Just outside the Mother City, about two hours drive, lies a wild landscape that exudes rough, dramatic splendour; the Cederberg. You’ll know you’re in the region because the mountains tower all around you, the scent of spring orange blossoms penetrates your nostrils and the powerful sunsets are entrancing.
I have always heard that a visit to the Cederberg is compulsory for any nature-lover. The undulating scene with its high and rough mountains, its sheet-like fields of indigenous plants and dipping valleys will keep you busy and enraptured with the outdoors for days.
Anyone with an interest in plants and flowers will love the carpet upon carpet of beautiful specimens that are unique to this part of the world. The Cedeberg is a haven for flora with exceptionally striking variants; it is here (and only here) that rooibos tea is grown. If you happen to be around in late August make sure you pop in to see the blooms at the Clanwilliam Flower Show.
Hikers will love the fact that you can walk into the landscape and not see another soul for hours. Here it’s just you, the open sky and the solid ground beneath your boots, unless you regard the occasional meeting with a rock lizard to be company.
You might also stumble upon a piece of history; the bushman rock art displays versions of a simpler life when the earth, man and the sky could live with one another and be content. These cultural relics are found in the mountains but you don’t need a guide to take you there. Who knows, you might even discover an ancient image never before seen by modern man. There are over 2 500 sites that are known, many of which are easy to get to.
Make sure you check out these spots:
Karoo landscape: the rolling landscape is dry and mostly barren but it’s a sight that captures the hearts of many travelers.
Olifant’s River: the life-source of the area; Oliphant’s River is remarkably beautiful as it meanders through the country.
Sandveld Nature Reserve: you can spend a few hours in this nature reserve and see if you can spot a white-backed vulture or giraffe.
Rocklands: if you’re into rock climbing you’ve come to the right region. This is one of the best bouldering areas around the globe.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
