Wupperthal

For the German town, see Wuppertal.

Wupperthal is a city in South Africa's Western Cape. Wupperthal is a village near the stunning Cederberg mountain range, and the Cederberg Wilderness Nature Reserve. Sadly, most of the town, including its pretty colonial buildings, was destroyed by a fire in 2018.

Get in

You can only enter this rural village by motor car. Cape Town is roughly 250 km (160 miles) away, i.e., a 3-hour motor car drive from the town.

Get around

The village is so small you can walk around on foot. It takes roughly ten minutes to walk from the one side of town to the other side.

See

Eselbank Pass

• The Cederberg Wilderness Nature Reserve (part of the Cape Fynbos UNESCO World Heritage Sites) is a stunning day trip. Go see the Maltese cross (a massive stone shaped like a Maltese cross). The cross is only a two- to three-hour walk from the park's main road.
• The area is full of amazing stone structures like the famous 'Lot's wife' (a sandstone structure resembling the shape of a woman) and various arches that slightly resemble that of the Arches National Park in the USA.
• The beautiful Stadsaal caves are also in the area and various San or "Bushman" drawings. A particularly well-preserved San drawing of elephants, Shamans and hunters can be found near the Stadsaal structures in the Matjiesfontein Nature Reserve.

Do

Talk to the locals, many of them have been residing in the town for decades and can probably tell you amazing stories of collecting and producing tea, the changing landscape and etc. Hiking is a must for everyone visiting the area, especially in and around the Cederberg Wilderness Nature reserve.

Buy

The area is famous as being one of the best rooibos (redbush) tea growing areas in the country.

Eat

The only restaurant in town was destroyed in a fire in December 2018. If you want a culinary experience rather go to the Clanwilliam hotel on the other side of the mountain range or to one of the hundreds of world class restaurants in Cape Town. Almost everything is closed on Sundays.

Drink

Rooibos tea! Rooibos tea! Rooibos tea!

Sleep

There are a few camping terrains in the area. Many tourists recommend the Algeria camping grounds in the Cederberg Wilderness Nature reserve. The camping ground does provide electricity and the ablution facilities are clean and functional. It is a truly stunning camping area but relatively expensive for South African tourists.

Go next

The only way out is via the road on which you came into the town or hiking over the mountains. If you decide to hike make sure you have permission from the farmers through which lands you will hike and San parks. Also ensure that you carry enough water with you (more than 2 litres per day) and sunscreen.