The Groenland Mountain towers above the landscape and can be seen from most of the surrounding farms. Its altitude varies from approximately 370m to 1200m, and it is home to fynbos, renosterveld and succulent karoo vegetation, with mountain fynbos occupying the greatest area. Our mountain has 60 red data book species of flora that need conservation.

When it comes to animals, the Cape Mountain Zebra and the Bontebok have always been at home here, as well as smaller antelope like the duiker and klipspringer. Hundreds of smaller mammals include the ubiquitous rock hydrax or “dassie”, mongooses and antbears; also many rodents, like porcupines, shrews and moles. This is also the habitat of fascinating endemic amphibians, for example the Cape Ghost frog and Strawberry Rain Frog.

The cheeky Chacma baboons roam in packs here, and stalking them is their natural predator, the leopard. Birds are numerous; the fynbos vegetation is home to the Cape sugarbird and the Cape rockjumper, it is also common to see the dwarf hoepoe, Cape francolin, quail, long-tailed sugar bird and the malachite sunbird. The high mountain crags are the domain of the magnificent black eagle; other hunters include the Giant kingfishers, the occasional fish eagle and numerous owls. Visitors include the steppe buzzards, a migrant from Siberia.

Many rivers flow through the mountain, including the Palmiet and the Botriver. A number of smaller tributaries with romantic names include the Bankrotriver, Bergrivier, Perderivier, Houwhoekrivier, Kromrivier, Jackalsrivier, Klein-Jakkalsrivier, Ribbokrivier and Wildevyeboomsrivier.

The road from Cape Town to the eastern frontier was known by the early explorers and settlers as the “Kaapse wapad”, (the Cape wagon road) and its route was over our mountain. Cape Town to Swellendam was a five day journey and day two consisted of the section from the Hottentots Holland kloof to the Botriver outspan, right along the Groenland Mountain. It took ten slow hours. This old road can still be seen in places, with wagon tracks carved into rock.

On this trail, the Houwhoek Inn is a famous landmark, situated precisely halfway between Cape Town and Caledon. It was a popular overnight stop for wagons and is the oldest licensed hotel in South Africa, with most of the ground floors dating back to 1779.

For more about exploring our mountain, visit www.greenmountain.co.za. The world’s first wine and biodiversity route, The Green Mountain Eco Route blends this wonderful natural world with wine and offers journeys that explore all the facets of the mountain. The Eco Route combines beautiful places to stay over with nature walks and many other outdoor activities in this unique biosphere; along with places to eat, relax and enjoy our wonderful wines. The Eco Route’s ultimate aim is the conservation of this special part of the world.