Like nowhere else on Earth, the Cederberg Mountains, which surrounds the Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Resort & Wellness Retreat, deliver beautiful ancient landscapes. Previously home to a stunning range of flora and fauna, this beautiful, rugged area featured threatened animals such as the black rhino and now extinct Quagga. In addition to the herds of elephants and lions, a small bushman community inhabited the region, which followed a nomadic lifestyle and produced stunning rock art that has persisted to this day. It really is a great way to take advantage of a Motorcycle rental Cape Town can be proud of.
Beautiful Winters
Winters are cold and damp in the Cederberg while summers are warm and dry. Around May and September, most of the rain comes, and sometimes it snows in the upper areas. Night temperatures can decline significantly in the winter, leading to a strong frost. In summer temperatures can rise up to 40 ° C. Lightning is the cause of intermittent fires from velds. During the season, southeasterly winds predominate and therefore add to the high possibility of fire from velds.
Vegetation is mainly mountain fynbos. The lower slopes on the rugged outcrops shelter laurel protea, sand olive, silky cone bush, and yellow daisies, with mountain maytenus and wild olive trees. At the lower altitude found here, waboom veld exists. Towards the lower cliffs rise the eye-catching purpose-blue ridderspoor, as well as buchu and rooibos tea.
Higher up one finds fynbos restio veld, with plenty red disas along the plateau’s streams. The Clanwilliam cedar rises around cliffs and overhangs in the so-called cedar region at altitudes greater than 1 000 m above sea level. Yellowwood, hard-pear, and Cape beech grow in the wetter ravines of red and white els, while wild olive, silky bark, and spoonwood favor dryer kloofs. Maybe the most desirable vegetation on the highest summits is the endangered snow protea. It is very rare, and is present only in the forest region in a few places.
Springtime is amazing
It’s a rejuvenating time of the year for all of us who travel through here, as everything appears to bloom. The scenery is turning from brown to white, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and the dewy days and cool clean air are contributing to the soothing feeling that spring offers.
The Cederberg’s jagged sandstone rock formations with their burnt orange color, at this time of year framed by the vivid veld, are much more impressive. I can honestly say that it’s a wonderful spot to tour.
Sure it is hotter during the day, but you can still be active. That’s why the Cederberg Summer isn’t exactly the perfect time to tour. It’s sometimes just too hot to even be involved. It’s great if you decide to do is have some nice morning sight-seeing and afternoon lounging next to the pool.
Yet their summers are too humid to take a serious hike in midday. And definitely too hot in the afternoon, to be very productive. You will lay about in bed in the Cederberg in winter until 9 am (its vacation!), have a leisurely breakfast and then go out for a long ride. Perhaps you can go on a morning excursion, and then go for a motorcycle trip in the afternoon sun.
You have to get up early in the morning to go ready for a stroll or bike trip in summer. Never in wintertime though. You can do anything you want in winter.
A great history spot
Cederberg is a perfect spot for history buffs. There are a number of San rock-art locations, and you could see images from thousands of years ago. One of the last refuge for the Sans was the Cederberg Mountains, and these parts are a somewhat melancholy reminder of South Africa before the Europeans captured the land. There are a few small towns close to the Cederberg Mountains; the most famous are Citrusdal and Clanwilliam. Both are perfect for motorbikes, and have spectacular Cederberg range views.
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