Clanwilliam

Clanwilliam sits on the N7 in the Olifants River valley, below the western wall of the Cederberg, and it is the practical gateway to the mountains behind it. It is the centre of the rooibos district and a citrus town, and the dam on its edge gives it a summer water-sports side that most Karoo-edge towns do not have.

The town has a small stock: guesthouses, a historic hotel, self-catering cottages, farm accommodation out in the valley, and the municipal resort at the dam. That covers most needs for an overnight or a two-night stay, and it is the conventional alternative to the farm accommodation up in the mountains, much of which is booked directly with the farms rather than through booking sites.

The planning point here is the flower season. The weeks in late August and early September sell out months ahead, because a great many visitors come for the veld itself rather than for any organised event. Outside that window the town is quiet and rooms are easy to find. If the Cederberg is the destination, staying in Clanwilliam and driving in works well for day trips, but for the deeper parts of the range the mountain accommodation is a separate decision.