Cederberg Mountains

See South Africa’s natural wonders, from Wolfberg Cracks to Maltese Cross. Take this journey to breathtaking rock formations and pools in South Africa’s Cederberg mountains.

3 day sample itinerary | Cape Town – Cederberg

We’ll take a winding road from Cape Town through the Hottentot Holland mountain range, hike to rock pools, then set up camp and have a braai (dinner cooked over an open fire). The next day, we’ll hike to the Wolfberg Cracks, then it’s on to Wolfberg Arch before we head back to camp for another traditional South African dinner. On our last day, we’ll trek to the famous Maltese Cross and enjoy the otherworldly landscape before heading back to Cape Town.

Day 1 – Road trip, swimming, and camping

We will cross the Hottentot Holland mountain range that forms a natural barrier around the greater Cape Town. Driving over magnificent mountain passes on small roads, we will stop for a quick swim in the river, and have lunch at a traditional restaurant set at an old road toll collecting post that charged ox wagons a fee for passage through the mountain range.

The menu offers the most truly authentic, traditional South African food. Crossing the mountain range, the scenery changes dramatically and we’ll head into the harsh landscapes of the Cedarberg with its dramatic rock formations and rich colours.

We’ll make a stop at an oasis for refreshments before proceeding to our camp site. We’ll set up camp and make a short hike down the river to an amazing rock pool that offers a safe spot for swimming. We’ll make a fire and have a braai (food cooked on an open fire) for dinner and enjoy the atmosphere of the surrounding mountains.

Day 2 – Wolfberg Cracks and traditional dinner

We’ll make a hike to the famous Wolfberg Cracks, and explore these massive and awesome fissures in the mountain. As an option, we can hike to the Wolfberg Arch directly after the Cracks and reach the camp back for dinner. Dinner will be a potjie, which is a traditional meal cooked in a cast iron pot that stands on 3 legs in the fire.

Day 3 – Hike to Maltese Cross
We will pack up camp in the morning and head to the famous Maltese Cross. We will hike to this significant landmark while enjoying the open, surrounding landscape.

The Maltese Cross stands impressively alone, around 30m high, on a broad plateau at 1424m elevation. The rock type is quartzitic Table Mountain Sandstone – take some time to look closely at the rock lying about and you’ll notice the quartz pebbles embedded in the rock. It truly is a sight to behold and deserves a little time spent at the site. Cederberg is home to the endangered Cape Leopard, this unique area offers a landscape that brings peace to one’s soul.