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Clanwilliam Travel Guide

Clanwilliam Overview
Clanwilliam Recommended for:
  • Hiking /
  • Rock Paintings /
  • 4X4 Routes /
  • Rock Climbing /
  • Flowers /
  • Fishing /
  • Fruit Farm /
  • Mountain /
  • Water Skiing /
  • Camping /
  • Ski Boating /
  • Bass Fishing /
  • Wine Estates /
  • Parks /
  • Swimming /
  • Canoeing /
  • Tea Farm Tours /
  • Cycling /
 

Description

Nestled at the foot of the northern end of the Cederberg Mountains, Clanwilliam is a small town with loads to do just on its outskirts. Heading north, the Pakhuis Pass leads to an area of immense physical beauty, with spectacularly rugged rock formations, gurgling streams, tumbling waterfalls and some of the best and most easily accessible rock art in the country.

Clanwilliam, between the West Coast and the Cederberg, is right in the middle of the flower belt so it’s a place of pilgrimage for locals and tourists alike in spring.

The Clanwilliam Flower Festival is held every August, and the small but pretty Ramskop Wildflower Garden showcases the enormous range and sheer volume of the flowering plants found in the area. In the nearby mountains there are fabulous hikes and a great horse trail, both of which offer lovely scenery, rock art, pretty flowers and wonderful streams in which to play. The nearby Doring River offers great white water rafting in winter – if it feels like it. We blame global warming, George W. Bush, non-alliance with the Kyoto accord, damming by upstream farmers, the Illuminati, the Catholic Church, Muslim fundamentalists and pure bad luck, but this once dependable river has not been regularly runnable over the last few years. So it’s a bit of a gamble, but it’s worth doing a trip if you happen to be around when the river’s playing ball.

Clanwilliam is situated on the banks of the Olifants River and the sizeable Clanwilliam Dam, which is a favourite waterskiing, fishing and general water sports venue. The surrounding hills are covered in rooibos tea plantations and orange groves, which waft the sweet perfume of their blossoms over the valley in spring.

The rooibos tea factory, which is a great place to tour, offers a range of rooibos products for sale. As well as the obvious tea in various guises, there is a liqueur and a range of cosmetics that takes advantage of the anti-oxidising health benefits of this multi-purpose indigenous crop.

In and Around

Popular Attractions
Nearby Locations
Nearest Airport
Featured Destinations
Restaurants
Gallery and Museums
 

Accommodation near Clanwilliam

*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling distance.

Clanwilliam Hotel |

Clanwilliam Hotel

Clanwilliam Hotel in Clanwilliam

Ensconced in the magical Olifants River Valley, Clanwilliam Hotel is situated off the beaten track. ...

Unavailable for
23 May 2013
Krakadouw Cottages |

Krakadouw Cottages

Clanwilliam Self-catering in Clanwilliam

Krakadouw's self-catering cottages are situated on Dwarsrivier Farm, approximately 13 km from Clanwi...

from R600
1 Unit, 2 Guests
23 May 2013
1 night
Vrede-Oord Guest Farm |

Vrede-Oord Guest Farm

Clanwilliam Self-catering, Clanwilliam Bed and Breakfast in Clanwilliam

Vrede-Oord Guest Farm is a working citrus farm situated at the foot of the Cederberg Mountain Range ...

from R260
1 Unit, 2 Guests
23 May 2013
1 night
Saint du Barrys Guest House |

Saint du Barrys Guest House

Clanwilliam Bed and Breakfast in Clanwilliam

Saint du Barrys Guest House is situated at the foot of the Cedarberg in the historic town of Clanwil...

from R1,200
1 Room, 2 Guests
23 May 2013
1 night
Owls Hoot |

Owls Hoot

Clanwilliam Self-catering in Clanwilliam

Owls Hoot is a rustic, well-equipped and very clean two-bedroom cottage located just 500 m outside o...

from R200
1 Unit, 2 Guests
23 May 2013
1 night
Elandsberg Eco Tourism |

Elandsberg Eco Tourism

Clanwilliam Self-catering in Clanwilliam

Imagine relaxing on 1,600 hectares on the Groenkol Rooibos Tea Estate in the heart of the world-reno...

from R390
1 Unit, 2 Guests
23 May 2013
1 night
Boskloof Swemgat |

Boskloof Swemgat

Clanwilliam Self-catering in Clanwilliam

Boskloof Swemgat is a beautiful small farm in the unspoiled Boskloof Valley, some 10 km from Clanwil...

from R350
1 Unit, 2 Guests
23 May 2013
1 night
Flora House |

Flora House

Clanwilliam Self-catering in Clanwilliam

Flora House is nestled in the quiet town of Clanwilliam in the Western Cape, a stone's throw away fr...

from R1,450
1 Unit, 2 Guests
23 May 2013
1 night
Clanwilliam Lodge |

Clanwilliam Lodge

Clanwilliam Hotel in Clanwilliam

Located in the magical Oliphant’s River Valley, Clanwilliam Lodge is a colloquial gem emerging off t...

from R1,080
1 Room, 2 Guests
23 May 2013
1 night
Bovlei Guest Farm |

Bovlei Guest Farm

Clanwilliam Self-catering in Clanwilliam

Bovlei Guest Farm is located a mere 10 km from Clanwilliam in the peaceful and tranquil Boskloof Val...

from R400
1 Unit, 2 Guests
23 May 2013
1 night
Karukareb Lodge Horse Trail
Spring Wildflowers