Grootvadersbosch Conservancy Blue Mountain Bike Route
Overview of Blue Mountain Bike Route
A sweeping trail past our previous Renosterveld
Distance: 39km
Elevation: 900m
Duration 3-4 hours
Terrain: Single track, jeep track and gravel road
Download the Blue Route Map Here
Distance: 39km
Elevation: 900m
Duration 3-4 hours
Terrain: Single track, jeep track and gravel road
Download the Blue Route Map Here
| blue_route.kmz |
Information on Points of Interest
STRAWBERRY HILL: A guest house with a focus on mountain biking. The farm hosts the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy office. The farm is named for the wild strawberries that used to grow here.
Bush Buck Domain: Bush back are commonly found across the conservancy. They prefer thick bush. Male very dark with white banded legs. Female light brown and smaller.
HONEYWOOD: The guest farm sells raw honey and provides pollination services. Guest houses are spread across the farm.
Puffader Alley: Puffadders are common in the conservancy (brown/white chevron-like patterns). Other venomous snakes include: boom slang, and the occasional Cape Cobra. If you encounter one, be calm and let them pass.
Brendon’s Bridge: Brendon grew up in the conservancy and assisted to build many of the trails. He tragically lost his life too early in an alcohol-related car accident. He was loved by many.
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.
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)
Black Harrier Refuge: An endangered raptor nests in this area- 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 Delight: Look out for the large birds that will race you up the road. The black and white are the males and the females are a lightish brown
SKEIDING: A Cape Nature Stewardship site, active farm and guest house, owned by the Uys family, a long-standing Heidelberg family.
Grey Duiker Dance: Small light brown buck prefers open bushy country. Nose, legs and tails have a visible darker strip. They often bound “duik” over low bushes when alarmed.
Renosterveld Delight: 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: is a large bird with white plumage, with black on its wings. Rated least concern on the red data list.
Denham’s Bustard Way: Very large brown and white bird 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: Very large raptor- 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.
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.
Snelsetter: One of the cottages available for rent on GVB farm.
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.
Black Harrier refuge: An endangered raptor nests in this area- barred tail often seen gliding low over the veld while hunting.
Bush Buck Domain: Bush back are commonly found across the conservancy. They prefer thick bush. Male very dark with white banded legs. Female light brown and smaller.
HONEYWOOD: The guest farm sells raw honey and provides pollination services. Guest houses are spread across the farm.
Puffader Alley: Puffadders are common in the conservancy (brown/white chevron-like patterns). Other venomous snakes include: boom slang, and the occasional Cape Cobra. If you encounter one, be calm and let them pass.
Brendon’s Bridge: Brendon grew up in the conservancy and assisted to build many of the trails. He tragically lost his life too early in an alcohol-related car accident. He was loved by many.
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.
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)
Black Harrier Refuge: An endangered raptor nests in this area- 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 Delight: Look out for the large birds that will race you up the road. The black and white are the males and the females are a lightish brown
SKEIDING: A Cape Nature Stewardship site, active farm and guest house, owned by the Uys family, a long-standing Heidelberg family.
Grey Duiker Dance: Small light brown buck prefers open bushy country. Nose, legs and tails have a visible darker strip. They often bound “duik” over low bushes when alarmed.
Renosterveld Delight: 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: is a large bird with white plumage, with black on its wings. Rated least concern on the red data list.
Denham’s Bustard Way: Very large brown and white bird 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: Very large raptor- 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.
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.
Snelsetter: One of the cottages available for rent on GVB farm.
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.
Black Harrier refuge: An endangered raptor nests in this area- barred tail often seen gliding low over the veld while hunting.
