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BLACK ROUTE |
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A challenging route traversing the Kleinberg.
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Distance: 40km
Elevation: 1050m Duration: 4 to 5 hours Terrain: Single track and jeep track |
POINTS OF INTEREST
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● STRAWBERRY HILL
A guest house with a focus on mountain biking. The farm hosts the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy office. The farm is named after the wild strawberries that used to grow here. COETZEE’S REST The private cemetery of the Coetzee family that have farmed here for 5 generations. They also manage Noukrans Kamp. ● BRACKENHILLS A luxury tented camp with an abundance of local game. A CapeNature partnership site. GENERAL STROLL Major General Graham Moodie and his beloved wife Sheila moved to Honeywood in 1972. After retiring from the army, Graham returned to his passion: bees, botany and walks. This was one of his favourite walks. He lived until 102 and walked this trail often. ● HONEYWOOD FARM The guest farm sells raw honey and provides pollination services. Guest houses are spread across the farm. BROSIUS OVERSTEEK Sponsored by the Belgium Brosius family. VALLEY'S END A guest farm with sheep, Bonsmara, Nguni and chicken eggs. GREY RHEBUCK PLAINS Medium sized antelope with a grey, woolly coat, white under its body and tail. Found in small groups frequently on open hilly areas. MOODIE DOWN UNDER Private cemetery of the Moodie family. The first grave is of Margaret, wife of Benjamin Moodie, who was the first Moodie to own Grootvadersbosch Farm in 1817. All subsequent generations are remembered here. ● GROOTVADERSBOSCH FARM One of the many jersey dairy farms in the valley. A guest house and a CapeNature stewardship site. The farm house was built in the 1700s. TRADOUWENS WAY Leucadendron Tradouwens is an endemic species of cone-bearing fynbos that only occurs between the Tradouw Pass and Grootvadersbosch. FYNBOS FESTIVITIES Admire the Kleinberg fynbos (Mimetes cucullatus, Lanaria lanata, Erica Melanthera and many more) with views of the valley below. LEOPARD WALK The elusive Cape leopards frequent these mountains. They are very territorial and cover very large areas. They eat small antelope, porcupines and dassies. RED WING FRANCOLIN PASS You’ll find Francolin scratching away in the scrub and flying up as you approach. Listed as least concern on the red data list. REDFIN VIEW The Tradouw redfin is confined to small populations in the Tradouw and nearby Huis Rivers. A critically endangered freshwater fish, threatened by water pollution and invasion by small-mouthed bass. TRADOUW PASS The term Tradouw means “footpath of the woman” and was used by the Attaqua Khoikhoi. In 1858, Karoo farmers requested a trade route to the Breede River and to Port Beaufort. In 1869, Thomas Bain and his prisoner-workforce began construction. The pass was finally completed in 1873. THE SLOOT (WATER FURROW) Water is the most important resource on any farm. This sloot leads water from the Kruisrivier forest across the farm Glen Etive to the Tradouw farms. FISH EAGLE FLIGHT Regular nesting place for the majestic African Fish eagle. Listen out for the famous call. ● FLECKVIEH One of the few dairy farms with the dual purpose Fleckvieh breed. Also a guest farm that produces its own cream cheese. ● SNELSETTER One of the cottages available for rent on GROOTVADERSBOSCH farm. NEW SINGLE TRACK A new single track section along the Grootvadersbosch River PEAR PLACE Settlement of 10 families that lived here as sharecroppers from 1900 - 1950. There was a shop, a school and a blacksmith. They built wattle and daub houses and practiced subsistence farming. CLEAR VIEW A view of the Grootvadersbosch River that has been cleared of invasive vegetation by the conservancy, with funding from government, landowners and private partners. ● OU WERF One of the cottages available for rent on Honeywood Farm. FOREST SWITCHBACKS 13 switchbacks in species-rich Afrotemperate Forest. South African forests have the highest biodiversity of all temperate forests: 3 to 7 times richer than any other forests in the southern hemisphere. The conservancy has a small tree nursery that you can visit at the office. ● FOREST LODGE One of the cottages available for rent on Strawberry Hill. |
OUR OTHER TRAILS
Here’s a snapshot of the trails you can ride:
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This trail network was funded by the Table Mountain Fund to showcase the biodiversity across the landscape, working with multiple partners to support conservation activities. The trails include over 150km of single track and jeep track that traverse indigenous forest, mountain fynbos, renosterveld and productive farmland.
The trails were built by beasts* and pimped by man.** Respect the trail builders, follow the rules, ride safe & have fun! * Mainly cow, sheep, bushbuck and the occasional leopard. ** People who live and work here and love riding bikes. |
LIABILITY
The Grootvadersbosch Conservancy Trust Board, partner organizations, funders, landowners and/or its employees and/or its successors in title shall not be liable for any damage, loss, theft, injury, accident or death suffered by any person, howsoever caused. Right of Admission Reserved. Ride at own risk. No helmet no ride. TRAIL RULES No picking of flowers. Ni smoking. No camping. No littering. No picnicking. No swimming. No pets. No helmet, no ride. Please stay on the marked routes. We promise they are the coolest. Please close any fences that you open (but you are probably lost if there is no fence bridge). Approach animals with caution. Please be extra careful when approaching sheep as they can easily injure themselves if startled. Ride all fence bridges at your own risk. Walk them if you are unsure. |
CONTACT THE
GROOTVADERSBOSCH CONSERVANCY
OFFICE HOURS: Mon to Thu: 7:30am to 5pm. Friday: 730 to 4pm. We are closed every second Friday.
MTB PERMITS: Available all hours at the Office (Cash in honesty box or Snapscan)
MTB PERMITS: Available all hours at the Office (Cash in honesty box or Snapscan)
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phone |
071 691 6463
(Vodacom landline during office hours) |
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