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RED ROUTE |
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A challenging route on single and rough jeep track. This will feel like 40km so make sure that you’ are prepared.
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Distance: 20km
Elevation: 600m Duration: 2 to 3 hours Terrain: Single track and rough jeep track (plenty of steep climbs) |
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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. PUFFADDER 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 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 Farm 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. 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. 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. TOP HOUSE: One of the cottages available for rent on GROOTVADERSBOSCH farm. 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. BUTTERFLY BLUES Look out for the endemic Blue Emperor butterfly, Charaxes xiphares occidentalis. This is the most southern subspecies and confined to fragmented forest habitats. GHOST FROG CORNER The forest is home to a subspecies of the rare Ghost frog, often found near white water streams deep in the forest. The frog is endemic to the conservancy. ● HUNTERS One of the cottages available for rent on Honeywood. ● OU WERF One of the cottages available for rent on Honeywood. ● WOODY'S 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 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. 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. BRYAN'S TRUNDLE This section of trail was sponsored by a conservancy-friend called Bryan. |
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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