Citrusdal is a small farming town in the Olifants River valley of the Western Cape, South Africa, 176 km north of Cape Town on the N7 — about a two-hour drive. It sits at the foot of the Cederberg mountains, grows roughly 14% of South Africa's citrus crop, and is best known for the natural hot springs at The Baths, which emerge at 43 °C. The name is Afrikaans for "citrus valley". The town was founded in 1916 and has a population of about 7,200 (2011 census).

Citrusdal is in the Olifants River valley at the foot of the Cederberg mountains, in the Cederberg Local Municipality of the West Coast District, Western Cape, South Africa. It is 176 km north of Cape Town on the N7, over the Piekenierskloof Pass. Clanwilliam is 58 km further north and Piketberg is 48 km back to the south. Coordinates are roughly 32°35′S, 19°01′E; the postal code is 7340.

How big is Citrusdal?

About 7,200 people at the 2011 census. It is the largest town in the Olifants River valley but a small one by any other measure — the main street, Voortrekker Street, carries most of the shops and services.

Citrusdal, South Africa — hot springs, citrus, Cederberg

Q: What is Citrusdal known for?

Three things: the natural hot springs at The Baths, which emerge at 43 °C and were first recorded in Dutch East India Company documents in 1739; citrus farming, which accounts for about 14% of South Africa's crop; and rooibos, which grows commercially nowhere in the world but the Cederberg. It is also a base for hiking, bouldering, 4x4 trails and San rock art in the Cederberg.

Two hours from Cape Town, mountains on every side, and a 43°C hot spring first written down in 1739. A valley that quietly gives you your head back.

Explore the valley 48 hours here

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Somewhere over the pass, the week lets go.

At the top of the Piekenierskloof Pass the road tips over, and there it is: the Olifants River valley, with a mountain wherever the horizon should be. Come for a weekend. Argue about leaving.

Hot springsThe BathsCitrus groves RooibosCederbergBouldering Olifants RiverPadstalleDark skies 4x4 trailsRock artFarm tours

Yellow and white spring flowers on the sandstone floor of a Cederberg valley above Citrusdal, the peaks lit at sunrise

The stone rock pools at The Baths, Citrusdal, filled with warm spring water among the trees

The Citrusdal valley at golden hour, the Olifants running below the Cederberg massif

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Above it all

The Cederberg

43°C, year round

The Baths

In no hurry

The Olifants

Stacked sandstone slabs in the Cederberg above Citrusdal, lit orange at golden hour

The Cederberg · on the doorstep

The mountains do most of the work.

You do not have to climb anything. Sandstone peaks of about 2 000 metres stand round the valley, and by the second morning they have undone the week.

The signal drops.

Off the N7 the signal thins fast, and deep in the range there is none. The messages will keep until Sunday.

The Cederberg ›

Five o'clock, on the stoep.

The sun drops behind the Piekenierskloof and lights the Cederberg orange, then pink. Pour something cold and watch.

Where to stay ›

The quiet is protected.

CapeNature caps how many hikers can be out there at once. After dark, the stars come all the way down to the ridgeline.

Stargazing ›

Come for the springs. Leave with your shoulders back where they belong.

Soak, climb, taste, or do nothing with real commitment.

The Baths

Natural hot springs the valley has soaked in for generations. Chalets, flats and shaded camping.

Farm tours

De Tol, Hexrivier and the packhouses.

Rooibos

Carmién, on the De Tol farm.

A sandstone boulder above Citrusdal lit orange at sunset

Bouldering

Sandstone, and a great deal of it.

Cederberg cliffs above a fynbos slope near Citrusdal

Hiking

41 routes, with the real numbers.

Olifants River

A swim on a hot afternoon.

Dark skies

No streetlights to argue with.

Everything, plotted.

Every place to stay, thing to do and spot to eat — plus 648 citrus orchards. Tap a pin for details; the full map adds search and filters.

Open the full map

Guest farms, chalets and a river-side pitch.

Twenty-four places to sleep, from botanical retreats to 4x4-access camping in the mountains.

Check availability

Citrus orchards below the Cederberg mountains, Citrusdal

Guest farms

Working farms with a spare room and a view worth the drive.

Self-catering

Cook badly, in peace.

The Baths

A farm track through fynbos above the Olifants River valley at sunset

Camping

48 hours in Citrusdal

Two days. Two ways to spend them.

Pick a pace. We'll lay out a weekend around it — the plan below rebuilds itself.

Don't say we didn't tell you

The nearest streetlight is a long way off.

Since 1739

Older than the town that grew around it.

The San used this hot spring first. The Dutch East India Company wrote it down in 1739. The town itself only arrived in 1916 — a latecomer to its own valley. Water still comes out of the mountain at 43°C, at 105 000 litres an hour, exactly as it did three centuries ago.

Read the full history

1739

First recorded

1916

Town founded

43°C

Spring water

300+

Years of history

What's on in Citrusdal

See the whole board

Postcards, more or less.

Hot springs, groves, mountains and river — hover any of them.

See all the photographs

For buyers & importers

Not just a pretty valley. A working one.

About 14% of South Africa's citrus grows here, on some 200 farms, and the mountains behind it grow more than 90% of the country's rooibos. Start with who supplies importers or the anatomy of an orange, or send one trade enquiry and we pass it to producers who can supply it.

Fruit & rooibos in Citrusdal

Not visiting — living here?

Everyone needs a butcher, a plumber and a hairdresser.

Nobody hands you that list when you move to a small town. The local list is who people here actually use, suggested by locals, with nobody paying to be on it.

Open the local list

So, what is Citrusdal?

Citrusdal is a small farming town in the Olifants River valley of the Western Cape, South Africa, 176 km north of Cape Town on the N7 — about a two-hour drive. It sits at the foot of the Cederberg mountains, grows roughly a seventh of South Africa’s citrus, and is best known for the natural hot springs at The Baths, which have run at 43 °C since long before anyone wrote them down.

Province: Western Cape, South Africa
Region: Olifants River valley, at the foot of the Cederberg
Municipality: Cederberg Local Municipality, West Coast District
Population: About 7,200 (2011 census)
Founded: 1916, by the Dutch Reformed Church
The name: Afrikaans for “citrus valley”
From Cape Town: 176 km, about 2 hours on the N7 — directions
Coordinates: 32°35′S, 19°01′E · postal code 7340
Known for: Hot springs, citrus, rooibos, the Cederberg
Best time: Any month — what each season is like

Where is Citrusdal?

In the Olifants River valley, 176 km north of Cape Town on the N7, over the Piekenierskloof Pass. Clanwilliam is 58 km further north; Piketberg is 48 km back south. Distances and directions ›

What is Citrusdal known for?

The 43 °C natural hot springs at The Baths, first recorded in 1739; citrus — about 14% of South Africa’s crop; and rooibos, which grows commercially nowhere on earth but these mountains. Fruit and rooibos ›

Is Citrusdal worth visiting?

For a quiet weekend of hot springs, farm stalls, mountains and dark skies, yes. For nightlife, shopping or a resort holiday, no — it is a working farming town of about 7,200 people. What there is to do ›