The cederberg heritage route

The Cederberg Heritage Route offers a collection of four community-based walking trails in the Cederberg mountains, ranging from three to five nights. The majestic and rugged Cederberg mountains are only 2½ hours drive north from Cape Town.

The Cederberg walking trails are fully inclusive of all meals, entrances & park fees. Guests stay at comfortable guesthouses, some in the picturesque Moravian mission villages. Walks are escorted by local community members and, as overnight luggage is taken to the next night's stay, walkers only have to carry day packs.

Most of the Cederberg mountains are in a designated Wilderness area that remains one of the most undisturbed areas of South Africa. The rugged terrain, few and rather poor roads and limited overnight accommodation have preserved most of this area, particularly the Cederberg Wilderness Area, for campers who are willing to rough it in the wild.

The Cederberg hiking trails of the Cederberg Heritage Route are one of a new generation of slackpacking trail which makes this beautiful area more accessible to walkers. You stay overnight in the charming community guest cottages in the Moravian Mission villages of Heuningvlei, Brugkraal and Wupperthal on the eastern side of the Cederberg Wilderness area and guesthouses in or near Clanwilliam on the western side. Thus walkers can enjoy some of the classic walks of the northern Cederberg such as Heuningvlei, Krakadouw peak and Boontjieskloof in comfort and safety.

If you do not wish to do one of the official hiking trails, you can take the Donkey Cart Adventure from the Pakhuis Pass to Heuningvlei. Another option is to book accommodation in one of the Moravian Mission villages and to plan your own hikes in the Cederberg Wilderness Area.

The principal participants in the voluntary association of the Cederberg Heritage Route walking trails are:

   * CAPE NATURE CONSERVATION, guardians of the Cederberg Wilderness Area
    * The MORAVIAN CHURCH at WUPPERTHAL, the custodian of the 35,000ha on the eastern side of the Cederberg Wilderness Area
    * CLANWILLIAM LIVING LANDSCAPE PROJECT (CLLP) - a community-based initiative creating an awareness of the priceless rock-art treasures in the Cederberg, by means of guided tours, workshops and seminars.
    * The HEUNINGVLEI Donkey Cart Adventure - a community-based tourism venture where guests are transported by donkey cart to Heuningvlei where they can relax and experience how the local Cederberg residents are living.
    * CEDARBERG AFRICAN TRAVEL - a Clanwilliam based tour operator who books the Cederberg walking tours & trails and liaises with guests. 

Cederberg African Travel *                                                        27 27 482 2444