Cederberg Mountains * Northern Cederberg * Paternoster, West Coast
The Cederberg & West Coast Explorer is the perfect journey for nature-lovers seeking authentic beauty far from the tourist trail. Discover the rugged drama of the Cederberg Mountains, the ancient stories told in the Bushmen rock art, and the warm, down-to-earth hospitality and cuisine of the West Coast.
This 4-night itinerary can be enjoyed either as a self-drive adventure (base price shown below) or as a privately guided tour with your own expert guide. It’s easily combined with Cape Town, or extended to include the Whale Coast, the Cape Winelands, or even the wildlife of Sanbona Game Reserve.
Your adventure begins with a scenic drive through the northern Winelands to Tulbagh for lunch and wine tasting, before ascending via Ceres into the majestic Cederberg Mountains. Spend your first night surrounded by soaring sandstone cliffs β perfect for gentle walks, refreshing dips in rock pools, and discovering the ancient rock art of the Stadsaal caves.
After some wine-tasting at the highest wine estate in South Africa, the award-winning Cederberg Cellars, you continue to Clanwilliam for two nights at Cederberg Ridge Wilderness Lodge. Here panoramic mountain views and fine dining await. Optional tours include a visit to a Rooibos farm, walks in the mountains or the Sevilla rock art trail. Then journey westward, visiting Bird Island at Lamberts Bay, before taking the coastal road to the charming fishing village of Paternoster. Here, enjoy long beach walks, explore the Columbine Nature Reserve, and savour traditional seafood lunches right on the sand.
Your final day takes you through the West Coast National Park, with its wild coastal fynbos and turquoise Langebaan Lagoon, before returning to Cape Town in the late afternoon.
The self drive tour includes accommodation and meals as indicated, plus car rental (Group R SUV with GPS). You may extend your stay with an extra night in the Cederberg or along the West Coast for a more leisurely pace. We can also include your preferred Cape Town or Winelands hotel for a seamless journey. Also check out our Spring Wild Flower tour if visiting in Spring.
For those preferring a privately guided experience, we offer this tour with a private guide and vehiclel, park fees, and and selected lunches and entrances β see our proposal. Our indicative price below assumes four or more travellers, though we can quote privately for couples on request (in region of 20% more per person.)

Nestled in a valley of the Grootrivier, surrounded by rugged and dramatic mountains, Mount Ceder lies within easy reach along the main route through the Cederberg mountain range. It is a great wilderness area with majestic views, amazing spring flowers, rugged mountain bike rides, walks and hikes β perfect for the young and not-so young.
βHow you enjoy the beauty of Mount Ceder is up to you. Walk in the mountains with no one around, clamber over the unique rock formations or swim in the perennial river with the kids. Of course, you could also simply relax in this piece of unspoiled paradise in the luxury of your house.Β
Cederberg Ridge is a luxurious wilderness lodge offering delicious food, hospitality and adventure. The lodge overlooks the panorama of the Cederberg Mountains with its unique raw, rugged beauty. But this stylish βaway-from-it-allβ retreat is within easy reach of Cape Town and the Winelands (2Β½ hours scenic drive) and only 5km from Clanwilliam.
It offers the authentic ambience of a modern African farmhouse with much use of wood, natural materials and earthy tones. Yet the striking steel windows bring a contemporary touch.
Witness the natural beauty and hidden gems of the Cederberg through various excursions on offer β both for the active and the more laid-back. Take in the mountain views while walking or mountain biking. Learn about the rock art, history and rural culture. Explore the Cederberg, visit a rooibos tea farm or enjoy lunch at an alfresco beach restaurant on the West Coast. In summer, boating on the dam is perfect for the hot sunny days.
Back at the lodge, you can relax around the pool, have a pampering spa treatment, or enjoy story-telling at the fire-pit whilst gazing at the stars.
After breakfast, leave Clanwilliam and make your way south towards the West Coast, swapping rugged mountains for the wide-open landscapes and small fishing villages.
Continue to Paternoster, one of the prettiest villages along the West Coast. Paternoster is known for its whitewashed cottages, long beach and relaxed seaside atmosphere. Spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace. Tonight, you stay at Paternoster Dunes Boutique Guest House, a small and welcoming guest house set right on the beach front.
If booked well in advance, consider dinner at Wolfgat, one of South Africa’s most acclaimed restaurants. Their intimate tasting menu is strongly rooted in the West Coast, using seasonal local ingredients, indigenous plants and sustainably sourced seafood.
On day 5, you head back to Cape Town.
This is a sample itinerary using specific hotels and lodges. However most of these sample tours can be adapted to suit you. If applicable, it includes domestic seat-in-charter flights. But it excludes any regional and domestic scheduled flights (as these are subject to change and specific routing). These are added to a specific quotation once we have your dates.
Meals and accommodation as shown in itinerary (Dinner, B&B for 3 nights, B&B for 1 night), Group R (SUV) car rental for 5 days on Super-Cover basis including 2nd driver, GPS or Wifi Router, super-cover insurance and unlimited kilometres. Contact us for the Privately guided proposal which includes additional entrances, tours and some lunches.
EXCLUDESItems of a personal nature (such as curios, spa treatments, gratuities), meals not specified above, activities listed as optional, international and domestic flights (unless specified as included), visas and travel insurance.