By Roxanne Reid
Untamed and craggy, the Cederberg Wilderness Area is just 200km north of Cape Town – a perfect short break that feels a million miles from city life. Here mountains dominate the horizons and you can let your imagination run riot among the jagged sandstone formations. We visited to explore and to stay in CapeNature’s new cottages at Algeria.
Untamed and craggy, the Cederberg Wilderness Area is just 200km north of Cape Town – a perfect short break that feels a million miles from city life. Here mountains dominate the horizons and you can let your imagination run riot among the jagged sandstone formations. We visited to explore and to stay in CapeNature’s new cottages at Algeria.
By the time we arrived the sky was overcast and brooding. I cringed, thinking rain was going to put a kink in any plans for a weekend of exploring, hiking and birding.
We hadn’t been to Algeria for years. Now there was a fancy new reception building and new cottages, but the campsite remained much as we remembered it, with its grassy sites, its footbridge over the river and its low water bridge for cars to drive over.
We hadn’t been to Algeria for years. Now there was a fancy new reception building and new cottages, but the campsite remained much as we remembered it, with its grassy sites, its footbridge over the river and its low water bridge for cars to drive over.
The reception building at Algeria
We were booked in at CapeNature’s new cottages at Algeria. They opened in November 2015 and now it was the end of July, a pretty time of year with green fynbos and lots of flowers lining the roadside along the gravel road from Clanwilliam.
The deserted campsite at Algeria in winter
The cottage
Our cottage was pretty and well-designed, with everything we could possibly need – fabulous mountain views, a river rushing past in front of the deck, a large and well-equipped granite-topped kitchen, main bedroom with double bed and second bedroom with twin beds, both with a view out towards the river and mountains.
Our cottage was pretty and well-designed, with everything we could possibly need – fabulous mountain views, a river rushing past in front of the deck, a large and well-equipped granite-topped kitchen, main bedroom with double bed and second bedroom with twin beds, both with a view out towards the river and mountains.
One of six newish cottages at Algeria that opened in November 2015
There was a sleeper couch in the living area so at a push the cottage could sleep six (though you’d need to be family or very close friends, since there’s only one bathroom). Both the main bedroom and the living area opened on to a large patio with a built-in braai.
The living area opens out onto a deck with a built-in braai
The living area was decorated in a fresh modern style, with lime-green upholstery and purple accent cushions. It had a small freestanding fireplace with a glass door to prevent smoke and mess on the tiled floor, and a large photo of a klipspringer on the wall. Our cottage was called Klipspringer, so I assume the others had photos of the Grey Rhebok, Wolfberg Arch, Maltese Cross, Ceder or Waterfall, to match their names. I was in love already.
The main bedroom opens on to the deck and has a view of the mountains through picture windows
The sun came out briefly around five in the afternoon, turning the fynbos electric green and giving us a chance for a few outdoor photos. We had an early dinner on the patio, listening to the burbling of the Rondegat River and the chatter of rock thrushes as the sun set between the mountains and the clouds far away to the west. It was winter. And it was cold. But we weren’t going to waste that view.
The patio and braai area with a view will be a favourite in summer
This view from the main bedroom disappeared behind thick mist on our first morning
We slept with the bedroom curtains open and woke early to find the world had disappeared behind a veil of mist. By 9am the rain set in and continued all day.
Rainy day chilling
Aware of this winter wet-season lottery, CapeNature was running a 40%-off winter special from May to the end of August – on all its accommodation and camping around the Cape. It’s a clever strategy; it gets bums in beds and, if we’re anything to judge by, it inspires people to plan a return trip sometime soon.
We didn’t even care that it was raining, scuppering any plans for a walk to the waterfall. We’d had a busy week and the cottage was so inviting and comfy we simply tucked in for the day with a good book. We made a fire in the little fireplace and soon the place was toasty warm. We had hot chocolate. We had red wine. Walking and exploring could wait until tomorrow.
Rainy day chilling
Aware of this winter wet-season lottery, CapeNature was running a 40%-off winter special from May to the end of August – on all its accommodation and camping around the Cape. It’s a clever strategy; it gets bums in beds and, if we’re anything to judge by, it inspires people to plan a return trip sometime soon.
We didn’t even care that it was raining, scuppering any plans for a walk to the waterfall. We’d had a busy week and the cottage was so inviting and comfy we simply tucked in for the day with a good book. We made a fire in the little fireplace and soon the place was toasty warm. We had hot chocolate. We had red wine. Walking and exploring could wait until tomorrow.
The large and well-equipped kitchen makes self-catering a breeze
Hubby had bought a roast in Clanwilliam on our way to Algeria. I’d thought he was being stupid because most self-catering places only have a microwave and – if you’re lucky – a two-plate stovetop. Turned out he wasn't as dumb as I'd thought: we had an oven! So lunch on that cold and wintry day was roast meat and veg, washed down by red wine. How could we not be happy?
The next day was clear and we jammed in two days’ worth of exploring into one - read about it here: 15 things to do in the Cederberg.
For inspiration, have a look at these posts about other CapeNature destinations:
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The next day was clear and we jammed in two days’ worth of exploring into one - read about it here: 15 things to do in the Cederberg.
For inspiration, have a look at these posts about other CapeNature destinations:
Like it? Pin this image!
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15 things to do in the Cederberg
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Stadsaal Caves and San rock paintings in the Cederberg
15 things to do in the Cederberg
Cape Nature reserves: from Cederberg to Kogelberg and more
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