An Outdoor Playground
The primary temptation luring you northwards along the N7 towards Clanwilliam is a massive and monolithic mountain by the name of the Cedarberg. These sandstone ranges are without a doubt one of the Western Cape’s favourite outdoor playgrounds, and the laid-back town of Clanwilliam serves as a great stop-over here upon the edge of the region.
This dorp is situated at the confluence of the Olifants and Jan Dissels Rivers and is back-dropped by the amber gorgeousness of the craggy Cedarberg landscape. Endemic Rooibos and Buchu tea flourish on the harsh Cedarberg slopes, in stark contrast with the verdant valley carved by the Olifants River far below.
Irrigation canals sustain extensive citrus farms, so come springtime, the air is suffused with the scent of orange blossoms, while the countryside itself is transformed by fabulous wildflower displays. The best time of year to view the wildflowers bloom is from August to September, but the exact timing depends on winter rainfall. Ramskop Nature Reserve alone offers more than 250 indigenous species and spectacular views over Clanwilliam Dam.
In flower season, head from Clanwilliam to Wupperthal, 'life is still as long as it used to be'. Go over Pakhuis Pass, turn right at the sign for Bidou Valley, continue along and eventually you'll see the village in the Tratra Valley. Fill up at a garage in Clanwilliam just in case Wupperthal’s out of fuel.
Clanwilliam Rooibos Country
A Sandstone Heaven
Get ready for sandstone heaven once you cross the meandering Olifants River on the gravel road to Algeria. Undulating fynbos slopes, contorted rock formations and natural rock pools beckon in a landscape largely unchanged since the days of the early San hunters who once roamed here.
Lose yourself within more than 7 100 ha of rugged and remote wilderness, and experience a place where dramatic rock formations, San rock art sites, prime climbing and unspoiled mountain pools will captivate outdoor adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. It is hard to believe, but the Cedarberg brims with an incredible 2 500 ancient San art sites.
The community-based initiative ‘The Living Landscape Project’ maps these for posterity, and offers guided tours at Warmhoek. Boot up and scramble through the Cracks to Wolfberg Arch, or take on the steep route to the dramatic Maltese Cross. The hiking in the Cedarberg is strenuous but so worth it! The dramatic and gnarly orange cliffs and rock formations along Pakhuis Pass boasts some of the best bouldering problems in the world, as well as excellent quality sport routes.
At the Dam
Clanwilliam is no exception to the reliable nine-hole golf course that is to be found in most small towns throughout South Africa. Mountain-biking, rock-climbing, horse-riding and 4x4 routes are also available. A popular weekend holiday resort, the dam is particularly favoured by water-skiers but anglers can also get a rod in. Accommodation runs to self-catering chalets and camping facilities.
With a treasure trove of seven national monuments which include two nineteenth-century churches and the old gaol, which has since reformed and now houses the local museum, a guided tour of the town is rewarding. The itinerary includes the dwellings of the first Irish settlers to the area, which would explain the town's name. There is also an Anglo-Boer War cemetery.
The Cederberg is named for the forests of Clanwilliam cedar trees that were all but exterminated two centuries ago for their fine timber. To...
Originally established in 1725 as Jan Disselsvalleij, Clanwilliam is one of the 10 oldest towns in South Africa. Clanwilliam is the gateway ...