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BLUE ROUTE |
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A sweeping gravel trail past precious renosterveld.
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Distance: 42km
Elevation: 1066m Duration: 3 to 4 hours Short Route: Distance:30km Elevation: 694m |
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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. BUSH BUCK DOMAIN Bush back are commonly found across the conservancy. They prefer thick bush. The male is very dark with white banded legs. Females are light brown and smaller. ● HONEYWOOD FARM The guest farm sells raw honey and provides pollination services. Guest houses are spread across the farm. BRENDON’S BRIDGE Brendon grew up in the conservancy and assisted in building many of the trails. He tragically lost his life too early in a car accident. He was loved by all. 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. 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. BLACK HARRIER REFUGE An endangered raptor that nests in this area; look out for this bird with its barred tail, often seen gliding low over the veld while hunting. ROOICAT DELIGHT Caracal (rooikat) is a slender, moderately-sized cat with characteristic tufted ears, commonly seen early in the morning. It preys on small rodents. OSTRICH FLIGHT Look out for the large birds that will race you up the road. The males are black and white and the females are a light-ish brown. ● SKEIDING A CapeNature stewardship site, active farm and guest house, owned by the Uys family, a long-standing Heidelberg family. GREY DUIKER DANCE Small light brown buck that prefers open bushy country. The nose, legs and tail have a visibly darker strip. They often bound (or in Afrikaans, ‘duik’) over low bushes when alarmed. RENOSTERVELD GLORY Renosterveld is part of the Cape Floristic Region and is dominated by grasses and shrubs from the daisy family. Renosterveld is considered the richest bulb habitat on earth and is renowned for its incredible spring flower displays. Because it is found on fertile soils, it has been widely converted to croplands. Less than 5% now remain. This unique habitat is a biodiversity hotspot. WHITE STORK PASS This is a large bird with white plumage, with black on its wings. Rated least concern on the red data list. DENHAM’S BUSTARD WAY This very large brown and white bird is often spotted walking through the Renosterveld or cultivated lands. Rated near threatened on the red data list. BLUE CRANE PARADE Unmistakably beautiful blue/grey birds which are South Africa’s National Bird. You could be lucky to see chicks and juveniles in spring and large flocks in winter. SECRETARY BIRD AISLE This is a very large raptor, with an eagle-like body on crane-like legs. Look out for the breeding pair in this vicinity often seen hunting together in the open lands. Rated vulnerable on the red data list. ● 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. ● SNELSETTER One of the cottages available for rent on GROOTVADERSBOSCH farm. 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. BLACK HARRIER REFUGE An endangered raptor that nests in this area; look out for this bird with its barred tail, often seen gliding low over the veld while hunting. |
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 agents 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. TRAIL RULES No picking flowers. No fires. No 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 |
079 335 0269 (whatsapp)
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address |
