Boosmansbos Wilderness Area

Wilderness area in the Western Cape, South Africa

Boosmansbos Wilderness Area
Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, with Grootberg in the background
Map of Western Cape
Location	Western Cape Province, South Africa
Nearest city	Heidelberg
Coordinates	33°55′S 20°52′E / 33.917°S 20.867°E / -33.917; 20.867
Area	142 km (55 sq mi)

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of	Cape Floral Region Protected Areas
Criteria	Natural: (ix), (x)
Reference	1007bis
Inscription	2004 (28th Session)
Extensions	2015

Boosmansbos Wilderness Area (Western Cape)

The Boosmansbos Wilderness Area of 142 km (55 sq mi) is situated 20 km (12 mi) north of Heidelberg in the eastern Langeberg mountain chain of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Boosmansbos, i.e. 'angry man's forest', is named after a resident hermit of the early 19th century who had been known to scare youngsters who visited his apiaries.

The elevation reaches 1,637 m (5,371 ft) at Grootberg peak, located at the centre of the wilderness area. The tributaries of the Duiwenhoks River, which drain its southern slopes, tumble along precipitous gorges to 200 m (660 ft) above sea level on the southern perimeter. In the southwest the wilderness area encloses the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve of 250 ha (620 acres), the most western natural forest in South Africa.

The wilderness area conserves mountain fynbos and valley forest. Among the special fynbos plants conserved are Erica and everlasting species as well as the rare Langeberg rambling aloe. Important forest tree species occurring in the valleys are sickle-leaved yellowwood, stinkwood and red alder.

The area receives rain in any month of the year, although mid summer and mid winter are the driest, when hot bergwind conditions may occur. 64 km (40 mi) of footpaths allow access to the wilderness, among which a circular 27 km (17 mi) section which can be completed in two days.

References

v t e CapeNature nature reserves
West Coast	Cederberg Wilderness Area Bird Island Nature Reserve Rocherpan Nature Reserve Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area Knersvlakte Nature Reserve Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve
Cape Winelands	Limietberg Nature Reserve Jonkershoek Nature Reserve Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Overberg	Marloth Nature Reserve Kogelberg Nature Reserve Walker Bay Nature Reserve Salmonsdam Nature Reserve De Mond Nature Reserve De Hoop Nature Reserve Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve Boosmansbos Wilderness Area
Cape Karoo	Anysberg Nature Reserve Swartberg Nature Reserve Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Little Karoo & Garden Route	Outeniqua Nature Reserve Goukamma Nature Reserve Keurbooms River Nature Reserve Robberg Nature Reserve

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