Grootvadersbosch Conservancy Black Mountain Bike Route
Overview of Black Mountain Bike Route
A challenging route traversing the Kleinberg
Distance: 45km
Elevation: 1250m
Time: 4 to 6 hours
Terrain: Single track and jeep track with significant climbing in the last 15km
Permits: Grootvadersbosch Conservancy office, Selected guest houses, Delish in Heidelberg
Download Black Route Map Here
Distance: 45km
Elevation: 1250m
Time: 4 to 6 hours
Terrain: Single track and jeep track with significant climbing in the last 15km
Permits: Grootvadersbosch Conservancy office, Selected guest houses, Delish in Heidelberg
Download Black Route Map Here
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Information on Points of Interest
STRAWBERRY HILL: A guest house with a focus on mountain biking. The farm hosts the GVB Conservancy office. The farm is named for the wild strawberries that are found here.
Coetzee’s Rest: The private cemetery of the Coetzee family that have farmed here for 5 generations
BRACKENHILLS: A luxury tented camp with an abundance of local game. A Cape Nature partnership site.
General Stroll: Major General Graham Moodie and his beloved 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 favorite walks. He lived until 102 and walked this trail often.
HONEYWOOD: The guest farm sells raw honey and provides pollination services. Guest houses are spread across the farm.
Brosius Oversteek: Built by the local trail master, Walter Brosius, and sponsored by the Belgium Brosius family.
VALLEY'S END: A guest farm with sheep, Bonsmara, Nguni and chicken eggs (available for sale at GVB office)
Grey Rhebuck Plains: Medium sized antelope with a grey wooly coat, white under body and under 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.
GVB FARM: One of the many jersey dairy farms in the valley. A guest house and a Cape Nature 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: Francolin is often seen skulking 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 Moeras 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 beyond. In 1869, Thomas Bain and his prisoner work force 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 for the famous call.
FLECKVIEH: One of the few dairy farms with dual purpose Fleckvieh breed. Also a guest farm that produce their own cream cheese.
Snelsetter: One of the cottages available for rent on GVB farm.
Fallow Deer Prance: An exotic antelope species introduced into the area. Often found in groups of 5 or more. The males have large antlers.
Pear Place: Settlement of 10 families that lived here as ‘bywoners’ (sharecroppers) 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 the Conservancy, with funding from government, landowners and private partners.
Ou Werf: One of the cottages available for rent on Honeywood.
Forest Switchbacks: 13 switchbacks in species-rich Afrotemperate Forest. South African forests have the highest biodiversity of all temperate forests: 3- 7 times richer than any other forests in the S 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.
Coetzee’s Rest: The private cemetery of the Coetzee family that have farmed here for 5 generations
BRACKENHILLS: A luxury tented camp with an abundance of local game. A Cape Nature partnership site.
General Stroll: Major General Graham Moodie and his beloved 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 favorite walks. He lived until 102 and walked this trail often.
HONEYWOOD: The guest farm sells raw honey and provides pollination services. Guest houses are spread across the farm.
Brosius Oversteek: Built by the local trail master, Walter Brosius, and sponsored by the Belgium Brosius family.
VALLEY'S END: A guest farm with sheep, Bonsmara, Nguni and chicken eggs (available for sale at GVB office)
Grey Rhebuck Plains: Medium sized antelope with a grey wooly coat, white under body and under 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.
GVB FARM: One of the many jersey dairy farms in the valley. A guest house and a Cape Nature 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: Francolin is often seen skulking 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 Moeras 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 beyond. In 1869, Thomas Bain and his prisoner work force 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 for the famous call.
FLECKVIEH: One of the few dairy farms with dual purpose Fleckvieh breed. Also a guest farm that produce their own cream cheese.
Snelsetter: One of the cottages available for rent on GVB farm.
Fallow Deer Prance: An exotic antelope species introduced into the area. Often found in groups of 5 or more. The males have large antlers.
Pear Place: Settlement of 10 families that lived here as ‘bywoners’ (sharecroppers) 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 the Conservancy, with funding from government, landowners and private partners.
Ou Werf: One of the cottages available for rent on Honeywood.
Forest Switchbacks: 13 switchbacks in species-rich Afrotemperate Forest. South African forests have the highest biodiversity of all temperate forests: 3- 7 times richer than any other forests in the S 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.
