Cederberg Local Municipality covers the Olifants River valley and the mountain wilderness that gives it its name, on the Western Cape’s West Coast. The 2022 census counted 55,108 people across 8,008 km², up from 49,768 in 2011. Clanwilliam is the seat.
The Cederberg mountain range, known for its sandstone rock formations and San rock art, dominates the municipality’s interior and gives it its name and its tourism identity.
Towns and Villages in Cederberg
Clanwilliam is the municipal seat, on the Olifants River below the Cederberg range. Citrusdal anchors the citrus-growing valley further south; Lambert’s Bay is the municipality’s fishing port on the Atlantic, and Wuppertal is a historic mission village deep in the mountains.
| Town | Note | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Clanwilliam | Municipal seat | 9,194 |
| Citrusdal | Citrus-farming town | 8,598 |
| Lambert’s Bay | Fishing port | 7,332 |
| Graafwater | Farming village | 2,708 |
| Elandsbaai | Coastal village | 1,827 |
Other named places in the municipality:
- Leipoldtville
- Noordhoek
- Sandberg
- Theerivier
- Wuppertal (Moravian mission village)
Geography
The municipality runs from the Cederberg mountain wilderness inland to the Atlantic coast at Lambert’s Bay, following the Olifants River valley. It borders Matzikama to the north, Hantam to the east in the Northern Cape, and Witzenberg and Bergrivier to the south.
The Cederberg Wilderness Area, a proclaimed reserve within the mountain range, protects fynbos, ancient cedar trees and San rock art sites, and is the municipality’s main tourism draw beyond the coast.
Demographics
Population rose from 49,768 in the 2011 census to 55,108 in 2022, an 11% increase, spread across the valley towns of Clanwilliam and Citrusdal and the coastal town of Lambert’s Bay.
Afrikaans is the dominant home language throughout the municipality’s farming and fishing communities, with small Nama and mission-community populations around Wuppertal preserving distinct local traditions.
Growth here has lagged behind the coastal municipalities further south, consistent with an economy still centred on agriculture rather than tourism-driven residential expansion.
Economy and Local Life
Agriculture drives the economy: citrus in the Olifants River valley around Citrusdal and Clanwilliam, rooibos tea on the mountain slopes near Clanwilliam and Wupperthal, and fishing at Lambert’s Bay, known locally for its crayfish.
Hiking and mountain tourism around the Cederberg Wilderness Area add a growing tourism income to the farming towns, particularly in the cooler months when the sandstone formations draw day-trippers from Cape Town.
Clanwilliam’s dam, on the Olifants River, irrigates much of the surrounding citrus and rooibos farmland and is also a popular local weekend destination for boating and picnicking.
The wildflower season each August and September, when the Cederberg’s renosterveld and fynbos bloom after winter rains, draws an extra wave of day visitors to Clanwilliam and the surrounding farm roads.
Getting There
The N7 runs through Clanwilliam and Citrusdal toward Vanrhynsdorp and Namibia; the R364 branches west to Lambert’s Bay. Cape Town International Airport is roughly two to three hours’ drive south.
FAQ
What is the seat of Cederberg Local Municipality? Clanwilliam.
How many people live in Cederberg? 55,108 at the 2022 census, up from 49,768 in 2011.
Which district is Cederberg in? The West Coast District Municipality.
What towns are in Cederberg? Clanwilliam, Citrusdal, Lambert’s Bay, Graafwater and Wuppertal among others.
How big is Cederberg? 8,008 km².
What is Lambert’s Bay known for? Its fishing harbour and crayfish, and Bird Island just offshore.
What crop is Cederberg known for? Rooibos tea, alongside citrus in the Olifants River valley.
Is there hiking in Cederberg? Yes, the Cederberg Wilderness Area is a major hiking destination with San rock art.
How far is Clanwilliam from Cape Town? Roughly 230 km, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive up the N7.
What is Cederberg’s biggest town? Clanwilliam, the municipal seat, with 9,194 residents.