格鲁特瓦德斯博斯自然保护区(Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve)坐落在西开普省希德堡(Heidelberg)附近,这片 250 公顷的原生林是兰格堡山脉中现存最完整的森林遗迹。成人日票大约 60 兰特,建议出发前查看 CapeNature 官网获取最新价格。这里不仅是联合国教科文组织世界遗产的一部分,更因为那片 1920 年代引种的巨型北美红杉林而显得与众不同,带给人一种置身于北半球丛林的错觉。
说起南非的自然景观,很多人脑子里跳出来的是稀树草原,但格鲁特瓦德斯博斯展示了完全不同的一面。这片保护区在 2015 年被正式列入开普植物保护区世界遗产名录的扩展范围,目前保护着超过 35 种本地珍稀树种。这里的高度落差相当大,徒步路径从海拔 300 米左右一直攀升到超过 1000 米的山脊。这种地形导致了独特的微气候,即便周边地区烈日炎炎,森林内部依旧保持着湿润清爽,空气里全是泥土和腐殖质的味道。
这片保护区最有趣的看点之一其实是外来客。早在 1920 年代,当地人为了试验木材产量在这里种下了北美红杉。如今这些红杉已经长成了参天巨木,在原本低矮的原生林间显得鹤立鸡群。走在红杉林径(Redwood Trail)上,你会有种时空错乱感,这种规模的杉树林在南非极其罕见。林间的步道维护得很不错,踩在厚厚的落叶层上软绵绵的,非常适合不喜欢重体力攀爬但想看大景致的游客。
丛羚步道(Bushbuck Trail)全长大约 10 公里,如果你走得够慢够安静,大概率能撞见那种害羞的林羚。这种小家伙通常在清晨或黄昏出没。除了林羚,这里还生活着罕见的鬼蜻蜓。别被名字吓到,它们是南非特有的受保护昆虫。别只顾着埋头走路,很多珍稀植物就长在溪流边上,夏天去的话,林子里那种幽闭的凉爽劲儿简直是避暑神药。
对于观鸟爱好者来说,格鲁特瓦德斯博斯绝对是西开普省的头号圣地。这里修建了专门的观鸟塔,位置选得极其考究,正对着树冠层。你在这里能找到将近 200 种鸟类,最出名的莫过于非洲斑林鸮(African Wood-Owl)和纳里纳咬鹃(Narina Trogon)。说真的,想在野外捕捉到咬鹃那一抹红绿交替的身影得靠运气,但只要你能在树林里静坐十五分钟,各种奇奇怪怪的鸟鸣声就会把你包围。
从开普敦开车过来大约需要 3 小时,大部分路段是柏油路,但最后进入保护区的那十几公里是碎石路。一般的轿车慢慢开没问题,要是碰上雨季,底盘高的车会更稳当。入园时间通常是早上 7:30 到下午 16:00。票价这块,除了成人 60 兰特左右的日间访客费,如果你持有 Wild Card 则可以免除门票钱,这对于常在南非玩的人来说能省下不少预算。
如果时间充裕,在这儿住一晚绝对比赶路强。CapeNature 提供的生态小木屋设计得很现代,大落地窗直接对着山谷。房间里没有电视,晚上只能听见林子里的风声和虫鸣。每个木屋都配有完备的厨房设施和室内壁炉,冬天开着壁炉烤火特别有感觉。营地那边还有专门的洗澡间和太阳能热水系统,就算是在山里露营,生活品质也不会打太多折扣。
如果只是日间徒步,直接在入口处的办公室买票即可,但如果打算入住生态小木屋或露营地,务必提前在 CapeNature 官网预订。由于营地仅有 10 个左右的固定位,周末和节假日经常提前几个月就抢光了。
保护区内的线路从 2 公里的轻松散步到 15 公里的山脊徒步都有分布。红杉林径非常平缓,适合老人小孩;而前往山顶的那几条路径坡度陡峭,垂直爬升超过 500 米,需要有一定的体能储备和专业的登山鞋。
这里一年四季都能玩,但 9 月到 11 月的春季景色最美,野花盛开且鸟类活跃。夏天虽然热,但森林里很阴凉,是徒步的好时机。冬季(6 月到 8 月)雨水较多,山路会变得湿滑,如果这期间去一定要带好防风防水的冲锋衣。
露营区和木屋区都设有专门的烧烤点(Braai area),但严禁在森林徒步路径中私自生火。南非森林防火级别很高,随身携带的垃圾也必须全部带出森林,保护区内不设置流动的垃圾桶。
Rose Dikotope Place is well kept. The glamping tents are spacious and clean. The pool and play area for the kids was great. Loved being here with the family.
Salome van Wyk We were a group of 5 staying for the weekend. Some camped, and the others stayed in a chalet. The accommodation was neat and well equipped. The hiking trails weren't always clearly marked, but never the less, we loved the seclusion and quiet of the forest walk. I strongly recommend Grootvadersbosch for a weekend away in nature.
Sheryl Hanger We only camped one night here. We wanted to ride the mountain bike trails, which we did. The trails weren't maintained, but the lady at the office said that they were planning to. The pool area is beautiful and the ablutions were very clean. I think monkeys can be a problem here. We'll definitely be back to enjoy a longer stay. When we left the staff were mowing the lawns and cleaning up the campsite.
Catherine Knights Amazing campsite with a deck per campsite. Beautiful pool. Ablutions neat. Forest is amazing. Fantastic place to hike, run, cycle.
Claire Kolbe Magical weekend spent here. There are not many campsites so it is not at all crowded and the sites are a decent size. We took a decked site which is awesome. Such a great idea, nice wind barrier which was helpful when it started raining which can be common here. The trees are great for extra shade in the heat. The cycle trail and hikes are amazing. Such a gorgeous forest, incredible trees and birdlife. There are some lovely bird hides to watch and listen to the birds. We really loved enjoying it. The ablutions are super clean and the communal pool area is really stunning. We enjoyed the pool too. The kids play area is well constructed and the kids had a ball with all the climbing gyms. Really top notch and way beyond our expectations.