Cederberg History

18/06/2024

12/02/2024

Join Sustainable Ceder in protecting Cederberg's wilderness through conservation, education, and community engagement. Support us by donating, volunteering, or partnering.

24/10/2023

16/10/2023

08/10/2023

https://www.rememberers.co.za/people/james-joubert/

James Joubert Read in English / Lees in Afrikaans James Joubert was born in an area known as Die Rug in 1954. He grew up on Klipgat farm with his uncles, who were subsistence farmers. James Joubert shares stories of his unconventional childhood living on Klipgat, cooking and sleeping in a cave for s...

08/05/2023

This Friday 12 May, Professor John Compton will present a brief overview of our understanding of the geological origin of the Cederberg mountains, discussing the history of earlier talks at MCSA by Rudolf Marloth in 1894 and Alex du Toit in 1912.
The Cederberg are part of a much larger mountain belt and it was the origin of mountain belts that eventually led to the theory of plate tectonics, a theory that was only recently confirmed through the exploration of ocean basins.
John received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) in 1981 and his PhD from Harvard University in 1986. At UCT he taught a first-year introductory course on Earth and Environmental Sciences and, in collaboration with students and colleagues, he has published over 60 papers spanning a wide range of research topics. He is now emeritus and continues to work on various research projects, as well as publishing natural history books. To learn more visit his website johnscompton.com
The clubhouse opens at 6:30 pm, talk starts at 7:30 pm.
The Audio-Visual system is operational during load-shedding, and we have lamps (but you can bring your own headlamps).

28/04/2023

1966 - Scout/Guide Adventure Hike - Cedarberg
3 - 10 October / Scouts 15 / Guides 20
National Hikes 1966 Cedarberg.jpg
In 1966 it cost only R6 each for 7 days all inclusive, meals, permits etc. The base camp was set up on the farm Driehoek in the Cederberg. The leaders from the Scout side were Esmond 'Fatty' Rutter (organiser), Richard Dey, Dennis Lambert and wife Flora (HQ cook), Peter Watt, and Carveth Geach (Chief Scout Commissioner) and from the Guides Vi Ettershank, Alison Donnal, Shirley Fitton and William 'Dassie' Fracis.

Arriving in Cape Town from all over the country and mainly by train the 15 Scouts and 20 Guides then convened at the Tulbagh Hotel on the Foreshore in Cape Town for breakfast. The long bus trip to Citrusdal was accomplished in good time and after a light lunch pushed on over the Nieuwoudt and Sederberg (now Nieuweberg) passes to arrive at Driehoek at 3 pm. The site had very kindly been prepared by the Scout Mountain Club with tents pitched and ablutions erected.

The hikes were led by experienced SMC leaders Neville Weller (wife Colleen HQ support) and Wally Struthers. However, it soon became clear that what they thought were reasonable hikes differed somewhat from what the participants thought. They did however visit the Raadsaal Rocks, Bushmen paintings, Wolfberg Cracks and Wolfberg Arch on their first day. A longer two-night hike took them to the Crystal Pool where they spent the night and then on to Middelberg hut for the second night. Another day was spent hiking up Tafelberg which dominated their campsite.

On the last night, a campfire was held and a letter of thanks was given to the owners. The participants then held a 'Bop' session through to midnight.

A mere three years later in 1969 a Scout experimental camp took place at Driehoek and launched what has become known as the Senior Scout Adventure
https://scoutwiki.scouts.org.za/wiki/National_Hikes,_Camps_and_Safaris_c1960_-_1980

(Photo taken at Sanddrift Farm on 3 Oct 1966 - Wally Struthers)