Trailinfo | Grootvadersbosch Hiking Trails

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve is situated in the Langeberg, about 22 km north-west of Heidelberg, and comprises 250 ha of forest. The indigenous forest is the most noteworthy in the south-western Cape and the largest remaining example in the Langeberg. The Langeberg lies in the transitional zone between winter and all-year rainfall regions. Grootvadersbosch has an average annual rainfall of about 1 050 mm. Drier periods are from May to July and December to January. Most of the thirty-five typical forest tree species are present, including stinkwood, yellowwood, red alder and the dominant ironwood.

Bushbuck are abundant and were first described in 1780 from a specimen collected at Grootvadersbosch. Birds are abundant and 196 bird pecies have been recorded. A subspecies of the ghost frog and a unique forest emperor butterfly occur only in this forest. The Bosbok trail transverces the indigenous forest along the Duiwenhoks River. At the junction with the main tributary there is a beautiful swimming pool.

The Fonteintjiesbos trail runs through indigenous forests. At the half-way point there is a waterfall from where the trail follows the river for a while before

Cape grysbok occur on the forest fringes and in adjacent fynbos. Birds are abundant and 196 bird species have been recorded. A subspecies of the ghost frog and a unique forest emperor bitterfly occur only in this forest.The Grysbok trail runs through fynbos along the foothills of the Langeberg. It provides excellent vistas over the undulating countryside below.

Basic Trail Description