Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area and the Cederberg Wilderness Area have been temporarily closed
CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, has announced that the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area and the Cederberg Wilderness Area have been closed due to adverse weather conditions. The situation will be continually reassessed. CapeNature is planing to re-open the Cederberg Wilderness Area on 06 July 2021, while the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area is expected to welcome visitors again from 12 July 2021.
The Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area lies about 120km north of Cape Town, in the Grootwinterhoek mountain range north of Tulbagh and east of Porterville. Featuring extraordinary rock formations and popular hiking routes, it forms part of the greater Groot Winterhoek conservation area comprising 30 608ha, of which 19 200ha was declared a wilderness area in 1985.
The Cederberg Wilderness Area was proclaimed as a Wilderness in 1973. The 66 811ha of mountainous terrain is located in the Cape Floral Region about 250km north of Cape Town. It stretches from the Middelberg Pass in Citrusdal to north of the Pakhuis Pass at Clanwilliam. The Cederberg has a range of hiking trails that vary in intensity, including routes to fascinating rock formations, like the Maltese Cross and Wolfberg Arch, or refreshing waterfalls.
