The Groot Winterhoek mountains are located in the
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...
province of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...
and are part of the
Cape Fold Belt comprising a watershed area of 552,606 hectares.
They rise to a maximum height of 2077 m just north of the town of
Tulbagh as Groot Winterhoek peak. The mountains are predominantly made up of
Table Mountain sandstone.
Up to 83% of the range is still classified as being in a natural state and up to 72% of the range is protected.
The towns of
Saron
SARON stands for Swiss Average Rate Overnight and represents the overnight interest rate of the secured funding market for the Swiss Franc (CHF). (Swiss Average Rate Overnight) is an overnight interest rates average referencing the Swiss Fra ...
and
Porterville are located at the foot the mountain range's western side.
A
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...
in the northern half of the mountains is accessible via the
Dasklip Pass
Dasklip Pass is situated in the Western Cape province of South Africa on an off-road near Porterville along the R365 highway. The road provides access to the plateau in the Groot Winterhoek mountains and the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area; su ...
.
Mammals found in the range include
klipspringer, grey rhebok, grysbok,
Cape mountain leopard (''Felis leopardus'' var. ''melanotica'' ), caracal,
African wild cat, mongoose, and genets.
A wide range of indigenous plant species, such as
Agathosma,
Aspalathus linearis and various
proteas (all of which are harvested commercially), naturally grow in the area.
Common insects in the area include
Black Mound Termites.
Examples of
San rock art dating back 6000 years can be found throughout the mountains.
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
The Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, operated by
CapeNature, comprises a conservation area of 30,608 ha, and contains waterfalls, swimming holes, pristine rivers and mountain wilderness.
References
{{reflist
Mountain ranges of the Western Cape