Clanwilliam

Just outside Clanwilliam along the N7 the first carpet of flowers was seen. They were mostly white Rain daisies (Dimorphotheca pluvialis), with a few orange Namaqualand daisies (Dimorphotheca sinuata), and others. The previous night a storm had thundered overhead, as it moved eastward from the Atlantic above the mountainous amphitheatre near Piketberg.

Situated at the foot of the Cedarberg mountains, Clanwilliam has two dams on the Olifants River flowing through the town. At the Ramskop dam, there is a wildflower reserve with a large variety of flowers representing the various vegetation areas surrounding Clanwilliam. The Olifants river was named by an early explorer after encountering a herd of elephant in the area. The Olifants river runs through a fertile valley were agriculture includes citrus, wine farms, fresh water crayfish, peaches, apricots and vegetables. The river contains a large variety of indigenous fish.

In the Cedarberg mountains the elephant is depicted in numerous rock paintings said to be thousands of years old. The Cedarberg mountan range, a proclaimed Wilderness area, is renowned for its many hiking and sightseeing opportunities, as well as the variety of plants including fynbos and many protea species. There are 150 miles of well marked hiking trails. A number of interesting fauna still roam the river region, and there is a unique leopard conservancy in the Cedarberg.

Named after the Earl of Clanwilliam and established in 1814, Clanwilliam is one of the oldest towns in the country.