The Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHRC) is a non-profit organisation in the heart of the Cape Winelands that prides itself on the preservation and expansion of 1500 hectares of critically endangered Renosterveld fynbos of which less than 5% of it remains in the Western Cape.
Picture: Supplied
Funds for ongoing conservation efforts including alien vegetation clearing, rewilding of farmland as well as creating natural corridors are derived from the 130km mountain bike trail network. The BHRC mountain bike trails run across privately owned working wine farms as well as conservation areas and offer spectacular views. The trails include jeep tracks as well as world-class single tracks.
The MTB mid-year permit is now available online at www.bottelaryconservancy.co.za at R500 and will give you unlimited access to the trails until 31 December 2023. The next couple of months are ideal to explore the beautiful Renosterveld fynbos that blooms from now until October. Annual BHRC permit holders also have access to the family-friendly Polkadraai Bike Park. The bike park offers a kiddie’s track, pump track, flow, skills trail and fun line as well as catering facilities and is ideal for training, birthday parties or just a day out with friends.
Day permits (R70) are available at the various park and ride access points including the security kiosk at ASARA, Bellevue Wine Estate tasting room, Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate Pro Shop, Fort Simon tasting room, Babushka deli at Hazendal Estate, Neethlingshof Wine Estate tasting room, the Cellar Door at Jordan, Zevenwacht Wine Estate security and the Polkadraai Bike Park. Engen Soneike, Shell Kruispad and the security gate at Dwars in Die Weg on Devon Valley Road are open 24/7, but please check trading hours for the various starting points. Access points operate on a cashless Zapper payment system.
The BHRC was founded in 1992 and currently has 50 members that contribute by following sustainable farming and wine production practices through the adoption of biodiversity guidelines by the South African wine industry.
Strong collaborations with organisations such as WWF Conservation Champions, Cape Nature, The Cape Leopard Trust, Conservation at Work, Cape Winelands District Municipality, and the Department of Agriculture enable the BHRC to expand its conservation and community development initiatives.
The Bottelary Hills MTB Trails have joined the greater Wine Lands Permit this year to provide riders a choice between the local BHRC permit with exclusive access to the BHRC trails or the regional Cape Wine Lands permit at a premium for access to A-Z Grabouw, Banhoek Conservancy, Boschendal, Bottelary Hills Conservancy, Elgin Valley, Franschhoek trails, Fruitways Farms, Grabouw, Helderberg, MTO Jonkershoek, Oak Valley, Paarl, Plaisir, Stellenbosch Trail Fund, Van Loveren, Wellington (Wild Boar & Scouts) and Wine Lands Cycling Club trails. This permit can be purchased online from www.WineLandsTrails.com with a contribution going towards BHRC.
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