Cederberg (Western Cape) Overnight Hiking

Hi All Vertical Endeavour-ers!
I am wanting to plan a 4x day hike in the Cederberg north of Cape town for Apr 2016. Would any of you have information on what to expect? Pointers and suggestions are welcome. GPS data on routes woud be even better.
Thanks

Try this maybe : www.rimofafrica.org/traverse-1/

Aaaah - the Cederberg... you're in for a treat!

As a good intro to the area (with a few options for exploring on the side), I'd recommend a traverse from Algeria to Sandrif via Crystal Pools, Tafelberg, the Wolfberg Arch and Cracks. This would be a quite a doable hike over 3 days:

Day 1 - Algeria to Crystal Pools (Hut or Camp by the pools)
Day 2 - Up Engelmanskloof, along the jeep track contour and up to Spout Cave
Day 3 - Off path past Corridor Peak to the top of Gabriel's Pass and then via Wolfberg Arch and Cracks to Sandrif. Another option is to go back down to the jeep track and follow the path up to Gabriel's Pass from there.

To make it a 4-day hike, I would include 2 nights and a day at Spout Cave, where you can climb Tafelberg via the chains route (one of the most interesting and varied peaks - it's like the moon up there!).

Climbing up from Algeria:


Crystal Pools area:


Corridor Peak from the slopes of Tafelberg, near Spout Cave:


The Pillar Box:

Hi guys, bringing up an old thread here but looking for some advice. 
This coming weekend myself and 2 mates are doing a cederberg mission. 
We have never been before, and not too sure what to expect. 
We are used to drakensberg hiking where we know he can head off and find a cave to overnight in. 

So we will be staying at Sanddrif on the Friday night and then heading out in one direction on the Saturday, and heading back Sunday. 
We would like to do a circular route if possible, but heard that the cracks and arch  are closed. 
Does anyone know a route we can look at and where to overnight (preferably a cave as we might not take tents, maybe just a bivy bag) 
Also what will the water conditions be like, guessing there will be a fair amount around. 
And lastly can we pay for park fees at Sanddrif or should we rather do that online?

Thanks
Rob. 

Hi Rob

A nice hike to do in that area is Sneeuberg (the highest peak at 2000m) - I think it may only be partially affected by the fire (or not at all). Best to phone Algeria office and find out. Other routes in the area include Machine Gun Ridge (book Middelberg Hut), but this is affected by fires. 

The starting point of the Sneeuberg hike is at a big Oak Tree next to the road (its indicated on the map but theres no big sign or anything). 

Its a short walk to the hut (more like a shelter - stone house with holes in roof and no beds). Leave bags at the hut and do an out- and back summit of Sneeuberg peak (700m vertical from the hut and back down). Do Maltese Cross if you prefer an easier walk. The guide book says 2.5h to the shelter (6km) and another 5.5h to the peak and back (10km). And 3h (8m) to Maltese Cross and back. If you are really adventurous and the weather is good, theres a nice bivvy spot on the +- Northern side of Sneeuberg peak, close-ish to the summit. Its a shelter packed with rocks. The hike to Sneeberg peak is steep and dangerous - a C-grade scramble - but really worth it.

On your second day, you can do the walk back via Duiwelsgat (5h / 12km). You will need to drop off a car at the end point (one of the prominent hairpin bends on the pass from Algeria to Sanddrif). You can also walk back the way you came if you dont wanna do the longer walk or back to the road via Maltese Cross and drop a car somewhere. 

It is highly recommended to get the Slingsby Map for the area (read: you NEED the Slingsby map). The other nice thing about the Cederberg is you can just point and shoot (piece together a loop on the map, phone to hear if its available and just go for it). Routes that come to mind are Krakadouw Peak (there is a cave), Tafelberg (sleep in Spout Cave) and a circular walk from Kliphuis to Heuningvlei and back (they also do donkey-cart trips on this stretch - you can even extend it further to another village before turning back).

Hope this helps. 

Gerhard

Although in the Sanddrif area I think Sneeuberg would be the best option if it is unaffected by the fires.

The Tafelberg / Spout Cave mission is apparently also very nice, but may be affected by fires. Water may be a slight concern around spout cave - I havent been there so cant comment. There is sufficient water on the Sneeuberg loop (there is a reliable stream at the hut and a lot of water on day 2). 

All this said, a friend of mine is a guide and he disregards the fire rules (and the conservation fees...) and still visits these places nonetheless. Depends on your appetite for keeping to the rules. 

Great thanks Gerhard very useful. 
I do have the slingsby map so reading your info and having the map on hand gave me a better understanding of the area. 

I think we will most probably be doing the Sneeuberg route because at the time of booking the campsite they said wolfberg area was still closed. If there is a chance to go that side then we will. 

Weather isn't looking too great this weekend so will probably be taking tents.
But if we can find the rock shelter you mentioned on the northern face of Sneeuberg then we will stay there. 

Thanks for the info, I will updated after the trip. 
Cheers
Rob. 

There is plenty of water at the moment, that won't be an issue. As you know there is a front passing by on Friday. A few photos from a long years ago to the hut. Walking from Algeria is a bit boring (initially) but if coming from that side you cannot (should not really) leave a car at the side of the road:
adriantregoning.wordpress.com/2016/06/17/sneeuberg-june-2014/

From all my trail running mates it seems Sneeuberg has not burnt nor has Maltese Cross from photos two weekends ago. 

Thanks Adrian. 

Looking at the map there seems to be a parking spot on the road past the observatory. Any thoughts on leaving the car there and how long the hike up to sneeuberg would be? 

Cheers. 

Like I said, don't leave your car at the side of the road

The time would vary so much depending on your fitness and the weight you're carrying, how often you stop etc. I find it close on pointless to estimate so I really cannot say.