Cederberg | Hidden Hinterlands from the Cederberg to the Tankwa

The Bhejane team will be waiting to meet you at a campsite in the village of Nieuwoudtville. Here you'll find your tent already set up, ready for you to move into for the next two nights. After meeting the crew and your fellow travellers, your photographic guide will deliver a short introduction to photography in the evening. Our route and travel itinerary will also be discussed before dinner.   

We spend the first day of the tour in Nieuwoudtville and the surrounding area. The area is renowned for its flowering bulbs (geophytes) in spring as well as the unique Brunsvigia bosmaniae (Maartblomme) which bloom in March and April. We visit a wildflower reserve and a waterfall before heading to a quiver tree forest for a very special sunset photography location.

Each vehicle must ensure that all final logistical details (filling of fuel tanks, Jerry cans and water containers, purchase snacks & drinks, etc.) are done before arrival.

After an early breakfast and a radio check, we start our journey south and travel along the Oorlogskloof escarpment. The picturesque Pakhuis Pass leads us to Clanwilliam where we visit a museum in an old jailhouse to take a closer look at the history of this town and its people in the heart of Rooibos country.

In the afternoon we make our way to a campsite in the western Cederberg where our crew have already set up your tent and a hot pot of coffee is waiting for you on the campfire. Tonight we delve deeper into more photographic principles before enjoying dinner.

As soon as we’ve had breakfast, we depart for our first destination of the day. A short drive takes us to a nearby working rooibos tea farm. Here we take a tour of the production process, ending in a rooibos tea tasting.

By mid-morning we head east and make our way into the Cederberg Conservancy area via the Nieuwoudts Pass. We take our time travelling south to truly appreciate the stunning landscape of the Cederberg.

We spend two nights in the Cederberg to fully take advantage of the photographic opportunities and other activities on offer in the area. On both days we will have sundowners and a photo session at a stunning location nearby. During the day time your guide will conduct one-on-one sessions with each photographer to tackle personal photographic queries. 

Once breakfast has been taken care of, we set off down the Cederberg valley towards Matjiesrivier. From here we set our sights on the Katbakkies pass which will lead us down the escarpment and into the wide open plains of the Tankwa Karoo.

Our campsite for tonight is situated in a stunning remote setting on the banks of the Groot River. Green lawns, shade trees and a flowing river are unusual sights in the Karoo, making this camp something special. The riverbanks provide plenty of photographic and birding opportunities and a huge collection of rock art can be seen.

As usual, a short talk on photographic principles will precede dinner and if weather conditions are favourable, we’ll be treated to a spectacular starry night sky.

Today we enjoy our breakfast slightly earlier than usual in order to have enough time to explore the vast landscapes of the Tankwa Karoo National Park. We eventually exit the park via the winding bends of the famous Gannaga Pass with its sweeping views over the Tankwa. We continue to Middelpos and onward to Sutherland.

We spend two nights in Sutherland, the country’s premier stargazing destination. During our time here we’ll visit a planetarium, attend a star gazing session and visit the South Africal Large Telescope (SALT) at the South African Astronomical Observatory field station just outside of town.

During our time here your guide will provide further photographic instruction with a particular focus on astrophotography. 

Our final destination is the historic village of Matjiesfontein, a National Heritage Site. This Victorian era village is steeped in history and spending time here is like being transported to a bygone era. We arrive early enough to explore the museums, railway station, old post office, church and the cricket pitch where the South African team faced (and beat!) the English for the very first time.

We overnight in the famous Lord Milner Hotel where we enjoy a sundowner tour of the town aboard an iconic double decker red British passenger bus. Tonight's dinner is a special treat served in the hotel’s dining room, the perfect setting to end off our tour. The festivities might even spill over into the saloon-like atmosphere of the Laird’s Arms pub next door! Just be sure to look out for the resident ghost on your way back to your room ...

After one last breakfast together our guide and crew bid you a fond farewell.

Matjiesfontein is situated right on the N1, a convenient connection for your onwards journey.