Winter in the spectacular Cederberg

Posted by Scott Ramsay on 18 July 2011

I’ve just spent two weeks hiking and exploring the Cederberg in the Western Cape. And it’s been the most unbelievable weather … usually at this time of year, in winter, it can rain like anything, but we’ve had endless days of warm sunshine, and cool but not cold nights.

A real highlight was walking to the Wolfberg Arch via the so-called Cracks. We slept next to the Arch as a magical waxing moon rose above us. Not a breath of wind. I swore I could have heard the ghosts of the San whispering.

What we did hear in the distance was the crashing sound of a massive rockfall in the middle of the night. I almost felt the vibrations as well. I guess the rocks must have contracted in the cool night. It did make me realise how small we are … and also how seemingly insignificant a human lifespan can be, in terms of geological time. These mountains are slowly eroding, and have done so for millions of years. But the human race is just a blip on the radar of the earth’s history. (Yet we’ve done so much damage to the environment in that brief time)

You will not regret the steep hike up through the Cracks to get to the Arch. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of this beautiful mountain chain. I really want to come back here. I felt very at home, and very at peace. It was such a privilege.

Hope you enjoy the photos, and remember to keep the spirit of the wild alive!

Thanks again to my sponsors for making it all possible. CapeNature, South African National Parks, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Eastern Cape Parks, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ford, Total, Evosat, Conqueror Trailers, Vodacom, Digicape, Lacie, Frontrunner, K-Way, National Luna, Nokia , Goodyear, Global Fleet Sales, Hetzner and Clearstream Consulting

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