Cederberg Wilderness Area

Cederberg Wilderness Area Camping & Caravan accommodation in Clanwilliam Western Cape

Contact Details Cederberg Wilderness Area 027 4822403 027 4822406 knieuwoudt@xsinet.co.za Web: www.capenature.org.za Our Rating out of 10 Enquire now View Rates

Description

This 71 000-ha mountain complex is managed by Cape Nature Conservation principally for conservation of the pure, silt-free water of this catchment area, as a recreation area and as a sanctuary for the bio diverse Cape fynbos.

Erosional processes in the Cedarberg have fashioned a bizarre landscape highlighted by such famous natural rock sculptures as the Maltese Cross and the Wolfberg Arch.

The highest peak, Sneeuberg (2 028 m), is one of the few homes of one of the world's rarest plants, Protea cryophila, the snow protea.

Another unusual species found in the Cederberg is the Clanwilliam cedar, Widdringtonia cedarbergensis, after which the mountain range is named.

Two plants of considerable economic importance - rooibos tea (Aspalathus linear is) and round-leaved buchu (Agathosma betulma) - are also present.

The Cederberg Wilderness Area lies some 200km north of Cape Town, stretching from the Middelberg Pass at Citrusdal to north of the Pakhuis Pass at Clanwilliam and encompassing some 71 000ha of rugged, mountainous terrain.

The Cederberg was proclaimed a wilderness area in 1973 and has grown into a popular destination for hardy hikers and mountaineers. The Cederberg is renowned for its spectacular landscapes and rock formations, as well as its namesake, the increasingly rare Clanwilliam cedar tree.

Geologically, the Cederberg is part of the Cape Fold Belt and consists mainly of Table Mountain sandstone. Weathered sandstone formations, most notably the Wolfberg Arch and the Maltese Cross, are typical of the Cederberg. These mountains fall within the catchment area of the Cape fynbos region and are managed as a source of water.

History
San and Khoi people inhabited the Cederberg area from earliest times. European settlers began stock farming here in the early 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. The campsite Algeria was named by a French nobleman, Count de Regne, who was in charge of state forests in the Cape Colony. The mountainous environment and the cedar trees reminded him of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria.

From 1903 to 1973, exploitation of natural products was rampant in the Cederberg. Large amounts of cedar wood, rooibos tea, buchu and rockwood bark were harvested. Farmers even used the mountains to graze livestock in times of drought. Large numbers of cedar trees were felled to satisfy the growing demand for construction wood. Some 7 200 trees were used for telephone poles between Piketberg and Calvinia. Fires added to the destruction and cedar trees are now on the brink of extinction. In 1967 the removal of dead cedar trees was halted and other forms of exploitation ended in 1973.

The 12 000 a Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve is situated on the drier eastern boundary of the Cederberg mountains. It is managed as an integral component of the greater Cederberg conservation area. Obtained in 1995 with the assistance of the World Wide Fund for Nature (SA), this rugged nature reserve includes the famous Stadsaal rock formations and some excellent examples of San rock art.

Climate
Winters in the Cederberg are cold and wet while summers are warm and dry. Most rain falls between May and September and it often snows in the higher parts. In winter, night temperatures drop sharply and heavy frost may occur while in summer temperatures reach as high as 40°C. Lightning is the most common cause of periodic veld fires, aided by southeasterly winds that predominate in the summer and contribute to the fire risk.

Matjiesrivier straddles arid to semi-arid zones with its eastern slopes generally drier than those at high altitude or facing west.

Vegetation
Vegetation in the Cederberg Wilderness Area is predominantly mountain fynbos. The lower slopes support laurel protea, silky conebush, sand olive and yellow daisies, with wild olives and mountain maytenus on the rocky outcrops. Waboom veld also occurs at this lower altitude. The eye-catching purply-blue ridderspoor, rooibos tea and buchu grow against the lower cliffs whileh igher up one finds fynbos restio veld, with red disas in abundance along streams on the plateau.

The Clanwilliam cedar grows in the so-called cedar zone against cliffs and overhangs at altitudes of more than 1 000m above sea level. In the wetter ravines, red and white alder, yellowwood, hard-pear and Cape beech occur, while wild olive, silky bark and spoonwood prefer dryer kloofs. The endemic snow protea is perhaps the most attractive plant on the highest peaks - it is very scarce and only found at a few sites in the wilderness area.

Matjiesrivier occupies a transitional zone between the fynbos and lowland succulent Karoo vegetation types. The drier conditions and fine-grained clay soils of the western slopes of the reserve also support central mountain renosterveld which is dominated by members of the daisy family. Growing on more nutritious soils than fynbos, renosterveld is believed to have supported herds of large game and predators such as lion. However, most renosterveld areas have been converted to agriculture.

Animals
Babooons, dassies, grey rhebok, klipspringers, duiker and grysbok are fairly common in the Cederberg. Porcupine, honeybadger, Cape clawless otter and aardvark also occur although they are seldom seen. The leopard is the Cederberg's largest predator and is fairly common although very shy. Smaller predators include African wild cat, lynx, bat-eared fox, aardwolf and Cape fox. The small grey mongoose and striped polecat are often seen. Various interesting rodents occur, including the spectacled dormouse.

More than 100 bird species occur here, with black eagle, rock kestrel and jackal buzzard being the most common raptors.

About 16 snake species are found in the Cederberg the most common being berg adder, puff adder and black spitting cobra. The armadillo lizard is one of the endemic reptiles found here.

Conservation
Cedar trees are dying out despite the protection offered by the Wilderness Area. A cedar reserve of about 5 250ha was created in 1987 in an attempt to prevent the extinction of these trees. Special measures include more frequent, cooler burning and limiting the extremely hot fires that kill mature trees. Cedars are also being cultivated and, each year, volunteers help plant about 8 000 year-old trees at suitable places within the reserve.

The Wilderness Area forms the core of a leopard management area established in 1988. This area includes private land and is managed in collaboration with the landowners. The aim of the initiative is to promote the existence of leopards by minimising conflict between stock farming and nature conservation.

Local landowners have joined CapeNature in setting up two conservancies bordering the Wilderness Area. The Cederberg and Biedouw Conservancies jointly comprise about 312 000ha of private and state land. Broad conservation goals are achieved by means of environmental management plans and ecological auditing. Conservancies are also planned for the Olifants River valley and Wupperthal. Conservancies are an important component of the proposed Cederberg Biosphere Reserve.

River management
The Cederberg mountains form the main catchment area for the Olifants River system - home to the richest variety of endemic fish species south of the Zambezi. These fish occur nowhere else except in the Olifants or its tributaries.

Unfortunately, it is also a river system under threat from human activities and infestation by alien species. Excessive extraction of water, excavations in the river bed, damming, pesticide pollution, the presence of alien fish like bass, and infestation by invasive plants such as black wattle and blue gum have contributed to a dramatic decline in the quality of the riverine environment.

Degradation is so severe that the eight species of fish endemic to the Olifants River all face extinction. Fish inhabiting the lower, unprotected reaches of the Olifants River system are particularly at risk. These include the Clanwilliam yellowfish, three species of redfin minnow and two species of mountain catlets. The Conservancies are being used to improve the management of rivers on private land.

Accommodation

Note:
All cottages have braai facilities
Firewood is for sale
Visitors can swim in the nearby river
NO ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED

Camping

The shady and grassy campsite at Algeria lies on the Rondegat River. Be sure to bring your costume in summer as the crystal clear pools are difficult to ignore. There are 48 campsites sites, all with power points. The sites are suitable for tents and/or caravans.

Sites available: 48
Shaded sites: Yes
Power points: All sites
Ablution facilities: Hot and cold water, bath (women's ablution only) and showers, no toilet paper provided
Swimming: Swimming hole in the river
Firewood for sale: Yes
NO PETS ALLOWED

Kliphuis

Note: Kliphuis campsite is closed indefinitely

The shady Kliphuis campsite lies in the far northern section of the Cederberg reserve, in the Pakhuis Pass, some 20km from Clanwilliam. The ten sites lie on the Kliphuis River which provides welcome summer swimming. The sites are suitable for tents and/or caravans but do not have electricity.

Sites available: 10
Shaded sites: Yes
Power points: No
Ablution facilities: hot (gas) and cold water showers, no toilet paper provided
Swimming: Swimming hole in the river
Shop on site: No
Firewood for sale: No

Note
All campsites have braai facilities
Guests can swim in the nearby rivers
NO PETS ARE ALLOWED