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Cederberg Trail FAQs

Find answers to the most common questions about The Cederberg Trail. If you still need help, contact us.

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The Trail
Who can walk
Camps, amenities and your comfort
The trail – a short summary
Weather
Where is it and how do I get there
Emergencies 
Booking

The Trail

What is The Cederberg Trail?

The Cederberg Trail is a four-day, three-night slackpacking hike through the private Klipopmekaar wilderness in the northern Cederberg. The full route covers around 50 km, with your luggage and food transported between comfortable overnight PODs.

Yes – the trail is very well marked and specifically built for self-guided groups of 8–12 hikers. If you would rather have a guide and meals prepared for you, you can book a guide at an additional cost.

No. The entire trail is located within the privately owned Klipopmekaar Wilderness and Rooibos Farm.

Yes. The Cederberg Trail is located in the remote private Klipopmekaar Wilderness in the northern Cederberg mountains. The Northern Cederberg itself is a remote and peaceful region. Entry to Klipopmekaar is strictly controlled and the only access is via a secure gated road. Klipopmekaar is a safe, crime-free private wilderness. Once you are on the trail and in the camps, you are in a controlled private environment.

The path is marked clearly with stone and trail markers, you each carry a map, and your hiking group has a guidebook to share.

A daypack on your back. We transport your cooler box, dry goods box and duffel bag to each overnight camp.

No. Our 90-litre coolers and dry boxes are sized for the transporting bakkie and rough roads, and are more than sufficient for hikers’ food and beverage requirements. We will not transport any additional boxes, packages or items.

No. Each hiker can bring one duffel bag (max 90L). All luggage, extra pillows and items should fit in your duffel bag – there is no space for loose extra bags or items on the bakkie.

You are welcome to bring your own alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. We do not supply or sell alcoholic beverages to hikers. All your beverages must fit into your coolers and dry boxes.

Glass bottles are not recommended due to the risk of breakage on rough farm roads between camp sites. However, glass bottles can make the journey if very carefully packed, and very carefully re-packed daily.

Hikers are advised to limit alcohol consumption to a sensible amount and prevent dehydration.

Each hiker is given a map, and there is one trail guidebook for the whole group.

Yes. All PODs have small bins, and there are larger bins in the communal areas. Please place your recyclable items in the recycling bins at the camps.

Who can walk

How many people?

Eight minimum to twelve maximum. One group a day. The overnight camps are completely yours — empty pods stay empty, which is a luxury.

We welcome bookings from as few as two guests, but all private bookings are charged at the minimum group rate of eight guests.

Smaller groups of 2–7 hikers are welcome. Book in the normal way on the website. The minimum rate for 8 people applies (so the per-person cost is higher). Once that minimum is paid, the camps are exclusively yours.

We accept bookings for hikers aged 10 to 70 years, unless otherwise confirmed with you in writing. All children must be accompanied by their own parents or guardians, who will act as legal signatories on the indemnity forms.

Hikers must be in good general health and have reasonably good mountain walking fitness to enjoy the trail.

The full trail is 50 km and moderately strenuous. Two gentler shortcut options can reduce the full trail length to 43 km.

No. We do not collect medical records. We only ask you to confirm on the booking and indemnity forms that you are in good general health and physically fit enough to walk approximately 50 km in mountainous wilderness, and that you meet the age and swimming requirements.

There is no exposed cliff walking or very high vertical drops alongside the trail, apart from the more exposed sections around Noordkrans peak. These can be avoided by keeping back from them, or by taking the shortcut on Day 3, which eliminates Noordkrans peak altogether.

It’s difficult for us to assess trail suitability for varying individual vertigo conditions or impairments. If you suffer from severe vertigo, we would rather be prudent and recommend that this trail is not for you.

You must be able to swim, and all hikers will be required to confirm in writing that they can swim. Wet-season river crossings (depth below the knee) and camp pools are part of the pleasure of the trail, but not safe if you can’t swim.

Sorry, no dogs or pets are allowed on the trail.

Camps, amenities and your comfort

What is a POD?

For us, it’s a contemporarily designed and comfortable room for two, elevated off the ground in a portal steel frame with a deep shade pergola covering the POD.

Two single beds can stand apart or be joined to form a king size, with linen, your own en-suite hot shower, toilet and basin. There are benches, shelves and hooks for your gear, a fan overhead, plugs for charging and bedside lamps for reading.

There are three overnight camps: Hole in the Roof (Night 1), Die Bassie (Night 2) and Dragon’s Lair (Night 3).

Each camp has 6 private PODs.

Each POD sleeps two people (a couple or two friends). The two single beds can be left apart or joined into a king.

No, there is additional separate and comfortable accommodation for trail guides and assistant guides at all three overnight camps. So, booking a guided and catered trail will not reduce your group maximum of 12 hikers.

No. Each POD is equipped with its own en-suite hot shower, flush toilet and basin.

Yes, there are good off-grid solar power and lithium-ion battery systems at all camps. All power supplied is 220 V, with plugs in the PODs and communal areas for charging, and fans above the POD beds.

A head torch is required for the wander to your POD after dinner. Please don’t bring hairdryers.

No. Hikers are not permitted to bring hairdryers or plug in any power-hungry devices at the camps.

The communal area has a fully equipped kitchen with a gas cooker stove and oven, standing fridge and freezer, toaster, microwave, cooking utensils and a braai. There is also a large dining table for shared meals. Please wash up and leave the kitchen clean and tidy after use.

Twenty pieces are provided per night, including firelighters and matches. Extra wood can be purchased from the Visitors Centre before you start, and delivered to camp daily.

Yes. One bag (2 kg) of ice per night is included in your booking fee. You can order more ice during your trail briefing at the Visitors Centre on Day 1.

We do not provide towels, please pack your own towels or a sarong/kikoi.

Yes. There are tanks filled with borehole-supplied water at every camp. The water quality is good and safe to drink. When the rivers run on the trail, it’s also safe to fill up your water bottles directly from running streams.

During the wetter seasons, and only when the rivers are also running, water is available on Day 1 and Day 2. For Day 3 and Day 4 you must fill up at your camp in the morning before leaving, and carry all the water you will need for that day.

Irrespective of the season, we recommend all hikers carry at least 2–3 litres per person per day, and 3–4 litres per person per day if hotter weather (above 25 °C) is forecast.

For most of the trail there is no cellular phone access. Wi-Fi is only available at the Visitors Centre, and you may pick up limited cellular signal around Noordkrans on Day 3. For emergencies, a satellite phone is available.

The trail – a short summary

How far is the hike each day?

The full 50 km route is broken down as follows:

  • Day 1: 10 km
  • Day 2: 11 km
  • Day 3: 18 km
  • Day 4: 11 km

Shortcut options are available which reduce Day 1 to about 8 km and Day 3 to about 13 km. The total shortcut distance is 43 km.

Please arrive at the Visitors Centre and undercover parking area by 11:00 on Day 1.

The group briefing and re-packing of your food and beverages into our coolers and dry boxes will take an hour. You’ll be ready to start walking by 12:00.

On Day 4, leave Dragon’s Lair by 09:00 and you’ll be back at the Visitors Centre at around 13:00.

The Cederberg Trail is designed, built and very well marked specifically for self-guided groups walking together. It’s easy to navigate. Hikers are each given a trail map to assist if necessary, but map-reading skills are not required.

The trail is roughly 1 m wide, and it’s a rock-lined path most of the way.

  • Direction markers (orange arrows on stainless steel disk signs) are placed on average every 40 m, closer together or further apart as the terrain requires.
  • Kilometre markers (also orange on stainless steel disk signs) run along the whole route, so you always know how far you have walked that day and how far you have to go.
  • Points of Interest markers (orange letters on stainless steel square signs) correlate to detailed explanations in your Trail Guide Book. One book is provided free of charge to each group; more can be purchased at the Visitors Centre before departure.

Yes. San rock paintings can be seen at three sites along the route on Days 2, 3 and 4. Please admire them without touching or disturbing them. The San rock art is an archaeological treasure and has been preserved for thousands of years. We need to keep it that way please.

Comfortable, well-worn trail shoes or hiking boots. Please ensure your shoes are walked in and not brand new to avoid chafing and blisters. Light shoes for crossings are optional.

Weather

What are the different hiking seasons?

You can book throughout the year.

You cannot book the same mountain twice — the seasons and trail experiences keep changing.  The Northern Cederberg (altitude 300M to 1100M) is a hot semi-desert with a winter rainfall season; and average annual rainfall of 268mm.


July to November – Wetter and milder, best for swimming

The Cederberg is a winter rainfall region, receiving most of its rainfall between June and August. The Klipopmekaar and Waterfalls rivers generally start flowing in July with good chance of enjoying the waterfalls and swimming from July to November.

From June to August you can expect cold nights (around 5-15 degrees celcius), and beautiful crisp days. There’s a chance your group may hike in some rainy weather, but oftentimes winter surprises with some lovely, warm days.

December to May – Hotter and drier, good for low chance of rain

Summer brings higher temperatures, extended daylight hours and generally warmer and favourable conditions on the trail. From January to March, hikers can expect occasional very hot temperatures and and an earlier start is definitely recommended … then you can spend the later afternoons relaxing and swimming at the overnight camps.

Even when seasonal rivers run dry, there are fresh water swimming pools at all three overnight camps. The striking rock formations along the dry riverbeds remain part of the Cederberg experience.

August- Flower Season

From late-July to mid-September (peaking in August) after winter rains, the Cederberg typically bursts into a multitude colourful wildflowers.

Autumn (April – May) and Spring (Sept – Oct) often provide the kindest walking weather.

Check the YR.NO forecast for Verkeerde Valley, West Coast District Municipality.

Ordinary wind and rain are part of a mountain week. We only stop you when it could become dangerous to go:

  • A flood forecast — river crossings could be unsafe. Most likely June to August, and only possibly a couple of times a year.

  • Dangerous heat — extremely high temperatures can make hiking unsafe. Most likely January to March, cancellation also rare.

If we need to cancel your hike, you’ll receive a full refund, or you can move your booking to another available date that suits you.

Where is it and how do I get there

How far from Cape Town?

The Cederberg Trail is located at Klipopmekaar Wilderness and Rooibos Farm in the Northern Cederberg Mountains, a 65 km drive east from Clanwilliam over the Pakhuis Pass into the Agter-Pakhuis region.

It’s a beautiful 290km drive from Cape Town up the N7 and over the Pakhuis Pass to Klipopmekaar. Driving directions and the gate security access code will be emailed well before your start date.

The nearest town is Clanwilliam, which is also the nearest place for shops and stores. It is a 65 km drive to and from Klipopmekaar (130 km round trip). If you need any last-minute items on the way to the trail, Clanwilliam is your last chance before heading into the Cederberg. Be sure to have sufficient fuel — we recommend filling up in Clanwilliam with enough fuel to drive at least 200 km to be safe.

Safe undercover parking is provided for your cars for the duration of your hike.

Emergencies

How do we call for help?

Each group is provided with a satellite phone for emergencies. It works outdoors along the entire trail and can be used to contact the manager on duty or emergency medical services.

In a life-threatening emergency, we will contact emergency medical services such as EMR or CMC (Critical Medical Care). Any costs charged by these services will be for the guest’s own account.

Carry any medication you may require in your daypack, especially emergency medication like EpiPens. Inform a fellow hiker if you may require assistance and where you’ve packed your emergency medication.

Booking

What are we paying for?

Your booking includes access to the 4-day trail, three nights’ accommodation and your set of fresh linen, luggage and cooler-box transfers between camps, maps and a guidebook, secure parking, 20 pieces firewood per night, one 2 kg bag of ice per night, a pre-hike briefing and access to a satellite phone for emergencies.

Food, drinks and towels are not included. See the booking page for current rates.

We welcome bookings from as few as two guests, but all private bookings are charged at the minimum group rate of eight guests.

A maximum of 12 people can book the trail, plus your trail guide(s) should you book the guided option.

All bookings can only be done on this website. No exceptions.

We do not accept bookings via phone, WhatsApp or e-mail, but you are welcome to send us your questions and we’ll get back to you right away.

Every group needs a Champion Booker / Leader — the person who makes the reservation, gathers the group, and manages the booking on behalf of everyone.

The remaining 50% is due six weeks before your trail start date. If not received by then, the booking is cancelled and the non-refundable deposit is forfeited.

One free change if requested at least six weeks before the original start date (thereafter a R5,000 fee excl. VAT). Subject to availability. Promotional discounts are forfeited. Only the champion booker/leader may request the change.

Yes, free of charge up to the start of the hike, provided the new hikers meet the eligibility requirements and complete the Indemnity Form.

Our booking terms and conditions and cancellation policy can be found on the booking page. Please read these carefully before confirming your booking.

The trail generally operates regardless of wind and rain. However, broadly speaking, there are two types of weather events which may cause us to cancel your trail in the interests of your safety.

Flooding: A large amount of forecast rainfall may mean the rivers will flood. Hikers have to cross the rivers a few times along the trail, and if the water levels are (or are forecast to be) too high (above knee depth) and unsafe to cross, we will unfortunately have to cancel your trail. This typically only happens a few times per year, with mid-winter (June to August) the most likely period for such a cancellation.

Extreme heat: A forecast of extremely hot temperatures for your trail dates may also mean that we need to cancel your trail. Although warm days and plenty of sunshine can be attractive to hikers in summer, the risks of hyperthermia must also be considered during periods of extremely high temperatures. This typically only happens a few times per year, with mid-summer (January to March) the most likely period for such a cancellation.

Hikers are also advised to mitigate heat risks as follows:

  • Start hiking early in the morning and aim to get to the next camp site by lunch.
  • Pack sports rehydration salts/sachets and drink them in the morning before hiking and in the evening after hiking, daily.
  • Pack at least 4 litres of water in your backpack every day on the trail.
  • Hike together as a group and don’t split up, making sure nobody is left behind on the trail.


In the event that we cancel your hiking trail, a full refund will be offered, or (at your option) we may re-book you onto another trail.

Still have a question?

Please get in touch with us. We’d much rather answer a small question now than deal with a surprise on the trail.

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