The Cederberg Wilderness Area takes its name from the rare Clanwilliam cedar tree, once nearly extinct and now slowly recovering. It is a vast, rugged mountain landscape of sandstone formations, waterfalls, crystal-clear streams, and some of the richest concentrations of San (Bushman) rock art in the world.
Southern Africa has the greatest legacy of rock art on earth, and the Cederberg has more paintings per square kilometre than anywhere else in the region. The San and Khoi people lived here for thousands of years, leaving art in caves and overhangs throughout the mountains.
Wildlife includes klipspringer, grey rhebok, leopard, caracal, bat-eared fox, and baboon. Birders will find sunbirds, sugarbirds, bee-eaters, and raptors including black eagles and jackal buzzards. The area is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, renowned for its extraordinary plant diversity — it is also home to the rooibos tea plant and many species of fragrant buchu.
Two hikes stand out. The climb through the Wolfberg Cracks to the Wolfberg Arch is serious but spectacular — the views from the top are worth every step. The walk to the Maltese Cross formation is less strenuous and equally striking. An extensive network of 254 km of unmarked but well-maintained footpaths traverses the area.
The gateway towns of Citrusdal and Clanwilliam lie in the foothills, 2–3 hours north of Cape Town by road. Both offer a range of accommodation.