Posted on: Tuesday, 20 October 2009

Affordable Cederberg weekends

Posted to: Accommodation and Specials, Activities and Things To Do, Western Cape

My slight obsession with Bushmen Rock Art and the constant search for it on trips to the Western Cape Mountains, resulted in the necessity to find affordable weekend accommodation near Clanwilliam, which is about 2 and a half hours north of Cape Town on the N7. Not interested in residing in the town, and wanting somewhere quieter, I managed to locate two wonderful spots on the border of the Cederberg Wilderness Area in the Boskloof Valley: Boskloofswemgat and Krakadouw on Dwarsrivier Farm. Both farms are situated on the Jan Dissels River between 10 and 13km outside Clanwilliam and offer affordable self-catering cottages for couples and larger groups.

Boskloofswemgat has a number of simple cottages, all of which are roughly 20–30 metres from the river. This is a perfect option for both summer and winter — and activities include mountain biking, walking, fishing and swimming in the river.

A few km up the road, is the farm Krakadouw, owned by a lovely couple eager to share the tranquillity of their surroundings. The farm has two pristine swimming spots and accesses the Cederberg Wilderness Area with more extensive hiking trails. Permits are required, but can be easily obtained beforehand from Cape Nature.

If you are curious about rock art, at the start of the valley is the Warmhoek Rock Art Trail. The trail consists of six excellent sites and tours can be booked through the Living Landscape Craft Shop situated in the town of Clanwilliam. If guided tours impose a little too much formality onto an excursion for you, simply search for your own when out walking in the area. If you look carefully in the right kinds of places, you will not be disappointed.

Both these venues provide a great base to explore the area around Clanwilliam more thoroughly. The Clanwilliam dam and the Olifants River are easily accessible. If you want a good idea of true Cederberg beauty — rugged terrain and beautifully weathered rocks — a scenic drive over the Pakhuis Pass will definitely impress.