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Historic site · Clanwilliam, Western Cape
Wupperthal
Mission village founded in 1830 in the Tra-Tra River valley in the Cederberg, with a church, whitewashed thatch-roofed houses, hand-made leather shoe workshops and rooibos cultivation.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Wupperthal
Wupperthal lies in an isolated valley of the Cederberg, about 72 km southeast of Clanwilliam on a dirt road. The village was founded in 1830 by two German missionaries from the Rhenish Missionary Society, Theobald von Wurmb and Johann Gottlieb Leipoldt, grandfather of the poet C. Louis Leipoldt; they named it after the Wupper River in Germany. Today it is a Moravian Church mission.
The missionaries settled alongside Khoikhoi families who already lived in the valley. After slavery ended at the Cape in 1838, formerly enslaved people from regional farms moved to the mission. The village developed workshops for several trades, and the shoemaking workshop endured: veldskoene, hand-stitched leather shoes, are still made there.
Village life revolves around the church, the whitewashed thatch-roofed houses and small gardens. Rooibos is the main source of income and local growers farm it organically. Goats graze on the surrounding slopes.
At Christmas the village holds a hymn-singing festival. The arrival, along the road that winds down into the valley, is part of the visit.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours in the village, plus about one and a half hours on the dirt road each way from Clanwilliam.
Best time
During the day, Monday to Saturday, when the workshops and the shop are usually open. With heavy rain the descent to the valley becomes more difficult. Confirm before you go.
How to get there
From Clanwilliam, follow the Pakhuis Pass road and then the dirt road that descends to the Tra-Tra valley, about 72 km. A regular car can usually make it in dry conditions; drive slowly on the descent’s curves.
Tip
Combine Wupperthal with the Sevilla Rock Art Trail, which is on the same route, and leave Clanwilliam early. Refuel beforehand: there are no petrol stations on the road.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Wupperthal
How do you get to Wupperthal?
By car, from Clanwilliam, via the Pakhuis Pass road and then on a dirt track to the Tra-Tra valley, about 72 km. There is no regular transport to the village.
What is there to see in Wupperthal?
The mission church, whitewashed houses with thatch roofs, the workshops where leather shoes are handmade, and the rooibos plantations surrounding the village.
Who founded Wupperthal?
Two German missionaries of the Rhenish Missionary Society, Theobald von Wurmb and Johann Gottlieb Leipoldt, in 1830. Today the village is a Moravian Church mission.