Cederberg Hiking Tour

You leave Cape Town and head to Tulbagh where you have time to explore the charming 18th century village of Tulbagh with its whitewashed Cape Dutch houses, enjoy some wine tasting and have lunch.

You continue via Ceres and the Gydo pass into the Southern Cedarberg. Once over the pass, the country changes; wilder, warmer with a raw, dramatic beauty. You arrive at Mount Ceder Lodge in the mid afternoon where you stay for two nights. Here you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal clear river waters.

Optional late afternoon short walk to stretch the legs.

Mount Ceder is a delightful lodge high in the Cedarberg, ideally situated for mountain hiking, fishing, swimming and visiting San (Bushman) rock paintings. The nine cottages range from charming one bedroom cottages to spacious four bedroom houses, all with Oregon pine furnishings. They are immaculately kept with obvious pride and attention to detail.

Take the enjoyable walk to the imposing monolith of Maltese Cross in the morning (3 to 4 hours walk) where you enjoy a magnificent view of the Cedarberg range. In the afternoon enjoy some wine tasting at the Cederberg Wine Estate nearby, swim in the Maalgat rock pools and visit the Stadsaal caves and Bushmen rock art paintings.

Today you have an early start for the fairly steep, but rewarding, climb up to the dramatic Wolfberg Cracks (1 to 1½ hours hike up). At the top there are some stunning rock formations and panoramic views.

After your descent, you continue down the Uitkyk Pass to Algeria Forest Station where we stop for a picnic lunch. Depending on the time of year you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal clear swimming hole.

Continue down the valley to skirt the beautiful Clanwilliam Dam before arriving in Clanwilliam, one of the oldest towns in South Africa.

You stay overnight at Cederberg Ridge,  a luxurious wilderness lodge offering delicious food, hospitality and adventure. The lodge overlooks the panorama of the Cederberg Mountains with its unique raw, rugged beauty.

It offers the authentic ambience of a modern African farmhouse with much use of wood, natural materials and earthy tones. But the striking steel windows bring a contemporary touch. The lodge terrace, dining room and deck look out over the indigenous gardens which melt into the fynbos, veld and mountains beyond. Enjoy relaxing around the pool, under the fever trees or on the stoep. You can also pamper yourself with a spa treatment or enjoy story-telling and star-gazing at the fire-pit in the evening.

This morning you enjoy a stunning circular, and not too strenuous, walk through some of the northern Cedarberg enjoying some lovely examples of fynbos vegetation. The walk takes approx 3½ to 4 hours. After lunch, you return to Cape Town via the picturesque wheatfields of the Swartland arriving in the late afternoon.