Thank You for Keeping it Wild in the Cederberg!

What a weekend! Wind, rain, stories, wine, new friendships, deep purpose, and dirty hands – Keeping it Wild in the Cederberg 2025 was one for the books.

For the third year running, Love Our Trails partnered with Sustainable Ceder to host this magical weekend of conservation, connection, and celebration. And despite wild weather, over 100 brave and brilliant guests gathered at Driehoek Guest Farm to show that caring for nature isn’t just a passion – it’s a way of life.

From the bottom of our hearts, we want to say THANK YOU to everyone who showed up, got involved, and made this weekend so incredibly special.

A Weekend of Purpose and Passion

The weekend kicked off on Friday, 9 May with a moving and memorable session in the barn, where Hugh Corder opened the floor with stories and poetry from In These Mountains by the late Stephen Watson. Hugh’s personal reflections and the deep bond he shared with Stephen reminded us all of the emotional and spiritual power these mountains hold – to connect us, ground us, and remind us of what truly matters.

We dived straight into a panel discussion hosted by Blake Dyason of Love Our Trails, joined by an inspiring lineup: Edmund February, Monique Ruthenberg, Dawie Burger and Pieter du Toit. Together, we explored some powerful topics – from the carrying capacity of trails to inclusive tourism and the essential role of visitors in preserving these wild spaces. It was thoughtful, honest, and real – just the way we like it.

And then, of course, came the beer and wine – generously donated by our friends at Cederberg Wines, Driehoek Wines, and Cederberg Brewery. The mood was warm and the fire-side chats ran late into the night.

When the Storm Hit, We Adapted

Saturday morning rolled in with a storm that tested tents and spirits alike. But in true trail community fashion, we adapted, shifted, and made it just as meaningful.

We moved the action indoors, where conservation legends and tech innovators shared their passion and projects:

Naas van Jaarsveld and Jeannie Hayward from Cape Leopard Trust spoke about protecting leopards and building conservation communities, through their innovative Virtual Reality as well and their continued camera surveys and research.
Steven Wessels blew our minds with virtual reality demos that brought conservation to life.
Evan Kortje from CapeNature and Andries Louw (nco2 drone wizard!) gave us hope and practical solutions for our wild spaces.
Jeremy Shelton from Fresh Water Research unpacked freshwater ecosystems and alien species.
Dawie Burger wrapped it up with an inspiring update on how Sustainable Ceder is planting thousands of cedar trees and creating real jobs and opportunity for locals.

Meanwhile, children from neighbouring farms and communities joined in to learn, play and be part of the magic.

Talks That Stirred the Soul

Saturday evening brought more power-packed inspiration with five incredible speakers:

Galeo Saintz, co-founder of Rim of Africa and Chairperson of the World Trails Network, Trails and Conservation Task Team, challenged us to see trails not just as paths, but as solutions to rehabilitate ecosystems, protect wilderness areas, while supporting heritage, communities and contributing to our economy.
Dr. Charlene Janion-Scheepers introduced us to the real MVPs (most valuable player) of the mountains – ants! Their role in seed dispersal is critical to the health of these ecosystems.
Chris Broeckhoven wowed us with his research on the Armadillo Girdled Lizard – nature’s miniature dragon! He also wowed us with the technology used in the research.
Jasper Slingsby took us to the skies with stories from his NASA biodiversity survey, showing just how far South African science is flying and how diverse the floral ecosystem is in the Cederberg.
David Mayson, Driehoek Property initiative (DCBD) introduction for interested parties to purchase the Property.
And Jeremy Shelton brought it all home with a talk and video that hit the heart – showing how indigenous fish, local knowledge, and community conservation are changing lives.

By the end of the night, you could feel it: this wasn’t just an event. This was a movement. A tribe of trail lovers and wild space protectors who care deeply.

Getting Our Hands Dirty

On Sunday morning, the storm had passed, the sun came out, and it was time to walk the talk.

With big smiles and muddy boots, we split into three groups:

Alien vegetation clearing (goodbye poplars!),
Cedar tree planting (hello forest of the future!),
and a litter clean-up hike to Wolfberg Arch, where a dedicated crew collected four big bags of rubbish – mostly toilet paper. A reminder we all need to do better.

The work was real. The impact was visible.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

We couldn’t have done any of this without the wild-hearted support of our partners, speakers, and volunteers:

Gone. Outdoor Store – for donating pre-loved trail shoes to support local conservation teams.
Culture Lab Kombucha – for hydrating us with wild flavours straight from the Cederberg.
Cederberg Wines, Driehoek Wines, and Cederberg Brewery – for the generous drinks that kept us all very cheerful.
The speakers – for showing up with passion, expertise, and stories that inspired us all.
The photographers – Juliette, Sky, Jay, and Raydon – for capturing the magic
CapeNature – for your constant involvement and support for volunteers, researches and the greater community.
Cape Leopard Trust – for jumping in with tech, sound, bar help, and constant support.
Dawie, Lizette, and the whole family – for feeding, hosting, sheltering, and feeding us.

And the biggest thank you of all goes to YOU – everyone who attended, participated, adapted, and made the weekend unforgettable.

Together, We Are Wild at Heart

Keeping it Wild in the Cederberg is more than just a weekend away – it’s a reminder of what’s possible when community and conservation come together.

Poem: Ceders and Gods – Galeo Saintz