To describe the Cederberg is to start getting into the realm of superlatives. There’s nothing subtle about Cederberg beauty.
There are enormous rust-red sandstone formations, rocky valleys with burbling crystal clear water, ancient rock art, cedar trees and mountain peaks that light up in the afternoon sun.
It is rugged country. Twisty ankle rugged. It can be searing hot and suddenly icy cold. Shade is limited in places, and water availability needs to be taken seriously. Good navigation and sensible preparation are essential.
All the more sense to choose slackpacking to explore it.
Being comfortable allows you to enjoy the small details as you walk. The texture of the sandstone under your hand. A lizard as black as a car tyre disappearing beneath a rock. An orchid nodding at its reflection in a mountain pool. Multiple animal tracks in the sand-leopard, caracal, klipspringer and the telltale smear of a hurrying snake.
There are established hiking routes and wilderness areas where overnight arrangements can range from simple huts and camps to more comfortable accommodation nearby. Slackpacking options depend on the specific route and operator, so planning matters.
Heritage routes combine guided walking through one of the Cape’s most distinctive landscapes with stays in local villages where life has been gently humming along in the same way for over 200 years.
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