Cederberg Itinerary: 5-Day Wolfberg Arch & Maltese Cross
Cederberg day-by-day itinerary — My 5 days from Cape Town to Wolfberg Arch wild camp, Maltese Cross and Sanddrif base.
Hiked by Lee
Self-guided
Last verified
My 5-day Cederberg trip combines Sanddrif cottage base camp, wild camping at Wolfberg Arch and Maltese Cross, and shorter warm-up hikes. The complete guide has every detail — this is the scannable stage plan.
Also read: Complete Guide · Accommodation · Trek overview
At a glance
| Base | Sanddrif (near Dwarsrivier) |
| Big days | Wolfberg Arch ~14–15 km; Maltese Cross ~7 km |
| Wild camp nights | 2 (Arch + Cross) |
| Drive from Cape Town | ~3 hours (last hour gravel) |
| Best months | Mar–May, Aug–Oct (cooler) |
My 5-day itinerary
| Day | Activity | Distance | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive, waterfall hike, Stadsaal Caves | Short | Sanddrif cottage |
| 2 | Wolfberg Arch via Big Cracks | ~14–15 km | Wild camp at Arch |
| 3 | Descend to Sanddrif, vineyard relax | ~14–15 km down | Sanddrif cottage |
| 4 | Maltese Cross (afternoon start) | ~7 km | Wild camp at Cross |
| 5 | Return to Sanddrif, drive home | ~7 km | — |
Stage highlights
Day 1 — Settle in
Drive from Cape Town, check into Sanddrif cottage. Short waterfall hike, then Stadsaal Caves at sunset (permit required). Campfire under Milky Way skies.
Day 2 — The big one
Full pack, all water carried. Climb through Big Cracks (easier with packs than Small Cracks). Cross Mars-like plateau to Wolfberg Arch. Windy tent pitch, star photography, cold night.
Day 3 — Recovery
Misty descent back to Sanddrif. Hot shower, cottage bed, vineyard beer garden afternoon.
Day 4 — Maltese Cross
Late start after lunch. Exposed trail to the 20 m stone cross. Camp beside the formation — night sky photography.
Day 5 — Finish
Short hike back to Sanddrif. First multi-day hike as a couple — celebrate and drive home.
Shorter options
| Option | Days | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Maltese Cross | 4 | ~7 km wild camp — see Maltese Cross guide |
| Cracks day hike | 1 | Small or Large Cracks only — see cracks guide |
| Arch day hike | 1 | Out-and-back, no camp |
| Arch + Cross | 2–3 | One wild camp each |
Permit checklist
- Wolfberg Arch trail permit
- Wild camp permit (Arch night)
- Maltese Cross trail permit
- Wild camp permit (Cross night)
- Stadsaal Caves permit (Day 1)
Related planning
- Difficulty — Arch with full pack
- Packing list — water and tent
- Navigation — marked but easy to wander
- Getting there — Sanddrif access
Next guide
Cederberg Cost Guide: Budget in ZAR
Cederberg budget breakdown — permits, Sanddrif cottages, wild camping and ZAR 2,640–4,200 total from My Wolfberg Arch trip.
