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GT 162 Cedarberg Mountain, the West Coast and Namaqualand
This unique tour is available on request throughout the year. The Cedarberg Mountains offer some of the most spectacular Bushman Rock Art in the country within easy walking distance. The West Coast is beautiful and exciting, with an abundance of fish, flowers and bird life. Namaqualand is an arid, harsh and barren, almost God-forsaken country, with its own unique beauty. This barren land change dramatically into a kaleidoscope of colour and beauty in Spring and attracts flower-lovers from all over the world.
Day 1 - The Cedarberg Mountains
Depart Cape Town early morning and drive north on the N7 through the wheatlands of the Swartland. Enter the Olifants River Valley with its orange groves. Citrusdal is one of the largest exporters of citrus fruits. Visit a Rooibos tea farm for a taste of this well-known natural herbal tea. Turn-off at Clanwilliam into the northern parts of the majestic Cedarberg Mountains and Wilderness areas. The Cedarberg Mountains are known for its magnificent rock formations and abundance of Bushman rock art. Arrive Traveller's Rest.
Take a walk to view some of the most artistic Bushman rock-art paintings in South Africa. Visit nine sightings on the Sevilla Trail. Dinner at Traveller's Rest. DBB. Self prepared barbecue under the African skies.
Overnight - Traveller's Rest, Cedarberg Mountains. DBB
Day 2 - Namaqualand
After a late breakfast, prepared by your personal guide, we return to Clanwilliam, heart of the Rooibos tea industry. Visit a famous leather shoe factory for a tour of the handmade shoes and to purchase a pair of David Kramer's for the rough walking. Drive through a very harsh region, called The Knersvlakte with its rocky terrain and succulent plants, to Vanrhynsdorp. Continue through the small Namaqua towns of Bitterfontein, Garies and Kamieskroon. Visit the Skilpad Nature Reserve, best known for the floral display. Springbok is the largest town in Namaqualand and serves as the commercial centre for a vast region. Namaqualand is a countryside of extreme contrasts, during a short spring (August,September) the dry arid landscape changes into a floral kaleidoscope of flowers covering the earth and giving life to an abundance of flowers and creatures. Enjoy the Nama people with their peculiar accents.
Overnight - Hotel Springbok. DBB
Day 3 - Namaqualand
After breakfast we walk in town to visit The Blue Mine, Dutch Reformed Church (Klipkerk built in 1929), Monument Koppie and many other historical buildings. Leave Springbok for Okiep. Visit Okiep, until 1929, the worlds richest copper mine. It is also the oldest mining town in South Africa where copper was mined in 1855. Continue to Nababeep, the largest copper-mining town in the region. Optional visit to Goegap Nature Reserve in search of flowers. This reserve features most of Namaqualands natural riches in 15 000ha of typically granite rocky hills and sandy flats. It is alive with an abundance of plant and animal life, including springbok, gemsbok and mountain zebra. Namaqualand is a place of rare beauty in the dry season, an unspoilt expanse of open spaces broken by ancient outcrops of granite.
Overnight – Hotel Springbok. DBB
Day 4 – Namaqualand and The West Coast
After a late breakfast, we explore the countryside in search of flowers. Visit the Skilpad Nature Reserve in Kamieskroon. Enjoy a walk amongst the flowers (when in season). On a clear day you will be able to see the ocean in the West. Leave Skilpad Nature Reserve and continue to Lamberts Bay. Arrive at Lambert's Bay a fishing town on the West Coast. Take a walk across the walkway to Bird Island, an important breeding site for gannets, penguins and other sea birds.
Watch the birds from two viewpoints. Explore the fishing harbour.
Dinner at the famous Muisbosskerm, an open-air, traditional seafood restaurant on the beach (weather permitting).
Overnight - Lambert's Bay Hotel. DBB
Day 5 - West Coast
Early morning bird watching on Bird Island. Continue our homeward journey along the West Coast and Sishen Saldanha railway line via Elands Bay, Velddrif and Laaiplek. Whale-watching along the coast from several viewpoints (July-November).Take a walk along the Berg River and watch fishermen hauling their catch of the day and preparing their bokkoms (salted and dried herring). Continue along the coast to Saldanha Bay and Langebaan, an important bird sanctuary. Game-drive in the West Coast National Park and flower-watching in season. Optional visit to the Fossil Park in Langebaan on a guided tour. The fascinating range of extinct animals includes a bear, lion-sized sabre-tooth cats, three-toed horses and many other animals. Drive via Yzerfontein to Darling, flower gem of the West Coast. Visit the Tinie Versfeld Nature Reserve. Visit Mamre Mission Station and return via Blaauberg and Sunset Beach to Cape Town. Arrive Cape Town late afternoon. BB
END OF TOUR
Totsiens
Hamba Kahle
Goodbye
This tour includes the following:
Accommodation in 3 star hotels, Guest Houses or Bed and Breakfasts on availability
Porterage at hotels
Breakfasts and dinners
Transport in air-conditioned vehicles
Tours conducted by professional guides
All entries as clearly stipulated
One 350ml water or beverage per day on the vehicle
Tours are done according to the seasons and availability and opening times of venues
This tour excludes the following:
All optional extra entries or tours
All lunches
Drinks and beverages
Anything of a personal nature
Airport taxes
NB. Our tours are subject to changes because animals, flowers and the weather are unpredictable and cannot be guaranteed. Accommodation will be booked on availability.
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