By Roxanne Reid
Untamed and craggy, the Cederberg Wilderness Area is about 220km 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 cottages at Algeria.
Untamed and craggy, the Cederberg Wilderness Area is about 220km 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 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 first visited Cape Nature's cottages at Algeria about a year after they opened in 2015. 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 reception building at Algeria
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 deserted campsite at Algeria in winter; it's currently closed following flooding and awaiting a complete rebuild in 2025
The cottage
The cottages are pretty and well-designed, with everything you 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.
The cottages are pretty and well-designed, with everything you 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 modern cottages at Algeria
In the living area, the couches double as extra beds 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 open 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 is decorated in a fresh modern style. It has a small freestanding fireplace with a glass door to prevent smoke and mess on the floor, and a large photo on the wall echoing the name of the cottage – for instance, Klipspringer, Grey Rhebok, Wolfberg Arch, Maltese Cross, Ceder or Waterfall.
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.
This view from the main bedroom
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, Cape Nature 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. Keep your eye on Cape Nature's social media channels to see when this winter special will run again.
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, Cape Nature 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. Keep your eye on Cape Nature's social media channels to see when this winter special will run again.
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.
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.
Algeria cottages' swimming pool is a welcome sight on a hot day, especially after a hike in the mountains
Revisiting in summer
When we returned in October 2024, the weather was very different. In fact, it was over 30 degrees Celsius. Suddenly we had a new appreciation for the fact that there were air conditioners in the living area and both bedrooms, not to mention a swimming pool for the exclusive use of cottage guests. There was also a hammock for you to hang out in on the deck.
Everything else was just as nice as we remembered it, the view from the main bedroom and the patio being highlights for me. When we weren't out exploring, we spent time on the patio just listening to the sound of the river burbling past, the twittering of birds. A glass of wine or two didn't go amiss at sunset either.
For inspiration, have a look at these posts about other CapeNature destinations:
When we returned in October 2024, the weather was very different. In fact, it was over 30 degrees Celsius. Suddenly we had a new appreciation for the fact that there were air conditioners in the living area and both bedrooms, not to mention a swimming pool for the exclusive use of cottage guests. There was also a hammock for you to hang out in on the deck.
Everything else was just as nice as we remembered it, the view from the main bedroom and the patio being highlights for me. When we weren't out exploring, we spent time on the patio just listening to the sound of the river burbling past, the twittering of birds. A glass of wine or two didn't go amiss at sunset either.
For inspiration, have a look at these posts about other CapeNature destinations:
You may also enjoy
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
Like it? Pin this image!
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
Like it? Pin this image!
 |  |
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
