Grysbok and Bushbuck Trails

About Grysbok and Bushbuck Trails

Start: Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, near the little village of Suurbraak or Heidelberg
Finish: Grootvadersbosch Reserve
Duration: various
Fitness: moderate
Our tip: their campsite, which has only a limited number of sites (10 in all) can get busy

Grootvadersbosch, which adjoins the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, is one of the few nature reserves that remains something of a secret. It also protects a large indigenous forest.

The reserve offers two trails – the Bushbuck and Grysbok – that can combine into various trails that range between 2 and 15 km. You can get your permit from the reserve office. The Grysbok is a circular trail that loops from west to east in the more northerly section of the reserve, whilst the Bushbuck Trail is a smaller loop in the south of the reserve. From the Grysbok one can veer up into the adjoining Wilderness Area.

Bushbuck Trail
Roughly 10 km, is a series of loops and circuits that include the Melkhoutpad best reserved for hot days. Set in amongst the canopy of the indigenous trees along the Duivenhoks River (that runs past Vermaaklikheid further downstream), it is a great trail for bird and tree spotting. It includes the Fonteintjiesbos, Melkhout and Stinkhout circuits that take one past a bird hide, enormous Californian redwood trees that are incredible they are so tall (they may not always be here as Cape Nature is busy reclaiming the area and cutting down exotics), and through the forest filled with yellowwoods, stinkwoods, saffraans and scolopias.

Grysbok Trail
Grysbok Trail is 15 km and is also a series of loops that include the Sunbird Loop and Grysboksirkel that make a totally different experience to the Bushbuck trail. You are rather exposed on this trail so make sure to head off early, or take plenty of water with you if it is summer. The eastern half of the trail is not difficult, bar the View Point, which is a serious uphill. The western loop (Grysboksirkel) is very pretty, particularly as you can just do part of it as a short walk. But you may not want to attempt it just after rains as it can get rather muddy.