Walking Trails at Hebron

Don’t just read about the forest, experience it!

The best way to enjoy Hebron Private Nature Reserve is on foot!

Choose from one of the three easy-going walking routes and keep your eyes peeled for any fauna that may cross your path or see how many of Hebron’s tree species you can spot along the ‘Tree ID Trail’.

Charismatic species to look out for include bushpig, bushbuck, caracal, honey badger, baboon and vervet monkey.

Hebron is also a birder’s paradise and visitors often spot Narina Trogon, Knysna Woodpecker, Knysna Turaco, Green-backed Camaroptera and the Paradise Flycatcher.

Be sure check in at Natures Way Farmstall before your walk and obtain informative brochures that will provide valuable information on Hebron Private Nature Reserve.

Visitors can walk the following routes:

Birder’s Paradise Trail

Our longest trail is the Birder’s Paradise Trail and it is 3km in length. Along the trail, you’ll be sure to
find some of the best birding Hebron has to offer. This route also takes you past the rehabilitation
efforts termed ‘Forest Construction’ along the eastern edge, as well as through a special section of
Hebron termed ‘Stinkwood Forest’.

Here, many specimens of Ocotea bullata (Stinkwood), nearly harvested to local extinction due to its prized timber, still remain. This is a quiet section of Hebron, with an enchanting ambience, and apart from Stinkwoods, you will also find large Yellowwoods, Hard Pears, Knobwoods and other tree species.

Tree ID Trail

Our Tree ID Trail is 1.5km in length, and will take you through the heart of Hebron Forest. Many
trees along this route are marked with identification tags. Notice that each tree species has a unique
bark pattern, as a result of unique lichen, moss, texture, colour and patterning associated with each
tree species. The dominant tree species are Olea capensis macrocarpa (Ironwood) and Podocarpus
latifolius (Real Yellowwood).

Leisure Stroll Trail

The Leisure Stroll Trail is a quick 1.2km walk which will take tourists to an isolated bench in the
northern forest. About 500m from the road, heading north, you should see a large Strelitzia alba
sticking out of the canopy as you look to your left (southwest direction). This is an endemic tree
species and Hebron boasts with a few individuals well hidden. There are some beautiful trees along
this route, including Knobwood, Red Pear, Stinkwood and Cape Beech.

Bird Species of Hebron Forest

Hebron Forest boasts with a very rich diversity of bird species, numbering over 70 species. See how
many you can find!

African Emerald Cuckoo
African Harrier Hawk
African Olive Pigeon
African Wood Owl
Amethyst Sunbird
Bar-throated Apalis
Black Saw-Wing
Black Sparrowhawk
Black-backed Puffback
Black-bellied Starling
Black-headed Heron
Black-headed Oriole
Blue Mantled crested flycatcher
Brimstone Canary
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Burchell’s Coucal
Cape Batis
Cape Bulbul
Cape Canary
Cape Crow
Cape Longclaw
Cape Robin-Chat
Cape Weaver
Cape White-Eye
Cattle Egret
Chorister Robin-Chat
Collared Sunbird
Common Waxbill
Dusky Flycatcher
Forest Buzzard
Forest Canary
Fork-tailed Drongo
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
Greater Striped Swallow
Green Wood Hoopoe
Green-backed Camaroptera
Grey Cuckooshrike
Grey Sunbird
Hadeda Ibis
House Sparrow
Knysna Turaco
Knysna Woodpecker
Narina Trogon
Olive Thrush
Olive Woodpecker
Paradise Flycatcher
Ring-necked Dove
Red-chested Cuckoo
Red-eyed Dove
Red-winged Starling
Scaly-throated Honeyguide
Sombre Greenbul
Southern Double-collared
Sunbird
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Spur-winged Goose
Speckled Mousebird
Speckled Pigeon
Swee Waxbill
Terrestrial Brownbul
White-faced Whistling Duck
White-necked Raven
Yellow Canary
Yellow-billed Kite
Yellowthroated Woodland
Warbler

You might also spot the following birds on Natures Way Farm:

African Sacred Ibis
Barn Swallow
Black Crake
Black-headed Heron
Cape Wagtail
Egyptian Goose
Long-crested Eagle
Neddicky / Piping Cisticola
Southern Fiscal
Yellow-billed Duck

Amphibians and Reptiles in Hebron Private Nature Reserve

Hebron is home to four species of amphibians, namely Raucous toad, Clicking stream frog, Painted reed frog and Bronze Caco. The reptiles include Boomslang, Puff Adder, Night Adder, Brown Water Snake, and the Knysna Dwarf Chameleon.

Mushrooms in Hebron Private Nature Reserve

The mushroom (re: fungal) diversity in Hebron Forest is a big attraction for many of our visitors. The reason is an astonishing diversity of species in a relatively small area. There are also undescribed species still waiting description – so be wary of any mushroom species you come across, and see how many different species you can spot. Our current mushroom list encompasses 20 species! Please do not remove any mushrooms from our forest – this is illegal and you will be prosecuted.

Red stinkhorn (Clathrus archer)

Anemone stinkhorn (Aseroe rubra)

Elegant bracket (Trametes elegans)

Orange polypore (Trametes sanguinea)

Lacquered bracket (Ganoderma lucidum)

Artist’s bracket (Ganoderma applanatum)

False turkey-tail (Stereum ostrea)

Earth fan (Thelephora terrestris)

Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare)

Witch’s Butter (Tremella mesenterica)

Rooting Shank (Oudemansiella radicata)

European Jack-o’-lantern (Omphalotus olearius)

White Parasol (Macrolepiota zeyheri)

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)

Maroon Madrone Tubaria (Tubaria punicea)

King Alfred’s Cakes (Daldinia concentrica)

Red-staining Stalked Polypore (Sanguinoderma rude)

Cinnabar Polypore (Trametes cinnabarina)

Silverleaf Fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum)

Shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus)

Explore the Hebron Afromontane Forest Arboretum

Read about Conservation Efforts at Hebron Private Nature Reserve