The West Coast - Cederberg
The magnificent mountains of the Cederberg are coloured in shades of ochre and red and weathered by extremes of sun and cold. Extraordinary rock formations reach up to the sky and shy klipspringers, barking baboons and mysterious leopards haunt the heights. Hikers and rock climbers will be in seventh heaven - experience the wilderness, smell the fynbos*, get naked in a rock pool and be alone.
Access to the Cederberg is from either Citrusdal, Clanwilliam or via the spectacular dirt road from Ceres. (Motorbike riders will love this one.) In the area there are several camping grounds, a couple of backpackers, some excellent rock climbing and miles of hikes.
Rising to over 2000m at the Sneeuberg and stretching for 100km, the Cederberg is spectacularly beautiful, a gallery of natural rock sculptures, home to San paintings, rare plants and many small game species. Well known trails lead to spectacular rock formations like the Maltese cross, the Wolfberg cracks and the Wolfberg arch, but you can also go off and be an intrepid explorer. Get a map and head out into the wilderness.
There are small populations of baboon, rhebok, klipspringer, grysbok, and predators like caracal, cape fox, honey badger and rarely seen leopard. Birds include sugarbirds, sunbirds, the Cape canary and francolin.
The Cederberg comes alive in winter when the fynbos begins flowering after the first rains. Vegetation includes plentiful fynbos, the Clanwilliam cedar and the rare snow protea, which grows above the snow line. From May to September the weather is cooler and it’s a good time for hiking and other outdoor activities. There is less rain than in Cape Town, days are warm and sunny and nights cold.
*Fynbos - a specific type of indigenous vegetation.
Climate.
Heavy rain falls mainly in winter and sometimes in summer. Snow is possible from May to September. It can be very hot and dry in summer, so carry plenty of water if you’re hiking.
Information from http://www.coastingafrica.com/
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