wupperthal

Situated about 250km west of Cape Town and about 75km from Clanwilliam in the remote Tra-Tra valley on the edge of the Cederberg Wilderness Area,Wuppertal is a most attractive oasis.

Due to the rugged terrain, Wupperthal and the Cedarberg Mountains are completely unspoilt by tourism. With mountains covered almost exclusively by pristine fynbos with some isolated Cedar trees remaining, some rare fynbos endemics such as the Snow Protea, rocket pincushion and the Clanwilliam Cedar can all be found here.

This picturesque place has been a Moravian mission station since 1865, although its origins are actually Rhenish. The name "Wuppertal" derives from the Wupper River in Germany, from where two Rhineland missionaries, Theobald von Wurmb and Johan Gottlieb Leipoldt (grandfather of renowned writer C. Louis Leipoldt) arrived in the Cape in 1829 to spread the Word among the indigenous people.

The two missionaries settled among the seven Khoikhoi families in the valley and concentrated on their spiritual upliftment as well as to encourage farming. The population swelled shortly after slavery was abolished in 1838 and many freed slaves arrived from nearby farms.

The village today consists of an old thatched Church, a store, and terraces of neat thatched-roofed little cottages and a meandering street with water flowing in furrows.

A great deal of productive activity takes place which surprises any traveller descending the steep pass into the valley. Excellent velskoen (known throughout the country) are made and tobacco is dried and worked into rolls (roltabak). The other main products of the area are dried fruit, dried beans and rooibos tea.

Attractions in the area include the Rooibos Tea Farms, Leipolt House, The historical Church building (1835), Shoe & Glove Factory and activities like hiking, bird watching, mountain biking, rock art, sightseeing, 4X4 Tra-Travallei Route and the wild flowers & fynbos routes.

There are two self catering chalets, as well as a tearoom with a limited selection of gifts and souvenirs. Meals can be arranged with the ladies from the Lekkerbekkie Teekamer.

Two 4x4 routes have been created and bookings for these can be made at the Wupperthal Information Office. Tel 027 4923140. Wupperthal has a caravan park. We do not recommend that buses carrying more than 20-25 persons use the road to Wupperthal. It has sharp bends and the Kouberg Pass is very steep.