Mount Ceder History
San and Khoi people inhabited the Cederberg area from early times. European settlers began stock farming in the Cederberg early in the eighteenth century, and in 1876 a forester was appointed to oversee crown land in the mountains. This was possibly the first attempt at conservation in the Cederberg.
Farmers used the mountains to graze livestock in times of drought, and together with tobacco, this was one of the main farming activities until about 1965. A conservancy, of which Mount Ceder forms the southern border, was established in 1997.
Mount Ceder offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the mountains, veld, river and scenery as well as observe a working olive farm.
Read more about the history here (In Afrikaans)
Mount Ceder Olives
At the tip of Africa, against a backdrop of rugged beauty and dramatic mountains in the Cederberg Conservancy, is where you will find Mount Ceder Olive grove. Biologically friendly farming is practiced at Mount Ceder. Animals in the grove assist with creating a natural micro eco system. We have implemented a new electronic irrigation system that runs as drip irrigation to protect our water source.
Our energy is harvested from Solar Panels, charged with the abundance of sunlight. By implementing the above practices, we ensure a healthy environment that produces a consistent, sustainable olive crop year after year.
Visit the Mount Ceder Olives here.
Cultivating Tobacco in the Cederberg
Grootrivier, now known as Mount Ceder, largely owes its economic development to the production of chewing tobacco. Work on the tobacco fields usually commenced in August and September with the preparation of the soil. Loads of goat manure from the goat pens were off loaded and placed in even rows as fertilizer, and then later manually scattered and worked into the land. Large herds of goats were specially kept and brought into enclosures at night for their manure which could be worked into the fields. Although fertilizer and guano became available in later years, the farmers continued to use goat manure as they believed the special flavour and “kick” in chewing tobacco was due to dung from the goats.
After the manure was ploughed into the soil, the tobacco seedlings were planted in neat rows. The fields were irrigated and it was absolutely essential that the rows and irrigation furrows were prepared at the correct fall and angle on the slopes. There was fierce competition among the farmers regarding their tobacco fields, as a tobacco field was prepared with great pride.
When the tobacco plants were fully grown at the end of the season, the whole plant was cut and hung upside down on slats to partially dry.
