Cederberg Nature Reserve

he Cederberg Wilderness is only three hours outside Cape Town, but feels like a different world. The Cederberg Mountains, colored burnt orange by iron oxide, dominate the landscape. Jagged sandstone rock formations, like the Maltese Cross and the Wolfberg Arch, and ancient San and Khoi rock art, make this area a truly spectacular place to include in a South African safari.

The Cederberg lies 124 miles north of Cape Town, stretching from the Middelberg Pass in Citrusdal to north of the Pakhuis Pass at Clanwilliam. The wilderness area encompasses about 71,000 hectares of rugged, mountainous terrain, making it a top spot in the Western Cape for hiking and rock-climbing enthusiasts.

The Cederberg, which forms part of the Cape floral region, is covered in mountain fynbos, including the laurel protea, the red disa, rooibos, and the rare and endemic snow protea. Rare Clanwilliam cedars, the area’s namesake, dot the higher mountain cliffs.

animals can be difficult to see. Baboons, 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 mammals include African wild cat, lynx, bat-eared fox, aardwolf and Cape fox. The small grey mongoose and striped polecat are often seen, as well as various interesting rodents including the spectacled dormouse.

The Cederberg Nature Reserve is also home to over 100 bird species, with black eagle, rock kestrel and jackal buzzard being the most common raptors, and 16 snake species, the most common being the berg adder, puff adder and Cape cobra. The spectacular scenery and wildlife combine to make this area perfect for safaris.