David Nieuwoudt, Alex Nel & Tammy Turck – Viticulturist Ernest Niewoudt & Oubaas Laubsher – 5,50 ha/ 60 ha – Celebrated for their Cabinet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Bukettraube, Chenin Blanc – production 600t/64,000cs own label, 40% red and 60% white

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Stop At: Stadsaal Caves, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Cederberg South Africa

Stadsaal Caves and Rock paintings, - Stadsaal Caves are a series of ancient – leading caves in the Cederberg Wilderness which the San ( Bushman ) lived in the Cederberg for over 5,000 years, but stopped about 200 years ago when the then colonialists occupied the Cederberg. The craggy almost surreal landscape filled with eroded rock formations in a variety of burnt orange , amber, reds and yellow colours, with the blue sky as a back ground is simply stunning – the food for photographer

Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Stop At: Stadsaal Caves, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Cederberg South Africa

The Elephant Rock paintings, situated close to the Stadsaal Caves, here you have probably one of the best examples of the San Rock Art in the Cederberg. After taking photographs of this beautifully example of rock paintings you can take a short hike around the vicinity for some more photographs

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Gydo Mountain Pass, Route R303 between Ceres and Citrusdal, Prince Alfred Hamlet, Witzenberg Municipality 7340 South Africa

After taking photographs some more photographs of this epic scenery we head back home through the Gydo Pass and on to Ceres , then passing through heading south where we drive through Mitchell`s Pass and then on to Wellington and Paarl before joining the N1 on the trip back to Cape Town.

Duration: 3 hours