While visiting the Cederberg mountains in 2014, I quickly realized this uniquely beautiful and surreal vast landscape would lure me back to try and capture its magical atmosphere through photography. The emphasis being on try, as the sheer size and unlimited features of this area would make that impossible. It was this same atmosphere, and the idea of simple, uncontested riding and exploring with a couple of friends, without time limits, that inspired the whole Trail Daze project to begin with.
The Cederberg mountain range lies roughly 300km from Cape Town, near the small town of Clanwilliam. We opted to access the range from Ceres’ side as the gravel road is usually less rough and rutted, and more suitable for a fully loaded, non off-road, van. The highest part of the range goes up to 2026m with the dominating characteristic being sharp, reddish sandstone rock formations. Summers are very hot and dry, and not the best time to be out there. On the flipside, the winter is when this area receives its rain and the nights can get extremely cold, so the best time of year to get out here is autumn or spring.
Harry Millar
You can’t help but get excited about the riding that lies ahead as you approach these hills.
Into the Ceres valley, towards Gydo Pass we headed.
Rupert watering the plants.
From Ceres it’s still a long way to go to our final destination, but the aptly named ‘Oasis’ gave us a good excuse to stop for some grub, and a couple of cold ones.
Not many pubs as old school as this still around – no barman, just an ‘honesty box’ and a pen and paper.
Pretty sweet cottage we hooked up. Cozy, but had everything we needed.
First light.
Everything checked. Water and snacks packed. Nothing to do now but hit the trails.
One of the natives keeping an eye on things as we head into the mountains. Klipspringer, aka ‘Rock jumper’.
Fast, technical, rocky singletrack as far as the eye can see.
As a photographer, documenting these trails often prove tricky as the number of photogenic rock features can be downright overwhelming.
Rupert von Tutschek
The steep and tight, off-camber rocky trails can be pretty tricky to get right. If you do get it wrong out here, help will take some time to get to you, so it’s best to take it easy and get out in one piece.
Some more of the locals going about their daily routine.
With an unprecedented dry summer this year, the greater Cederberg area is as barren as can be. But somehow nature still manages to provide us with crystal clear, ice cold water to make sure we stay alive.
Matthieu Hamel
Most of the dams and reservoirs have dried up completely, and it’s clear to see it’s been long since the last drops fell from the sky.
We looped back to our cottage for a spot of lunch and some time to chill before heading back out for another run.
Daniel Dobinson
Late afternoon, dusty, fast and flowy trails. Check.
Last rays of the day before we head back for a braai and some beers.
One more advantage of getting away from the city. The Milky Way at its finest.
Goodbye Cederberg. Until we meet again.
Riders: Matthieu Hamel and Daniel Dobinson
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Nice pics!
...well, apart from the wee one...