Cederberg Region Accommodation

The Cederberg region which is approximately two and a half hours drive from Cape Town, has a spectacular mountain landscape and it is a treasure house of pre-colonial rock art, The region has also got a rich botanical diversity and is a part of the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa. A major portion is a proclaimed Wilderness Area that recently obtained World Heritage status.
Attractions:
The Cederberg region contains a unique combination of attractions. There are over 2000 sites of an impressive variety of San (Bushmen) rock art, produced by pre-colonial hunters and gatherers. There are also amazing red sandstone cliffs and rock formations, sculpted and weathered by nature. There is a fascinating variety of flora, including the endemic Clanwilliam cedar tree Widdringtonia cedarbergensis, which is an endangered Red Data species. An abundance of bird life and a wide variety of fauna, including the rare Cape Mountain Leopard make it a paradise for nature lovers. Communities of farmers and rooibos tea growers, which were established by early 19th century Moravian missionaries from Bohemia, still live in picturesque mountain villages. A large section of the northern Cederberg is still owned by the Moravian Church and the quaint village of Wupperthal forms part of a mission station route that provides visitors with an interesting view of rural life. The village is also a well known centre for hand-made leather shoes and boots. One of the outer stations is Heuningvlei, a small picturesque hamlet that is in the process of developing a donkey cart trail from the summit of Pakhuis Pass to the hamlet. The project, a poverty alleviation project funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism includes the creation of backpacking accommodation, herb garden and various other tourism offerings.
Climate
The summers are very hot and dry, while the winters are wetter and cold with typical annual rainfall in the low lying areas of less than 700 mm. The higher peaks receive a dusting of snow in winter. Summer days are typically clear and cloudless. Due to the clear skies most of the year, it makes an excellent site for sky watching and has its own amateur observatory.