Cederberg MTB Trails

The Cederberg Wilderness Area is one of South Africa’s most dramatically beautiful natural environments — a rugged sandstone massif stretching for over 100km between Citrusdal and Wupperthal, famous for its bizarre rock formations, ancient rock art, endemic Clanwilliam cedar trees and wild, largely untouched mountain terrain. For adventure mountain bikers and gravel riders willing to commit to proper wilderness travel, the Cederberg offers an experience entirely unlike anything else in the Western Cape.

What to Expect

Riding in the Cederberg is remote, demanding and extraordinarily rewarding. Jeep tracks and 4×4 roads wind through the mountain ranges, passing Bushman rock art sites, orange sandstone arches and formations, crystal-clear mountain streams and the ancient Algeria Forest Station with its Cape cedar trees. The 60km Wupperthal Gravel Loop to the historic Moravian mission village is a multi-hour epic through some of the most remote scenery in the Western Cape. The Engelsman se Kloof route provides a full-day technical mountain experience.

Important planning notes: The Cederberg is genuine wilderness — always carry sufficient water (minimum 3 litres per person), food for a full day, emergency bivouac equipment and a detailed map or downloaded GPS track. Mobile signal is limited or absent throughout most of the area. Inform someone of your planned route and expected return time.

Getting There

Algeria Forest Station is accessible via the Nieuwoudt Pass from Citrusdal (N7 from Cape Town toward Clanwilliam, exit at Citrusdal). GPS for Algeria: -32.5833, 19.0167. Tel: +27 22 921 3880. Distance from Cape Town: approximately 280km.

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