Maltese Cross – Cederberg Wilderness Area

Running with Josiah and Jethro in hand during the last hundred metres and over the finish line of my second race of the ultimate distance in running brought about a new realisation of “What race are you running?” That was more than one amazingly sweet moment! The ultimate distance of 100 miles is not the ultimate experience and they helped me see that, and that in that moment of euphoria, there is more. No, not 200 miles, as much as those races exist. No, something slightly, yet more importantly different; some moments just cannot be created – they just happen, but I realised at that moment that the races we run are always more important for those by our sides. And it is for us to enjoy the trails and the races of life together…

Finish line of Joseph’s second ultimate distance race with Josiah and Jethro: Ultra-trail Cape Town® 100 miles, 44 hours, 26 November 2023. Not the ultimate experience.

The magnificent Cederberg Wilderness Area in the Western Cape of South Africa is where boys can be made into men…and where guys enjoy the simplest and smallest things of rocks and rough trails. Together! The Maltese Cross is an iconic landmark which is just out of one’s way enough that it requires effort in the intentionality to get to the trail head, and yet remote enough to have the whole trail and experience to ourselves during an early weekday in late May 2024.

This significant landmark in the Cederberg represents the cross of ‘firefighter’ Knights who risked their lives trying to save their fellow burning crusaders hundreds of years ago in battle with the Saracens. “Since the Knights of St. John lived for close to four centuries on the island of Malta, the cross came to be known as the Maltese cross" (story).

Enjoy this Tale taking a day hike to check out the striking Maltese Cross on an incredible autumn day, for the ultimate experience.

Jethro (3 years 5 months), Josiah (7 years): Pre-hike (7 kilometre out and back, 400 metre elevation gain) breakfast with Cederberg's highest peak, Sneeuberg (2027 m) background.

The Cederberg is known for more than its remoteness, but also the harshness of its terrain underfoot.

The Cederberg always forces one to rest along its trails, above; and getting lost is possible, so bring a map, below.

Sandwiches just taste better on the trails. They just do!

Klipspringer above, on the descent below.