Clanwilliam

Clanwilliam is a village in the Western Cape province, located in the beautiful Olifants River Valley, some 230 km north of Cape Town. On the west side of the village are the rock formations of the Cederberg Mountains, a very popular area for hikers.

Clanwilliam is one of the 10 oldest places in South Africa. To the west lies the coastal town of Lamberts Bay and to the north following the N7, you will arrive in Namibia. So strategically located for those traveling through. Rest, endless silence and space, but also adventure are key words for this special environment.

And what about a trip through Namaqualand to see lots of wild flowers blooming that it is a sweet delight (between August and September). Be sure to visit the Biedouw Valley or the Ramskop Nature Garden if you love everything that blooms and grows. Take a route after a good rain shower, combining Lutzville, Vredendal, Vanrhynsdorp and Klawer to see an exuberant Wildflowers splendor! On a rainy, foggy or cold day you will be disappointed if you only have an eye for the flowers, they need sun and warmth to shine.

The Ramskop Nature Garden is located on the edge of the Clanwilliam dam, an area where you can water ski but also undertake numerous other water activities such as fishing (buy a fishing license).

Clanwilliam is a quiet village, where you will find a museum that tells the history of the village. There is also an old prison, both closed on weekends and public holidays. In the village center you will find seven old buildings (now monuments) including the old farm house of Jan Disselsvalleij, once the name bearer of the village, before it was called Clanwilliam. There are also some art galleries where local artists often exhibit their work, but you can also find paintings by many other South African artists here. A long time ago the Khoi and the San people were the artists here and their work is spread over numerous rock formations in the area.  Book a tour with a guide if you don’t want to miss out, because in this area you will find the best preserved and most San Rock art paintings.

Rooibos tea plants are native plants in this area and are grown in large numbers. And it is certainly worthwhile to visit the factory or a Rooibos farm and see that there are many more products available from Rooibos.

Just outside Clanwilliam you can reach Wupperthal via a beautiful route through the tea bush fields. Here the Rhenish missionaries founded a shoe factory in 1834 and the back-to-basic walker should really take a look at the “veldskoene” and possibly order a few to pick it up later.  Along the way you could stop at the tomb of Louis Leipoldt, a well-known botanist, cook and poet.

From Clanwilliam it is easy to travel to the Cederberg Wilderness Area, where you have views from or to special rock formations. Where rock climbing, hiking and walking photography deliver beautiful pictures. Also look forward to the special and endangered Clanwilliam Cedar Tree. Who knows, this one will no longer make it and you will see 1 of the last copies. Take one of the many beautiful mountain passes to get a helicopter view of the breathtaking landscape, where silence is still common. And stop en route at a ‘Padstal’ for local delicacies.

Add to my travel plans