West Coast and Cederberg

Whale-bone House, Wadrift, Lambert's Bay

A rather macabre testimony to the extinct whaling industry in these parts is a house made from whale bone at the farm Wadrift as well as a working wooden lock over two hundred years old. Bird Island, Lamberts Bay, On this 3 hectare island, \ Cape Nature Conservation protects one of only six areas in the world where the Cape Gannet breeds. You'll also find cormorants in large numbers and a small community of the endangered African (Jackass) penguins. Access is on foot via a causeway from the harbour making photography far easier than bobbing from a boat.

Sandveld Museum, Lamberts Bay

This museum on Church Street houses one of the oldest bibles in the country. It is written in High Dutch and is over three hundred years old.

Citrusdal, Olifants River Valley, Cederberg

The spectacular mountain scenery of this agricultural town in the Upper Olifants River Valley comes courtesy of the Cederberg Mountains. The orange blossom air testifies to the town's citrus-growing industry while grape vines mean that wine can't be far behind.

The Baths, Citrusdal

The first resort to spring up around this natural hot spring was established in 1739. Today many of the stone extensions added in the Victorian era remain, surrounded by citrus groves. 18 kilometres from Citrusdal, the self-catering resort offers tennis, mountain biking and hiking trails should soaking in the indoor jacuzzis or splashing in the hot and cold outdoor pools not be entertainment enough.

Goue Vallei Wines, Citrusdal

They've been making wine in the well-watered Olifants River Valley since the earliest days of European settlement in the 1700's. The Goue Vallei co-op gets its grapes from through the region, including Piketberg, Lamberts Bay and Cederberg. Encouragingly, all Goue Vallei's grape producers have committed themselves to best practice conservation principles in their farming practice.

Outdoor Adventures, Citrusdal

Sport 11-recognised mountain-biking routes, walking and hiking trails as well as canoeing and sky-diving are some of the activities on offer in these great outdoors. The inevitable nine hole golf course is on hand for the less adventurous.

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Two hours and five hundred million years away from Cape Town, some 71 000 hectares of ancient mountains and indigenous bush are threaded with cultivated valleys and mountain rivers. The weathered sandstone rock formations, cliffs and overhangs are daubed in paintings that date from a time when man was young.

Leopards sill roam the crevices and crannies of these hills. The slow-growing, cedar trees for which the area was named are all but extinct now, although a plantation reserve has been established in an attempt to bring them back from the brink. Once home to the nomadic San people, the earliest inhabitants of Southern Africa, these mountains suffered at the hands of the European settlers. The San fared little better than the cedars which were chopped down to make telephone poles.

The sandstone overhangs and caves record the San's passing. Rock art is strewn throughout these rugged hills, in age, anywhere from three hundred to 6 000 years old. Numerous hiking trails range through the hills and accommodation is offered at camp sites, self-catering chalets and bed and breakfasts on local farms. The elephant drawings at the Stadsaal caves are easily accessible without walking a great distance.

Clanwilliam, Cederberg

Two rivers embrace this sub-tropical town which is the centre of a fruit, vegetable and sheep farming region at the foot of the Cederberg mountain range. There are fossils in these ancient mountains and rock art, not quite as old as the hills themselves.

Ramskop Nature Reserve, Clanwilliam

A showcase for 200 species of wild flowers, a stroll through this reserve garners a view of the dam and the mountain. August and September are the prime flower months and the end of August sees the annual flower show setting up its floral extravaganza in an otherwise unused church.

Rooibos Tea Factory, Clanwilliam

Clanwilliam is the only commercial cultivar in the world of this herbal tea which is caffeine free and low in tannin and produced from an indigenous fynbos.

Clanwilliam Dam, Clanwilliam

A popular weekend holiday resort, the dam is particularly favoured by water-skiers but anglers also get an oar in. Accommodation runs to self-catering chalets and camping facilities.

Outdoor Adventure, Clanwilliam

Clanwilliam is no exception to the reliable nine-hole golf course that is to be found in most small towns throughout the country. Mountain-biking, rock-climbing, horse-riding and 4x4 routes are also available.