The Ceres Valley

The town Ceres lies in the Ceres Valley and is a mere 150 km or 90 minutes drive from Cape Town and can be reached through the Michell’s Pass (from Cape Town), the Theronsberg Pass (from Touws River) or the Gydo Pass (from Citrusdal).

The Ceres Valley district consists of three diverse areas each with its own unique features:

The Warm Bokkeveld

The "Warm Bokkeveld" is a wide fertile valley and includes the towns of Ceres and Prince Alfred Hamlet.
Although the name refers to "warm" this is also an area which regularly gets snowfall in the winter.

The warmest months in the Warm Bokkeveld are October to April. If you wish to see snow however, visit in July or August.

Activities include hiking, camping, zip line tours, quad biking, abseiling, horse riding, fishing and exploring bushman rock art.

Ceres Zipslide Adventures offer the longest Zipline Tour in Africa.

You slide Zigzag across the Koekedouw River on 8 different cables from one platform to the other. The slides vary from 100-290m in length and the highest point is 40m above the ground.

Trout fishing experts believe the Warm Bokkeveld area has some of the best fishing locations in the Western Cape. There are a number of locations along the Olifants River for example, where sizable rainbow trout can be reeled in.

Bo-Swaarmoed

Bo-Swaarmoed, east of Ceres, is famous for its cherry picking in season, snow during winter, proteas, and breathtaking panoramic views of the valley.

The Klondyke Cherry Farm is a hive of activity during the cherry picking season, which is around November to January each year.

Ceres Valley page.

The Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve is situated on the farm Erfdeel and covers more than 1000 ha of mountain area.
The Matroosberg Peak, at the altitude of 2249m, is the highest peak in the Boland.

The Matroosberg Kloofing trip is an extreme 2 day hike. There is a total of 12 abseiling points on this route which will have you decend 1.2km in height over the 2 days, and often you will be abseiling in waterfalls.

Other activities include mountain biking, quad biking, fishing, hiking and a 4x4 trail.

Koue Bokkeveld

The "Koue Bokkeveld" (koue means cold) is a mountainous area situated on a plateau and can be reached from Ceres via the Gydo Pass.
This is a fruit (apple and pear) and vegetable producing area, with the small village of Op-die-Berg in the centre.

The beautiful scenery and descriptive names like "Katbakkies, Houdenbek and Skitterykloof" have inspired the writing of many poems and books. The area has a rich history and some of the oldest farms in South Africa are situated here.

Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve, situated in the Koue Bokkeveld, was once home to the Bushmen and today many of their ancient cave paintings are still clearly visible on the rocks (some dating back 6,000 years).

Here you can go on game drives, guided walks and do some stargazing whereafter you can relax at the spa.

Tanqua (Ceres) Karoo

Just beyond the Theronsberg mountain range, lies the endless horizon of the Tanqua (Ceres) Karoo.

This beautiful semi-arid area boasts unique indigenous animal and plant life and hosts one of the best private game reserves in the Cape.

For the visitor, Inverdoorn Game Reserve offers top class, genuine Karoo hospitality in luxurious accommodation, magical evening game drives in the open veld to hear Africa’s night calls and watching in awe as their Cheetahs speed through their daily rehabilitation exercises.

Since 2001, Inverdoorn has operated specialised care programmes specifically for Cheetahs where they pair up unrelated animals in order to retain the widest possible range of genetic characteristics.

Ceres Valley page.

The Passes in the Ceres Valley

Michell’s Pass is the southern entrance to the valley and was the first pass built by Andrew Geddes Bain. It was completed in 1848 and parts of the old pass is still visible at certain points.

Gydo Pass is the northern entrance to the valley and offers a great viewpoint across the valley. Colourful shades of the orchards, fields and dams surrounded by rugged mountains, offers a picture perfect panorama.
The Gydo Pass links the Warm Bokkeveld to the Koue Bokkeveld.

Katbakkies Pass, the steep gradient of this road gave rise to its name, links the Koue Bokkeveld with the Ceres Karoo.

Useful Information:

Klondyke Cherry Farm

Alan Garlick
Tel: +27 23 312 1521
www.cherryfarm.co.za

Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve

Tel: 073 194 0885
Matroosberg rates and enquiries

Inverdoorn Game Reserve

Tel: +27 21 434 4639
Inverdoorn rates and enquiries

Kagga Kamma Game Reserve

Tel: +27 (0) 21 872 4343
Kagga Kamma rates and enquiries

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