The Wupperthal Cedar Trail – Family Slackpacking Adventure in the Cederberg Mountains

This brand-new 4-day slackpacking trail, launched in 2024, features shorter daily hiking distances and gentler terrain, making it ideal for families with children who want to share in the adventure. The Wupperthal Cedar Trail highlights fascinating rock formations and remarkable rock paintings that will captivate hikers. Along the way, you’ll also encounter clusters of cedar trees and even spend a night near a cedar plantation.

The Clanwilliam cedar (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis) is one of only two indigenous conifers in southern Africa and one of just 43 endangered cone-bearing species worldwide. These trees are limited to 250 km² of the Cederberg Mountains and cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. Once abundant, centuries of over-harvesting and frequent fires have pushed them to the brink of extinction. With the proclamation of the Cederberg Wilderness in 1973, exploitation finally ceased, but repopulating the cedar remains a monumental challenge.

Two nights are spent at Heuningvlei Backpackers Lodge, home to a new nursery that guests will visit one morning. Here, hikers can play a role in conservation: during the trek, every group plants a cedar sapling, actively contributing to the restoration effort.

True to the Live the Journey way, you’ll experience warm hospitality and the full support of a world-class team throughout this ±50 km hike.

With only a limited number of departures each year, spots on this exceptional hike are rare. Each day on the Wupperthal Cedar Trail reveals its own unique charm, diverse landscapes, and unforgettable experiences. Children aged six and older are welcome, provided they are fit and ideally have some prior hiking experience.