The annual Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHRC) mountain bike permits are now available online. Enjoy a 92km trail network through rolling hillsides, conservation areas, vineyards and farmland in the Bottelary Hills just outside Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands.

Multiple route options cater for various skill and fitness levels. Fees range between R400 and R700 for main members, spouses, pensioners and juniors. Day permits (R60) are available at park and ride points where you can relax before or after your ride.

The BHRC is a registered non-profit organisation (063-324-NPO) that forms part of the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve. Although the core focus of the BHRC is to care for, expand and sustain the large tracts of remaining Renosterveld in the area, there is a strong emphasis on community development. Unlike Fynbos, which grows in poor soils, Renosterveld grows in very rich fertile soils. As a result most of it has been replaced with vines and other commercial crops. Less than 4% of the original Renosterveld in the Western Cape remains.

Concerned landowners together with Cape Nature Conservation initiated a conservation program to protect the remaining vegetation, rehabilitate sensitive areas and reintroduce species lost to the area. The Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy was founded in 1992 and encloses the Bottelary Hills situated on the northern fringe of Stellenbosch.

The diverse and multifaceted nature of the work done by the BHRC would not be possible without the support of dedicated landowners, partners and sponsors. They need your support to keep making a difference in terms of conservation and community development.

The BHRC boasts a variety of activities that cater for families, nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts as well as food and wine connoisseurs. When you visit and support our member farms and renowned wine estates, you support conservation.

The BHRC is easily accessible to day and weekend visitors and offers a variety of activities that cater for families, nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, wine and food connoisseurs as well as those looking to escape the hussle and bussle of city life. Choose between a wide range of accommodation, from self-catering, B&Bs, to boutique and luxury hotels. The area also offers unique indoor and outdoor locations for unforgettable functions. The tranquil surroundings provide the perfect backdrop for a wellness weekend or a relaxing game of golf at one of the world class golf courses around Stellenbosch. The ever-evolving network of MTB trails remains a key attraction. Although the MTB trails are single-use, many of the member farms have hiking trails on their properties.

The Bottelary Hills Conservancy serves as an example of a successful landowner-driven conservation area. They are grateful to their member farms for implementing environmentally sustainable farming practices, fire management and alien eradication, with the conservation and protection of the Renosterveld a major priority. It is a special place with huge ecotourism potential.

Permit fees go towards trail maintenance, alien clearing and community development. When you support their trails you support conservation.