Ceres

Ceres named after the Roman goddess of fertility and agriculture, is located in the Western Cape province some 170 kilometers above Cape Town. It is located in the ‘Warm Bokkeveld’ valley, a very fertile valley known for its fruit cultivation.

Ceres has a typical Mediterranean climate with warm temperatures in the summer, the winters are cool to cold and wet and in the higher areas such as ‘the Kouebokkeveld’ you can expect snowfall. Something that still has a great attraction for the Cape man.

You will find the name Ceres on fruit juice everywhere in the world, the locals also know Ceres from cherry picking at “Klondyke” farm in summer and snow fun in winter. You will also find the name on the mineral water that comes from here. Peaches, nectarines, apricots, apples, cherries, plums and grapes are grown here and prepared for export. The fruit picking takes place between December and April and is a great time to do a tour of various fruit companies here.

Ceres which is surrounded by Wolseley, Tulbagh, Op-die-Berg and Prince Alfred Hamlet and can be reached via the Mitchell’s Pass, the Theronsberg Pass and the Gydo Pass This village is really beautifully situated and especially in spring when the blossoms of the many trees can be seen, this is a picturesque area.

There are all kinds of activities and trips that have to do with fruit, so you can book a fruit tour in season, or visit the local fruit kiosk, get acquainted with home-made jams and chutneys and more importantly taste them. You can go Picking cherries from mid-November to the end of December.

In the Ceres Valley there is of course also room for the adventurer, because beautiful nature with water and rock formations require discovery. Go on a mountain bike trip in this paradise, go for walks and hikes (possibly organized). You can go abseiling or rock climbing there. Motorized outing can be done by 4×4 or quadbike and if you want to relax quietly, stare at the ripple-free water when you are trout fishing or search for the many bird species. A fun adventure for the whole family (children from 3 years and older) is to go Zip Sliding, actively participate in a Zip Slide Tour, 8 times “tread slide” over a length of 1.4 km along rock formations and over rivers through the Ceres Valley .

In Ceres you can visit the Transport Riders Museum and learn more about the people, animals and plants and the transport from times long past, but also hear more about the earthquake that took place here in 1969.

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