A visit to hidden-gem Cederberg

Just a few hours north of Cape Town lies a place few travellers know – yet South Africans adore: the Cederberg Wilderness Area. You won’t find crowds here, only rugged sandstone landscapes, ancient rock art and viewpoints so striking you’ll happily switch your phone off.

You’ll spend two nights in a simple, scenic mountain lodge, surrounded by silence and sweeping horizons. By day, you hike through red rock formations to thousands-year-old San paintings and explore the Rietrivier Kloof – a dramatic gorge among the deepest in Africa. The weather shifts quickly in the mountains, adding a touch of adventure to every outing.

And a treat for the senses: an olive-oil tasting right on the farm. Wild, raw and wonderfully underrated – this is South Africa at its most authentic.

The Cederberg Wilderness Area lies around 155–185 miles (250–300 km) north of Cape Town. Part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the region is famed for its striking red sandstone formations, rocky caves, climbing routes and vast horizons that leave you speechless.

There are more than 130 San (Bushman) rock-art sites here – some over 10,000 years old. The Rietrivier Kloof is a dramatic gorge carved deep into the sandstone, a true hidden gem for keen walkers and geology lovers.

You’ll also find small olive and citrus farms scattered through the area, many of them family-run and welcoming to visitors. Thanks to the ever-changing mountain weather, no two visits are the same – and that’s exactly the charm: a weekend of pure presence, surrounded by rock, wilderness and a genuine sense of freedom.