Grootvadersbosch Conservancy Red Mountain Bike Route
Overview of Red Mountain Bike Route
A challenging route on single and rough jeep track. This will feel like 40km so make sure that you are prepared.
Distance: 25km
Elevation: 750m
Duration: 3 to 4 Hours
Terrain: Single track and rough jeep track (plenty of steep climbs)
Permits: Grootvadersbosch Conservancy office, Selected guest houses, Delish in Heidelberg
Download the red route map here
Distance: 25km
Elevation: 750m
Duration: 3 to 4 Hours
Terrain: Single track and rough jeep track (plenty of steep climbs)
Permits: Grootvadersbosch Conservancy office, Selected guest houses, Delish in Heidelberg
Download the red 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.
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.
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)
Black Harrier Refuge: An endangered raptor nests in this area- 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.
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.
Top House: One of the cottages available for rent on GVB farm.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Bryan Trundle: This section of trail was sponsored by a guy called Bryan.
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.
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)
Black Harrier Refuge: An endangered raptor nests in this area- 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.
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.
Top House: One of the cottages available for rent on GVB farm.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Bryan Trundle: This section of trail was sponsored by a guy called Bryan.
