Exploring the Fonteintjiesbos Trail in Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Do you love hiking? Then add Grootvadersbosch to your travel itinerary in 2017.
The #TrekSouthAfrica team had the pleasure of staying at Cape Nature’s Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, located in the Langeberg, about 22 kilometres northwest of Heidelberg.
Grootvadersbosch’s hiking trails are ideal for families looking to get closer to nature. Varying from the easier 10 kilometre Bush Buck trail to the more challenging Grysboksirkel Trail which stretches for 15km, there’s something for everyone.
Follow the link below to read our blog post on Nature Reserves Western Cape!
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Giant Redwoods in South Africa? // Drone Footage
I took my drone to film these rare Californian Redwoods found in deepest Western Cape...the footage was amazing! Not to mention the mountain biking was fantastic. Thanks to Cape Nature and Cannondale for the sponsor.
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Originally known as Melkhoutskraal, the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve encompasses 250 hectares of indigenous forest in the Langeberg region, close to Heidelberg. The name translates to “big father” in honour of Roelof Oelofse who owned the land in 1723. It has only been a reserve since 1986 and was declared a World Heritage Site in 2004.
This is the most significant stretch of indigenous afromontane forest left in the south-western Cape, with nearly all of the 35 typical forest tree species, including red alder, ironwood, stinkwood and yellowwood. Visitors to this beautiful reserve will relish the opportunity to get out into the forest on day walks and mountain biking trails. This is an excellent birding destination with more than 196 bird species regularly spotted. Hikers are likely to bump into bushbuck and spot baboons and smaller mammals when out on the trails. Sighting the forest emperor butterfly and a subspecies of the rare ghost frog would be the highlight of a visit here, as they can only be found in this particular forest.
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westerncape redwoods,south african redwoods,south africa,cape town,africa,mountain biking,mtb western cape,things to do in cape town,things to do in south africa,1 day from cape town,weekend in cape town
op weg naar Heidelberg South-Africa
South Africa- Tradouw Pass R324, April 2014
A stunning road that starts outside Barrydale. We drove in the direction of Heidelberg. The R 324 is known as one of the most beautiful roads in the Western Cape. And that's no lie.
In Search of the Grootvadersboch Forest Chameleon
On the southern slopes of the Langeberg mountains near Heidelberg in the Western Cape lies a very small patch of indigenous forest that survived the deforestation and climate change years ago. The surrounding area is home to the Klein karoo dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion gutturale) , but in the Grootvadersbosch forest you will find a forest dwelling dwarf chameleon. At first is was believed to be a very isolated population of the Knysna dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion damaranum) but recent genetic studies suggests that it might be a species on its own, but this is yet to be confirmed.
In July 2017 I flew down to Cape Town for a freelance video gig in Swellendam. This was the perfect opportunity to find, film and photograph this interesting chameleon. Although I was in the area for non chameleon related work I managed to get some time off and found the Grootvadersbosch forest chameleon with ease in the town of Swellendam. I also took some time to visit the Grootvadersbosch nature reserve for some more scenic shots. The mountains next to the forests was still covered in snow, and made for brilliant scenery. My good friend Heinrich Stofberg did a few drone shots of the forests for me to use in the video.
Enjoy JF
The Last Day with the Lads - Lad Camp Day 4
2018-01-21
The fourth and final day away at Grootvadersbosch with the lads, and for the first time since we arrived, it stopped raining.
Boosmansbos Pass - Mountain Passes of South Africa
For full details on this pass, as well as all the passes and poorts of South Africa, including GPS, technical, safety, historical and tourism information, plus a fully interactive, dual view Phoca map showing printable directions from where you are with time and distance pre-calculated, go to MountainPassesSouthAfrica.co.za