About Ceres

Ceres budget travel offers the chance to explore the picturesque town of Ceres that nestles in a fertile fruit-growing valley, surrounded by impressive mountains and lush orchards. Ceres is renowned for mountain walks,snow-capped peaks in Winter and the natural beauty of the region.

Ceres Budget Travel

Ceres budget travel is very easy with great value for money backpacking tours and fantastic highlights. Below is useful information on Ceres to help you plan your budget holiday in Ceres. We offer a variety of budget tours and backpacking advice in Ceres.

Airports

Ceres airports include the following:
• Cape Town International Airport

Birdlife

Ceres birds are abundant; more than 160 species have been recorded. On the open plains, ostriches, secretary birds and kori bustards may be seen, while close to the buildings species such as the Cape robin, Cape bulbul, Cape sparrow and house sparrow may occur. Water birds such as the Egyptian goose red billed teat, black duck and South African shelduck are common. Black eagles may be seen soaring high in the sky near the mountains.

Conservation

Ceres conservation is vital to the region, and local agriculturalists strive to achieve sustainability in their farming methods. The impact to the water supply to land is monitored, and there are a number of private nature and game reserves. National Park areas are governed by national laws, which include strict anti-poaching measures and help to protect both CITES-listed animals and other rare or endangered species.

Culture

Ceres culture includes the following:
• Fruit-picking fairs
• Music concerts on farms
• Local cuisine including delicious traditional food
• Wine-tasting
• Nature activities such as birdwatching
• Sporting events and activities

Health

Ceres health facilities are fairly good hospital and a number of local doctors and pharmacies available, and, with safe drinking water, no malaria and very few major health risks, Ceres visits are generally fuss-free.

AIDS

Ceres HIV/AIDS basic precautions include the following:
• Don’t ever share needles or syringes
• Practice safe sex at all times
• Equipment should be sterilized
• If you require self-administered injections, take an adequate supply of your own needles
• Avoid tattoos, acupuncture treatment or body piercing from suspect or unsterile operators

Languages

Ceres languages include the following:
• Afrikaans
• English
• Xhosa

Money

Ceres money and banking information includes:
• Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9h00 - 15h00, and Saturdays from 8h30-11h30
• ATMs can be found across the entire city, especially within malls or shopping areas
• Online banking can be done at any internet cafe
• Foreign exchange facilities are widely available at malls, airport, hotels and banks
• Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at almost all shops, hotels and restaurants

People

Ceres people include the following groups:
• Coloured
• Black Africans
• Whites

Phrase

Ceres local phrases include the following:
• Molo - Hello (Xhosa)
• Enkosi - Please (Xhosa)
• Kunjanj - How are you (Xhosa)
• Gooie dag - Good day (Afrikaans)
• Please - Asseblief (Afrikaans)

Plants

Most of Ceres plants are agriculturally developed orchards, farms and vineyards, although the surrounding areas vary from pine forests to fynbos. Proteas in particular thrive on the altitude and climate. In the mountains surrounding the town, indigenous plants are in abundance because of the high rainfall and runoff from the slopes after snow.

Religion

Ceres religion includes the following:
• Christian (predominantly)
• Islam
• Judaism

Safety Tips

• Ceres is very safe to visit with very little crime
• Petty crime can occur just like any place however, so be cautious
• Keep valuables out of sight in a moneybag, and don't leave valuables in your car when parked
• Summer months can get very hot, so drink lots of water and don't forget to put on sunscreen

Transport

Ceres local transport includes the following:
• Car
• Bus
• Minibus taxi

Travel Books

Ceres recommended travel books include:
• Frommer's South Africa by Pippa de Bruyn
• The Rough Guide to South Africa 5th Edition by Tony Pinchuck, Barbara McCrea and Donald Reid
• South Africa Eyewitness Travel Guide by DK Publishing
• Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland by Mary Fitzpatrick
• AAA Essential South Africa 6th Edition by Richard Whitaker

Visa Requirements

Get more information on visas in South Africa

What To Buy

What to buy for your Ceres holiday:
• Batteries and film for cameras
• Sunscreen and sunhat
• Comfortable clothes and shoes
• Raingear, especially in the rainy season
• Guidebooks

What To Pack

The following are some items you should remember to pack for your holiday in Ceres:
• Sunscreen and sunhat
• Loose, comfortable clothing and comfortable walking shoes
• Warm clothes for cool evenings and mild weather
• Raincoat or jacket for rainy weather
• Guidebooks to the area and the wildlife
• A basic first-aid kit
• Batteries, chargers, film and/or memory sticks for cameras

When To Go

When to go to Ceres? The following are seasonal activities:
• Snow activities are usually only available during winter, from June to August, although this depends on the snowfall, which is intermittent
• Fruit-harvesting seasons vary, although many farms and vineyards have year-round activities
• Summer is very hot, as the valley traps the heat
• Winter can be chilly.
• The best time to visit Ceres is in either Spring or Autumn, when the temperature is milder, and the valley green with new leaves or loaded with fresh fruit respectively

Wildlife

Large animals including Burchell's zebra and the antelope species, which range from the eland, gemsbok, kudu, white tail gnu, blue wildebeest, and bontebok, to the smaller springbok, grey rheebok, cape grysbok, duiker, klipspringer and steenbok may be seen. Other smaller animals include the dassie (rock hyrax), yellow mongoose, rock rabbit, Cape hare, striped polecat, aardwolf, lynx, antbear, black-backed jackal, caracal and Cape porcupine. Only leopard represents the larger carnivores.