The Cederberg Conservancy

The Cederberg Area lies some 200km north of Cape Town. This vast region, encompasses some 162 000 hectare of rugged, mountainous terrain, stretching from the Pakhuis Pass in the north to Grootrivier in the south. The San and Khoi peoples inhabited the Cederberg area from early times, leaving behind a rich legacy of rock art.

European settlers began stock farming in the Cederberg in the eighteenth century, and in 1876 a forester was appointed to oversee Crown Land in the mountains. This was possibly the first attempt at conservation in the Cederberg. From 1903 to 1973, exploitation of the Cederberg's natural resources was rampant.

Large amounts of cedar wood, rooibos tea, buchu and rockwood bark was harvested while farmers used the mountains to graze livestock in times of drought. Large numbers of cedar trees were felled as the wood was in great demand for construction - some 7 200 trees were used as telephone poles between Piketberg and Calvinia.

Fires added to this destruction and the cedar tree is now on the brink of extinction. In 1967 the removal of dead cedar trees was halted, and other forms of exploitation ended in 1973 with the proclamation of Cederberg Wilderness Area.

Today the Cederberg Conservancy exists as a voluntary agreement between landowners to manage the environment in a sustainable manner. Conservation goals are achieved through cooperation and dedication towards the conservation of Nature on private land.

Many members of the Cederberg Conservancy have made accommodation available to help make your stay in the Cederberg an enjoyable one.

The accommodation ranges from basic camping facilities to fully catered luxury, with the associated range in prices.

The following pages provide a brief introduction to the available accommodation. Please contact the particular establishment for further information or to make a booking.

ACTIVITIES:

The Cederberg is so diverse in form and structure, so valuable for its plants and animals and so unique in its landscape, that any nature lover, hiker or mountaineer will find its opportunities and challenges difficult to exhaust. An extensive network (254 km) of unmarked, well maintained, footpaths are laid out and excellent rock climbing opportunities exist. The length of your hike is limited only by the weight of the provisions you can carry on your back.

For the benefit of other visitors and preserving the Cederberg, please adhere to the following general rules:

1. Do not touch or damage rock art, as this causes deterioration of the paintings.
2. Do not damage or deface rock surfaces, or use rock-bolts when climbing.
3. Do not interfere with plants or wildlife.
4. Do not litter (including toilet paper) - take all litter home with you.
5. Never discard cigarette butts, as they can cause veld-fires and are unsightly.
6. No open-fires are permitted, except at designated areas.
7. Do not use soap or detergents in or near rivers and mountain streams.
8. Pets are only allowed at certain establishments, please confirm when booking.
9. Access to outdoor recreational activities and attractions are subject to permits obtainable at various establishments.
10. When hiking stick to the path and walk in single file to prevent damage to the vegetation.
11. All fossils are protected as National Monument and may not be disturbed or removed

LANDSCAPE AND GEOLOGY

The Cederberg is famous for its spectacular rock formations. The best known are the Wolfberg Cracks, Wolfberg Arch, Maltese Cross and Stadsaal Caves. These rocks are composed of sandstone and shale formations of the Cape Supergroup. The formations were deposited between 500 and 345 million years ago.

Some formations such as the Bokkeveld Group are rich in marine fossils such as trilobites, brachiopods and crinoids. (Please remember that all fossils are National Monuments, protected by Law, and may not be disturbed or removed).

The Cederberg gives its name to the Cederberg Formation, a narrow shale band that is locally referred to as "Die Trap" or in English "The Step", because of its characteristic manner in which it weathers. The harder sandstone and quartzitic formations such as the Peninsula, Nardouw and Witteberg tend to form the higher mountainous areas, while the softer shale formations such as the Bokkeveld and Cederberg form fertile valleys.

The Cederberg's spectacular rock formations result from a number of factors including the flat lying nature of the geology, well defined fracture and jointing patterns, chemical composition of the rocks, climatic conditions and time. 

The Cederberg Conservancy are the proud custodians of the Clanwilliam Cedar (Widderingtonia cederbergensis) and offers refuge to the rare Cape Leopard.

For more information on the Cederberg Conservancy, contact each accommodation facility individually or write to: