Ceres, Witzenberg Valley,Western Cape
Ceres is at the heart of one of the oldest and most important fruit producing regions of South Africa, specialising in peaches, pears, apples, plums and grapes.
The area has four distinct biomes, each with its own character. The ‘Warm Bokkeveld’ is a wide fertile agricultural valley which encloses Ceres and Prince Alfred’s Hamlet – the hub of the potato and onion packing industry.
The Bo-Swaarmoed area, east of Ceres, is famous for its cherry picking in season, the Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve, with all its eco-activities, snow during winter, proteas, and breathtaking panoramic views of the valley.
The ‘Koue Bokkeveld’ is a mountainous area situated on a plateau and can be reached on the R303 from Ceres via the scenic Gydo Pass or from the N7 via Citrusdal. This is an apple, pear and vegetable producing area, with the small village of Op-die-Berg in the centre.
Just beyond the Theronsberg mountain range lies the endless horizon of the Tanqua (Ceres) Karoo. This beautiful semi-arid area boasts unique rock art, indigenous animal and plant life, bird watching and hosts Inverdoorn, one of the best private game reserves in the Cape. It offers abundant, seemingly infinite scenery with the most amazing sunsets and clearest, starlit skies.
Ceres, surrounded by mountains, and 150km from Cape Town, is only accessed via stunningly beautiful passes – either Mitchell’s Pass from Cape Town, Gydo Pass from Citrusdal, Bainskloof Pass from Wellington or Theronsburg Pass from Touwsrivier. These passes a worth a day drive as each has something unique to offer. On the Bainskloof Pass, there is an excellent single track MTB route at the Welvanpas Farm. Bainskloof is also well known for beautiful hikes with rock pools and stunning fynbos.
Ceres is one of the oldest farming areas in South Africa and the Ceres Transport Riders Museum gives an interesting window into life as it was.
Choose the eco-activity that takes your fancy from excellent fly-fishing at Lakenvlei Dam or test your 4×4 skills at Kagga Kamma 4×4 Route. Ceres is close to some excellent birding areas, where, even although the number of species is not as high as in some other areas of South Africa, the specials are on the list of any serious twitcher. Eselfontein is home to one of the best single track MTB trails in the country. It bears the signature of someone who rides – in this case, one Deon Malherbe, on whose family farm, this great wonder of the MTB world exists or imagine whizzing 1.4km through the sky at Ceres Zipslides, over 8 state-of-the-art slides, located in breath-taking scenery.
Ceres Golf Club is an attractive course of 4891 metres, with a par of 72. Tel: 023 312 3068: Cell: 083 392 2792: E-mail:
Of couse Ceres is packed with fruitiness starting with fruit tours take place in season, from January to March. For details, please contact the Ceres Tourism Office at 023 316 1287 or E-Mail or buy crispy fresh and sundried fruit to nibble, or the famous Ceres fruit juice, at Wallet Fruit Kiosk. Tel: 023 312 1159 or 023 312 1164: 19 Joubert Street: Open 08.00 – 17.30 Monday to Saturday. Take the excellent Tulbagh Wine Route for the fruitiness of the vine.
Cherry Picking – from Mid-November to end December, take you basket and pick your own sun-ripened cherries at the Klondyke Cherry Farm. Tel: 023 312 1521
During the winter months, the mountains are often covered in snow and the area has been referred to as Little Switzerland. There are plenty of snow activities such as skiing and snowboarding to keep the whole family busy, especially in Matroosberg, which at 2 250m is the highest peak in the Hex River range. If you are in Ceres at the end of June, then join in the fun and celebrate Christmas.
In May, the Ceres Chrysanthemum Show attracts visitors from far and wide.
Experience Cape Malay cuisine at Baba’s Jêm’s home, where you will be warmly welcomed by Eileen Baron, the chef. Taste the unique and interesting preserves, baking and light meals.
| More info on the Western Cape area |
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