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Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape
The
Cederberg Wilderness area in the Western Cape Province ranks alongside the
Drakensberg in KwaZulu Natal, the Wolkberg in Limpopo Province and the Fish
River Canyon in Namibia as being the prime hiking destinations for the
experienced hiker who loves the freedom given by hiking in Wilderness
areas. The Cederberg has a beauty that is all on its own. The weathered rock
formations, the beautiful vistas, the crystal clear pools and streams go to make
this an unforgettable hiking experience.
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Algeria Campsite
Most hikers start out on their
adventure into the mountains from Algeria campsite, not far from the
picturesque towns of Clan William and Citrusdal. The campsite has full
ablution facilities and a little tuck shop. There is also swimming
opportunities in a pool in the river. |
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From
Algeria, the path ascends steeply towards the mountains and a beautiful
waterfall. |
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The water is crystal clear and so pure
that grass grows underneath it. Even in drought there is a good flow of
water coming over the falls. |
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Spectacular
start to the hike! |
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The top at last! Here we first become
aware of the rock formation and flowers that are going to become apart of
our life for the next few days! |
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Middelberg hut and the surrounding
rocks. |
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| Rocks, rocks
and more rocks! |
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From Middelberg hut we progressed to Sleepad hut. |
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Sleepadhut
is situated at the top of a steep climb but is cozy in bad weather. |
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On the way to Tafelberg
From Sleepad hut we decided to make
for Tafelberg, a route mostly along a jeep track. |
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The weathered rocks are once again the centre of
attraction |
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The way to the top of Tafelberg is tough in places but
well worth the effort. The views are stunning. |
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The Flora along the way is beautiful and in some cases
unique to the area. |
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The Wolfberg arch is a well known landmark and the
subject of numerous photos but no photos can do justice to this amazing
creation of nature |
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There are few Ceders left in the Cederberg but
occasionally you do come across one. |
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Camping in the Cederberg can be an unforgettable experience. The morning
and evening sky can be very beautiful. |
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Conclusion
The Cederberg is an amazing place. We just touched the fringes of the area
and we hiked for five days. Although there are some small huts, these can be
occupied by other groups and therefore tents are a must. In any case part of
being in a wilderness area is choosing a location and setting up camp. The
flora and rocks capes are incredible and this webpage does not do the area
the justice it deserves. |
'In a Nutshell'
| Distance from nearest
town |
200km from Cape Town
about 26km from Clan William |
| Access road status |
The road to Algeria is
usually reasonable and passable with care |
| Trail type |
Wilderness trail.
There are some basic shelters but unless the
weather is bad, sleeping out under the stars is
usually a better option. |
| Difficulty |
Moderate to strenuous |
| Marking |
Although this is a
wilderness trail, there are well defined paths
with Cairns in places. Unless you know the
Cederberg well it is better to stick to the
designated paths |
| GPS Co-ordinates |
Algeria camp -
S32 22.453 E19 03.685
Crystal Pool Shelter S32
20.881 E19 08.107
Sleepadhut S32 22.655
E19 08.754
Path up Tafelberg S32 24.591 E19 11.219
Wolfberg Arch S32 26.615
E19 15.223 |
| Cell phone reception |
No Reception in
wilderness. Sporadic reception at Algeria |
| Facilities |
Camping sites and full
ablutions at Algeria. Apart from basic shelters
there are no facilities in the wilderness area.
Tents and hiking stoves are a must. |
Hiking and camping in the Cederberg Wilderness area is booked through
Jacana
Travel Marketing
and Reservations
Telephone
0861Jacana (0861 522262)
Direct phone: Port Elizabeth 041 378 1439
Pretoria: 012 803 9109
Direct fax: PE 041 378 2548
Pretoria: 012 803 4144
PE
e-mail
bookings@jacanacollection.co.za
Pretoria e-mail:
rosa@jacanacollection.co.za
or
Western Cape Nature Conservation Board
Bookings Tel. 021
659 3500
bookings@capenature.co.za
Footprint Hiking Club
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