Route Planning: Zandkraal Private Nature Reserve, Clanwilliam

So I have spent a bulk of this evening plotting the forward route to Zandkraal Private Nature Reserve, and I am really excited at the visual prospects that lay before us...

At this point the plan is to get through the usual bits of Cape Town that I am so used to and crack on in to the rural areas. It would be great to stop in Wellington for a quick coffee before heading over Bainskloof Pass, down in to the valley along the R43 (past the Wolseley turn-off), and over the Ceres mountain range in to Ceres itself, where I think we might stop for a snack, smoke or a stretch. Perhaps a fruit juice with the town's name embossed on it is in order?

From Ceres we head north along the R303, hugging the base of the Koue Bokkeveld Mountains, through Prince Alfred Hamlet and on to an intriguing little 'dorpie' (small town) called 'Op-Die-Berg' ('On The Mountain'. I shit you not.) - stopping here is going to be a must; to get taste of the local fodder, a feel for the local inhabitants, and an idea of what exactly goes on in this place. Wikipedia defines 'Op-Die-Berg' in two simple lines, indicating that the town is "synonymous with cherry orchards and occasional heavy snowfall in winter". And that right there, was line #2!
The town spans a massive 1.04 km/sq, and is home to 1531 residents.

Onward! Continuing forward sees us riding through two catchment areas which fold in to the Hexberg Nature Reserve, before dropping down slightly in to the Cederberg Wilderness Area, across the Clanwilliam Dam and in to Clanwilliam itself. Again, we'll most likely schmooze around here for a bit to see what's the place holds for us and where to pick up some local comestibles for our final destination. A fire, a braai, some cold beers, and a lekker kuier with some friends would be a fine way to end the days riding.
A leisurely cruise over the Pakhuis Pass, a road that creeps over the top of the Cederberg Mountain Catchment Area, will see us drifting down in to (at this point) an unknown valley where we have to turn right on to a gravel road and north for a further 21 kms before arriving at our final destination.

The route back will be plotted later, as I find that it's often better to check out the trip up before considering the way back...