Over the mountains to the Tankwa
Experience all the highlights of the Cederberg, then tackle a back road through the Beidouw Valley to the heart of the Tankwa Karoo.
The Cederberg is synonymous with unique rock formations, hiking trails and rooibos tea, but did you know there are also a number of wine farms, breweries, hidden campsites and a handful of rivers to explore in this region? Head out there for a weekend – or add an extra day or two to your next holiday – and explore this interesting area. There are many roads among the mountain peaks only doable in an off-roader. What’s more, this route also leads you to the Cederberg’s equally interesting (though considerably flatter!) neighbouring region: the Tankwa Karoo.
Here’s where to go
From Clanwilliam, head straight south with the Old Cape Road that runs past the eastern side of the dam just outside the town in the direction of the Cederberg Wilderness Area. Or, if you take the N7, be on the lookout for the turnoff about 28 km before you get to the town. This road leads you to a low-water bridge over the Olifants River to the Nieuwoudts Pass. Just on the other side of the mountain pass, you’ll find Algeria, a great campsite run by Cape Nature. Keep southwest from Algeria and drive over the Uitkyk Pass, after which you get the turnoff to Driehoek, a guest farm with campsites on the banks of the Sand River and some lovely hiking trails. Plus,
they make good wine on the farm. Dwarsrivier lies another 10 km down the road. They’ve got an observatory (stargazing on Saturdays at 20:00), a wine cellar and a brewery that’s home to the Boggom and Voetsek beer range. Across the road is the Sanddrif Holiday Resort with campsites, chalets and the starting point for the famous Wolfberg Cracks. If you want to visit the cracks, Stadsaal Caves or the Maltese Cross, make sure you get a permit from Dwarsrivier’s reception. The impressive Stadsaal Caves (7 km from Dwarsrivier) are definitely worth a visit, and you don’t have to climb any mountains (as you would for the Wolfberg Cracks or the Maltese Cross) to reach it. A mere 3 km east of the Stadsaal Caves, you’ll come to a T-junction where you turn left. Head north for 23 km to Eselbank and then look out for the waterfall with a lovely swimming hole just outside that settlement. The Eselbank Pass runs northward for 10 km – the last 3 km is a steep cement track that descends to Wupperthal. Take a pic of the Moravian church in this famous village before continuing on to the Kouberg Pass. The Biedouw Valley lies beyond the Kouberg, and this is where you turn off to the right at the Mertenhof Guest Farm. Follow the Biedouw River for about 29 km northeast to where
it joins the Doring River. You cross the Doring River with a low-water bridge. Be warned: after heavy rains in the winter months, the river can flood its banks and prevent you from crossing. From the Doring River, continue east for 33 km to the junction with the famous – and notorious! – R355 gravel road. This sweeping 252 km gravel road between Ceres and Calvinia is one of the longest stretches of uninterrupted road in the country and also one of the most deserted and most beautiful landscapes you will ever encounter. Do, however, keep your eyes on the road, as the shale on the R355 is known for chewing tyres. Every second guy will have different advice regarding your tyre pressure on this road, but we recommend you don’t deflate your tyres to below 2 bar and keep your speed under 80 km/h. Turn south on the R355 – 38 km further you will find the turnoff to the Tankwa Tented Camp in the Stonehenge Nature Reserve. This remote camp (7 km off the main road) is a delightful haven away from our rushed lives, but at the end of April, it bursts from its seams with the annual AfrikaBurn festival. Keep this in mind when you plan your visit. The unique Tankwa farm stall is another 65 km south. By now, you’ve probably had enough of the dust, so grab a cooldrink and burger before continuing on. And if you’ve had tyre trouble, they can also help. After the Tankwa farm stall, there’s 50 km to go to get to the R355 junction and the end of the route.