Have fun in the forest

Stinkwood, yellowwood and red alder trees tower overhead. At your feet, streams flow past ferns and mossy boulders, and orange mushrooms sprout from cracks in the bark of fallen trees. As many as 190 bird species have been recorded in Grootvadersbosch, but most are hard to spot because they tend to stay high in the canopy. For the best chance of success, stand still, listen for calls and try to isolate where they’re coming from. Start hiking early in the morning when the birds are most vocal.

Grootvadersbosch has two long-ish trails: Bushbuck (10 km) and Grysbok (15 km). The Bushbuck Trail meanders through the forest, while the tougher Grysbok Trail also cuts through fynbos on the lower slopes of the Langeberg.

Both trails have lots of loops, detours and short cuts that you can combine to create your own day hike. We’ve done