The Cederberg Wilderness area comprises approximately 7 100 hectares and lies to the South-east of Clanwilliam. This remote, pristine area with its breathtaking natural beauty which includes a variety of 'fynbos' and dramatic rock formations offers the visitor a unique wilderness experience. Generally, only walking and hiking is permitted in the area. For the less fit visitor there are more accessible places such as the Stadsaal caves with their famous Bushman-Elephant paintings. The Algeria and Kliphuis camping sites provide the ideal setting to camp close to the wilderness area. There is a range of accommodation facilities with a number of recreation options. This area forms part of the Cape Nature Conservation and operates out of Algeria, 30 km form Clanwilliam. The area is known internationally for its walking and hiking trails and is home to a variety of unique plant species such as the Cedar tree.
It is also the only place where leopard are protected. Camping sites and self catering facilities are available. Permits for the trails are only available form this office as well as the farm Dwarsrivier (Sandrift) and Kromrivier. Other farms in the region have shorter trails. (Permits cannot be issued at the Clanwilliam Tourist Information Office). For larger groups prior bookings should be made. A limited number of permits can be issued daily, and each route requires a seperate permit. These permits must be used on the specified day.

Each year during August and September, depending on the preceding winter's rainfall, the area is transformed into a floral showcase. The area features a large variety of wild flowers. Ramskop Nature Reserve at the Clanwilliam Dam Resort boasts 250 indigenous species of wild flowers.

 

FLOWER ROUTES Information regarding flower routes cannot be accessed ahead of time as the profusion of flowers is dependent on good rains. Information offices throughout the area remain in contact, and predictions regarding the season can only be made from July. The best times for flowers is generally August and September. Many of the towns in the area offer flower shows during that period. Enquire at the nearest Information office before setting out on a tour. The Clanwilliam Information Office can assist you with information regarding the best routes to select. Remember that flowers need to be viewed with the sun behind you and preferably between 10h30 and 15h30 when the sun is at its warmest. On the days that are rainy or misty most of the flowers remain shut because of the cold.

 

WILD FLOWER SHOW The annual ten-day Wild Flower Show is presented by the Clanwilliam Wild Flower Association in the Old Dutch Reformed Church. It starts at the end of August and ends first week in September. The Church was declared a National Monument in 1978. At the end of winter, the Flower Church becomes a hive of activity. Volunteers happily create a manmade landscape inside the church; a kaleidoscope from nature made accessible to everybody. About 360 species are exhibited by the Clanwilliam Wildflower Society, which is a fitting complement to the dignified architecture of the church. The pulpit has been quiet for many years, but the flowers offer a song of praise heavenwards. This flower fête includes concerts, art and food stalls, and a street carnival. A special botanical division displays all the flowers on show with their botanical, as well as their common names. It is alleged that the greatest variety of wild flowers in one district in the world happen to make their appearance in the area around Clanwilliam.

 

RAMSKOP NATURE RESERVE: The Wild Flower Garden contains a variety of more than 350 species of cultivated wild flowers. The walks on the laid-out paths through the garden also offer a beautiful view over the Clanwilliam Dam and of the Cederberg Mountains. Thousands of local and international tourists visit this garden during the months of August and September. The best viewing times are between 11h00 and 15h00. There is also a short hiking trail from the flower garden to the dam wall. During the season the Woman's Organisation offers light refreshments at the garden. (For groups wishing to make use of the facility it is recommended that arrangements be made in advance. Contact Mrs. van der Merwe Tel. (027) 482 1166. Alternatively you can contact Mrs. Esterhuizen from the D.R. Church for group bookings for meals. (027) 482 1007 Please enquire at Clanwilliam Tourism for admission fees. 027 482

 

CAPE FYNBOS The greater part of Clanwilliam falls within the world renowned Fynbos Biome. Fynbos is recognised as one of the 6 floral kingdoms in the world. More than 8 500 varieties have already been identified, of which more than 6 000 are endemic. The word 'endemic' implies that the plant only occurs in a specific area. Various endangered endemic fynbos species can be found in the area. The most notable of these are the Clanwilliam Cedar (Widdringtonia cederbergensis) and the Snow Protea (Protea cryophila) which grow exclusively in isolated sites in the Cederberg Wilderness Area. The Snow Protea is 130 - 160 mm in diameter and grows maily in small belt of about 25 km in length, and between 1 750 and 1 900 m high in the Cederberg mountains. During the winter the plants are covered by snow for weeks. The Snow Protea survives in the most stringent weather conditions, from heat to cold, and usually grows in cracks of bare rocks. Plants can reach 70 years of age. The flower takes a full year to open, and plants seldom have more than 3 to 4 flowers. Buchu (Agathosma betulina) is a sought after medicinal herb which grows in the mountains in the area. Clanwilliam and surrounding area is the only place in the world where Rooibos grows, and where it is cultivated, processed and exported.

ROOIBOS TEA

Rooibos is fynbos species endemic to the Clanwilliam Cederberg area. From here it is processed, packaged and despatched world-wide.

For a cup of tea, a video show, and an opportunity to view the other Rooibos products, contact the factory. (027) 482 2155 Video shows at: 10:00, 11:30, 14:00 and 15:30 Groups must please book in advance with Aletta Hume. No bookings for smaller goups (5 or less) necessary. No tours of the factory are possible. Rooibos products like flavoured Rooibos, souveniers, Rooibos skin care products etc. are available from the shop at the factory.

ROOIBOS FARM TOUR For a tour of a Rooibos Farm contact Annette or Chris at 027-482 2022. The farm Groenkol is approximately 18 km outside of Clanwilliam on the way to Lamberts Bay. R35 per person. A meal can also be served at an open cave called "Die Uilkombuis" - by prior booking only.

 

Spring Wild Flower Tour
The spring flowers of the West Coast, Cedarberg and north to Namaqualand have a worldwide reputation. The area receives little rain throughout the year but after winter rains, the landscape is swathed with vibrant bands of flowers. Our tour includes Postberg Nature Reserve, Clanwilliam, Ramskop Nature Reserve, Springbok and Goegap Nature Reserve.

Meals	Full Board
Accommodation	Standard to Premier - Country guest lodges and wilderness lodges
Departure Dates	Ask us
Transport	Luxury VW microbus with Air-conditioning
Price Includes	Meals and accommodation as shown in text, transport, services of a guide, all entrance fees
Price Excludes	International flights, visas, items of a personal nature, meals not specified
Minimum Number	2
Climate	Mediterranean (hot dry summers, cooler wetter winters but with many warm dry days)
Best time to go	Mid August to Mid September
Health Requirements	None. Sunblock essential
Combines well with	Cape Town, Magic of the Cape, Garden Route Explorer
Other Ideas	The spring flower period happily coincides with the time that the Southern Right whales are calving off the South Coast so many clients add on a two night extension to Hermanus.
Notes	Daily flights London to Cape Town with SAA or BA from £560 including taxes

Day 1 : Depart Cape Town for overnight Ndedema Lodge, Clanwilliam You leave Cape Town to head north along the coast via Bloubergstrand towards Langebaan. The foreground to this spectacular view is a mass of yellow daisy-like ?perdeblom? and ?vygies?. Continue to Langebaan, where you visit the Postberg Nature Reserve, which boasts the greatest variety of birds, game and Sandveld flowers in the western Cape. Travel through Piketberg, over the Piekenierskloof pass and onto Clanwilliam to stay overnight at Ndedema Lodge, an upmarket guesthouse in the historic Park Street.

Day 2 : Overnight Mountain View Lodge, Springbok Visit the Ramskop Nature Reserve where flowers from the whole district are found then head northwards through the wide swaths of wild flowers to Springbok in the semi-desert area of Namaqualand which comes alive each Spring. En route you visit the Skilpad Nature Reserve near Kamieskroon (on tomorrow on your retrun)and Goegab Reserve. Our exact route will depend on where the flowers are particularly fine. Stay overnight at Mountain View Lodge in Springbok.

Day 3 : Overnight Papkuilsfontein, Nieuwoudtville After breakfast you visit the unspoilt beauty of the Geogap Nature Reserve which features 581 indigenous plant species, including one rare succulent found nowhere else in the world. Head south to the Niewoudtville Wild Flower Reserve. Many flowers and orchid species not found anywhere else in South Africa can be seen here. Stay overnight in Nieuwoudtville at Papkuilsfontein Farm or similar.

Day 4 : Overnight Oudrif Farm Travel down the dramatic Botterkloof Pass to the Biedouw valley with its splendid flower displays. Stay overnight at the lovely Oudrif by the Doring River with its spring flowers, rock art and beautiful river views.

Day 5 : Return to Cape Town This morning you view the Sandveld flowers and time permitting, Bird Island, which is the favourite haunt of thousands of penguins, comorants, gannets and other bird species. Thereafter you take a leisurely drive back to Cape Town to arrive back in the late afternoon.