Most hikers visiting the Cederberg seek to take in the main trekking symbols of the range, notably the Maltese Cross and the Wolfberg Cross and Arch. Shorter Cederberg hikes requiring between 2 and 3 hours, normally made on arrival day and departure day, are to the Stadstaal Caves and the cedar trees above Algeria; the short river walk to Malgaat, close to the chalets at Sanddrif is also pretty. If you are fit, it’s possible to extend the Maltese Cross hike to gain the summit of Sneeuberg (2027m), although there is scrambling involved on the summit – the scrambling is not tricky, but route-finding is. An alternative is to make this ascent over two days and either camp on Die Trap, ready for a morning ascent of the final section, or sleep in the Sneeuberg bothy, a very basic shelter. Tafelberg (1969m) is the Cederberg’s second major summit and is sometimes included as a trekking objective. However, the summit block is generally the preserve of rock climbers and serious scramblers and is not summited by hikers. There are nice circuits for the fit which can be accessed from Algeria, which lies further north, and which are preferable to Tafelberg if exposed scrambling is not your bag. The Cederberg is riddled with San Rock Art and one of the best ways of seeing a good selection is to walk the 8-kilometre Sevilla Trail at the extreme northern end of the range. Much can be covered in a 4-day/3-night itinerary from Cape Town, although 4 nights give you more scope.

For those seeking to undertake the classic big walks, it’s best to stay in the heart of the reserve in one of the self-catering chalets at either Sanddrif or Kromrivier. Sanddrif camp is situated below the imposing bluff of the Wolfberg Arch and it’s a short drive from here to the trail head for Sneeuberg and the Maltese Cross. With very good planning, it’s perfectly feasible to self-cater and self-guide some of the walks, but you will get a lot more from the area if you have a guide to lead you and cater after demanding outings in the mountains. Kromrivier lies a short drive to the south and is also convenient for these walks. Accommodation is being upgraded here and it’s expected to become a dearer place to stay compared to Sanddrif. Other camps exist, but Sanddrif and Kromrivier are the bases we usually recommend for standard hiking itineraries focusing on Wolfberg and Sneeuberg. Other Cederberg Accommodation options exist outside the reserve.

The best time for hiking in the Cederberg is in the autumn (March to May) and in the spring and early summer (September to mid-December). September is particularly good for flowers. In high summer (January and February), temperatures can exceed 40 deg.C and hiking is best avoided. Winters are cold and wet, and the highest peaks are frequently snow-capped between June and August.