South Africa for South Africans (MapStudio), by Marielle Renssen and Hirsh Aronowitz

South Africa for South Africans (MapStudio), by Marielle Renssen and Hirsh Aronowitz. Cape Town, South Africa 2016. ISBN 9781770268494 / ISBN 978-1-77026-849-4

The intention of Marielle Renssen's and Hirsh Aronowitz's guide South Africa for South Africans (MapStudio) is not to focus only on the major tourist attractions that are so familiar to South Africans, but rather to turn away from heavily trodden visitor paths, delving into lesser known, more unusual activities.

Marielle Renssen  

South Africa is a big country, we have a land area of just over 1.2 million km2, about the size of France and Spain combined. South Africans, therefore, are used to driving vast distances simply to get from A to B (the road network totals 747,000 km). Just think: if you drive diagonally across the country, from Cape Town in the southwest to Musina in the extreme north, you will traverse some 2,000km. Our aim here, therefore, is to make travelling those distances as interesting as possible! In South Africa for South Africans 23 driving routes of varying distances crisscross the entire country, many of them taking in national or provincial roads. There is plenty to explore across our nine provinces, and the big skies, boundless vistas and hours of sunshine have turned us into an outdoor-focused, activity-loving nation. That's where the focus of this book lies. With each province radically different in terms of biomes, landscape and climate, there is great incentive to slow down your journey and have fun with the family along the way. After all, a long journey is never solely about the destination. From hiking, mountain biking and wildlife watching to birding, fishing and beachcombing, this South Africa for South Africans by MapStudio has some new surprises. Travellers are also invited to explore beyond the usually uninspiring main road that cuts through little country towns. From quirky farm stalls, small-town museums, monuments and city walks to battlefields, cultural sites and interesting municipal parks, we've got them covered. You might even learn a few things you never knew about your own country ...

CERES TO CLANWILLIAM

Snowbound Ceres, the Cederberg Wilderness Area, Clanwilliam Dam

SEASONAL INFORMATION
Best time or season to visit this region: Feb to Apr, Aug to Oct
Best time to go camping, walking, mountain biking, hiking or trekking: Feb to Apr, Sep to Oct
Best time for water sports (Clanwilliam): Nov to Feb
Best time for flower viewing: Aug to Oct

COMPELLING REASONS TO VISIT
Ceres is cradled within a fortress of mountains that encircle the breadbasket valley of the Warm Bokkeveld. In winterthe town is watched over by countless snow-capped peaks: the Hex River mountains to the south and southeast, Witzenberg and Skurweberg to the west and Gydo and Waboomsberg to the north. The beautiful Gydo Pass links this 'warm' valley with its 'cold' counterpart, the Koue Bokkeveld, to the north. But the main attraction of this region is without doubt the Cederberg mountains. With a core wilderness area of 72,ooo ha, there are over 500km of trails spiderwebbing across the rugged terrain. In terms of walking, hiking, mountain biking, and even 4x4 trails, the gnarled rock, fantastical formations and mountain views continue to fascinate outdoor enthusiasts. Famous sandstone landmarks such as the Cracks, the Wolfberg Arch and the Maltese Cross need no introduction, but there is also a lesser-known part of the Cederberg. Bakkrans Nature Reserve, part of a conservancy established by a handful of landowners, together with CapeNature, is in the eastern part of the mountain complex. The 6,oooha reserve in the Red Cederberg, so named for the vermilion glow of its rocks at sunset, is crisscrossed by an 80km network of 4x4 trails and mountain-biking tracks. Cape mountain zebra and many antelope species live here, and you can stay in lovely stone cottages at the foot of a kopje. And all along the Cederberg fringes is high pass territory, from Pakhuis Pass via Hoek se Berg and Kouberg to Wuppertal and Eselbank (4x4 only). Finally, the Grootrivier Pass links you, through the Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve and over the Blinkberg Pass, to Op-die-Berg.

ALONG THE ROUTE: CALENDAR OF EVENTS, FESTIVALS, RACES, HIGHLIGHTS
Do a passes drive around Ceres Do the Matroosberg 4x4 trail in snow, Ceres Cycle the Dwarsrivier Conservancy MTB trail Sleep under the stars at the Wolfberg Arch.

SO MANY THINGS TO DO OR SEE
Go cherry picking in spring at Klondyke Farm, Ceres
Try out some rooibos tea Drive the 30km Boegoeberg 4x4 trail, Clanwilliam
Do some high-altitude wine tasting, Cederberg Look for snow proteas in winter.

HEAD FOR THE OUTDOORS
Ride the Eselfontein MTB trail, Ceres
Hike to an aircraft crash site, Pakhuis Pass
Do the Cederberg Heritage Route hiking trails
Scramble up to the Wolfberg Cracks
Hike to the Maltese Cross
Gawk at the Stadsaal and Truitjieskraal
Water-ski (or fish) on Clanwilliam Dam
National parks Town plans [...]

This is an excerpt from South Africa for South Africans (MapStudio), by Marielle Renssen and Hirsh Aronowitz.

Title: South Africa for South Africans
Scale: Various
Authors: Marielle Renssen; Hirsh Aronowitz
Genre: Atlas / Travel guide
Publisher: MapStudio
2nd edition. Cape Town, South Africa 2016
ISBN 9781770268494 / ISBN 978-1-77026-849-4
Softcover, 21 x 29 cm, 192 pages, throughout maps and photos