Prepare for a Big Long Distance Hiking Trip in Pretoria
If you love the outdoors an being active in a chilled environment, hiking should definitely be in your top 10 of things to do and break free from your usual weekend-braai routines.
Some might think this is meaningless and can become boring. So set a goal together with those closest to you and make this an adventure to remember forever. ShowMe Pretoria has set together all the fun outdoor hiking facilities to your train for your big goal, as well as ideas for long distance hiking trails which you can base your goals on.
Start with a Goal
Typically your goal would be to be fit enough for a long distance hiking trip, maybe a weekend hike or even a something in the line of a 20 km hiking route. Following is some ideas on where these hidden treasures in the heart of Pretoria lies for you.
Frogs Trail
Where: | 10 km outside of Cullinan, Northern Gauteng |
When: | Daylight hours. |
Distance: | 8 km |
How: | Call +27 (0)86 152-2262 |
How much: | Price on request |
Overnight stay: | Stay at accommodation in Cullinan, in Gauteng |
Stretch your legs and book yourself onto the Frogs Trail in KwaMahlanga which is near to the diamond mine in Cullinan. This extraordinary trail has an average difficulty level and is suitable for adults and supervised children.
The farmhouse marks the beginning of this eight kilometer walk. You will be crossing streams, climbing rocky areas and strolling through grasslands. Along the way you will come across many pools and streams to swim in and enjoy as well as a beautiful waterfall where you can sit and relax, take a break and bask in the beauty around you.
Fruit trees on route provide excellent shade from the hot sun and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for small animals along the way. Bring along your costumes, cameras and of course plenty of water as the river water is not suitable for drinking at certain parts of the trail.
Guided Hike in the Magaliesberg
Where: | Meet at GoVertical’s Adventure office in Hekpoort, Magaliesberg. |
When: | By appointment from 7h00 to 18h00. |
Distance: | 12 km |
How: | Call +27 (0)82 731-4696 |
How much: | Falls into price group R101 to R200 per person. Confirm with the provider. |
Overnight stay: | Stay at accommodation in Magaliesberg, in Gauteng |
This scenic hike starts at the base of the Magaliesberg at GoVertical’s Adventure office. It winds up the foothills through woodland and montane scrub. A short pass brings us to the top of the Magaliesberg mountains with spectacular views over the Hartebeespoort Valley in the South and the Bushveld complex and Brits to the North.
We explore the beautiful quartzite formations and old battle fortifications along the Magaliesberg escarpment and find a suitable spot to enjoy a hiker’s lunch. The 12km hike is at a relaxed pace allowing plenty of time to appreciate the unique animal and plant life of this area. Your GoVertical Mountaineering guide will be able to inform you of the history, fascinating geology, fauna and flora of the area, during the hike.
The cost per person includes
• Entrance permit
• Packed lunch
• GoVertical Mountaineering guide
Windy Brow Hiking Trails
Where: | Windy Brow Game Reserve, Elandsfontein farm, Cullinan, Gauteng |
When: | Booking is essential. |
Distance: | A day hike; 3 hikes |
How: | Call +27 (0)86 152-2262 |
How much: | Price on request |
Overnight stay: | Stay at accommodation in Cullinan, in Gauteng |
Start: Windy Brow Game Reserve, Elandsfontein farm, Cullinan
Finish: Windy Brow farm base camp
Duration: a day hike; 3 hikes
Fitness: moderate, very few really steep hills (so good for the whole family and those after a non-taxing hike)
Our tip: need to book ahead through Jacana (0861Jacana), or the gate is not opened.
You will need to book for these hikes as word is out and they are fairly popular, mainly because Windy Brow Game Reserve lies only 27 km east of Pretoria, making it easily accessible. But the reserve also limits the number of daily visitors.
The reserve, besides having 14 species of game on the farm that include zebra, giraffe, gemsbok, kudu and hartebeest, a goodly number of trees, many of them identified and marked, and overnight facilities (in case you want to do the MTB trails the following day) has designed a series of hiking trails for visitors.
The farm used to belong to the De Beers but is now owned by a former manager of the Cullinan Diamond mine.
The trails have been aptly named – Archaeology Route, Ecology Route and Geology Route – designed to cover different aspects and parts of the farm so that hikers can really experience the full impact of the farm’s hills, veld and animals.
The trails can be done as one as they’re designed as three interlinked circuits all starting just beyond the communal picnic area.
Archaeological Route – 3.5 km – takes hikers up a slight hill and over a fairly rocky stretch before heading to a viewpoint over the plains below that makes the uphill worth it. The point of the circuit is the remains of an Iron Age site alongside the river to which one descends from the viewpoint, before slowly winding back to the start.
Geological Route – 3.2 km – heads up the same quartzite kopje with amazing views, but rather than head down to the river, it veers left to give you another equally good viewpoint over the Cullinan diamond mine and what is known as the second ‘big hole’ in South Africa (the first is in Kimberley). Despite the interference of the road between Pretoria and Cullinan, this route gives good access to game and heads in amongst trees before returning to the start.
Ecology Route 5.9 km – heads off over the grassy plains with good animal viewing moments built in to the route, before going to the dam and the bird hide.
The trails are well marked.
Your goals are set, now the fun can start!
Now that your goals are set, you can start planning your short distance weekend hiking trips. Following is the best hiking trails in Pretoria for you to start your training for the big trail. Or even just if you crave the fresh air and some good company!
Tswaing Crater
This fairly easy trail, 40 kilometres north of Pretoria, is one of my favourite day walks because of its fascinating geology, history and natural beauty. The 7,2-kilometre route skirts the rim of the crater, believed to have been formed when an asteroid collided with Earth some 200 000 years ago, then descends to the salt lake at its centre. There are picnic and braai facilities. Mosquitos can be a nightmare, so wear repellent.
Contact: +27 (0) 83 505 2271
Oubaas Trail, Jan Smuts House
This easy, 2,3-kilometre walk winds through one of Gauteng’s few remaining dolomite grasslands. Designed and laid out by the Friends of the General Smuts Foundation, the trail leads to a memorial on the top of Smuts Koppie. Guided birdwatching tours are available on request and there’s a museum and a refreshment kiosk. Traffic can be horrendous when the market is held (second and last Saturdays of each month and all Saturdays in November and December).
Contact: +27 (0) 12 667 1176
Wonderboom Nature Reserve
There are a number of loops in this reserve in Pretoria North, named after its magnificent 1 000-year-old fig tree, which is a national monument. Although it’s in a semi-urban setting, there’s a surprising variety of highveld and bushveld birds. The reserve also has a rich cultural heritage, dating from pre-Iron Age. Much of this can be explored on the main 2,5 kilometre trail leading to a fort, built just before the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War.
Contact: +27 (0) 12 440 8316 or +27 (0) 12 341 5204
Faerie Glen Nature Reserve
Although right in the centre of Pretoria East, this reserve is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and perfect for a family outing. The main trail, the four-kilometre Kiepersol Route, winds up a hill, providing beautiful views over the leafy suburbs, which are particularly impressive when the jacarandas bloom in October and November. The birdlife is magnificent and there are numerous picnic spots and a bird-viewing deck along the route.
Contact: +27 (0) 12 358 1510.
Somabula
This small reserve, also near Cullinan, has a network of roads and tracks for hikers and mountain bikers. While there’s no marked trail, you can make your own fairly easy route of about eight kilometres that offers great game viewing and a pleasant lunch spot overlooking a dam. There’s camping and chalets, but for a treat book into one of four restored ox wagons at The Outspan.
Contact: +27 (0) 82 550 1892
Hennops Hiking Trail
In the heart of busy Gauteng, virtually on the doorstep of both Johannesburg and Pretoria, hikers can now experience one of the few unspoiled nature areas at Hennops Hiking Trail. The Hennops hiking trail consists of two trails setting out from Hadeda Camp. At the beginning and end of both trails, the route meanders along the Hennops River before veering away into the surrounding mountains.
Two unique features on the trail are the river crossings – a suspension bridge and a cable car. There are interesting historical sites along the trail, amongst others an old field (veld) hospital used in the Anglo Boer war. Aspiring historians will enjoy seeing an underground cave where “Pruimpie” lived, traces of old settlements and the old dolomite mines and the ovens in which the rocks were heated to melt and extract the lime.
Apart from the 9 mammal species in the game camp, kudu thrives in this area and may be seen all over the farm. The indigenous tree along the river, the gorges and plateau areas makes this an outstanding area for bird life.
At times the trail feels so remote that one can hardly believe that both Johannesburg and Pretoria are less than 45 minutes away! The Hennops hiking trail will appeal to all hikers, even nature lovers who are not dedicated backpackers. Please note that there are no water points on the routes.
We have 3 Routes
Zebra Route
Distance: 6.15km
Duration: 2 hours
Degree of difficulty: Easy – Average
A variety of game can be viewed on this trail namely Zebra, Gnu, Impala, Blesbok, Kudu & Zonkie
Krokodilberg Route
Distance: 11.33km
Duration: 4 – 5 hours
Degree of difficulty: Average – Difficult
Not recommended for children under 12 or unfit adults. Small game as well as Kudu and Eland can be viewed on this trail
Dassie Route
Distance: 2.5km
Duration: 1 – 2 hours
Degree of difficulty: Easy – Average
This route offers parents the opportunity to introduce their children to hiking. It follows the same route as Krokodilberg to start but returns at no. 6 (Pruimpie se gat) to the cable car on the escape route”
How it works
- As a day visitor, you don’t need to book on weekends and public holidays. Parking and registration office are situated at Hadeda Camp
- Gates to Hadeda Camp open at 07:00 on Sat, Sun and Public Holidays.
Registration office hours: 07:00 – 14:00 (Upon registration you will receive a map and orientation) - During the week (Mon – Fri) you can start at 08:30. Please call 082 825 9205 to book for the trail on normal weekdays (Non-Public Holiday).
- This also gives you access to Hennops Picnic Spot where swimming pools and braai facilties are available.
Groenkloof Nature Reserve
Groenkloof Nature Reserve offers a large variety of activities for nature lovers just 5 km from the city centre.
Hiking trails:
- 4,0 km hike (white trail)
- 3,5 km hike (red trail)
- 10,5 km hike (yellow trail)
Moreleta Kloof Municipal Nature Reserve
Jacobus and Cornelia Erasmus owned a dairy farm here in the early 1800’s. Carel Erasmus bought the farm in 1877 and built a three-roomed house which today is the chapel. In 1903 his son-in-law Johan Marneweck , built his house on the land which now has been converted into the Rademeyers restaurant.
- Moreletakloof offers an exciting network of hiking trails of approximately 7,5 km
Three hiking trails are available:
- Rademeyer hiking trail: 1,57 km
- Duiker hiking trail: 2,89 km
- Suikerbos hiking trail: 3,32 km
- Bookings are only necessary for the guided walks – preferably 4 weeks in advance
Kwaggaspruit Nature Area
Bishop Bird Nature area was named after the Southern Red Bishop. Bishop bird Nature Area is situated less than one kilometre North from the Rooihuiskraal Historical terrain and forms part of its rich cultural history. This Nature Area is 16 ha in size and the site serves as a place where people can come and escape from everyday hassles and relax in the tranquillity and peacefulness of natural surroundings.
- A short 2,08 km interpretive trail with a 3m high wooden deck in between the canopy of white stinkwood trees is the ideal place for bird enthusiasts to see birds in their natural environment.
- Dogs on leash are allowed on the trail.
- Environmental Education for groups on request.
Rietvlei Nature reserve guided trail
The guided trail, which starts at the main entrance gate, follows a circular route on& a very well-maintained path through the grassland in the direction of the Rietvlei dam. The dam wall was built by hand in 1934 (in the days of the Great Depression, when work was scarce) and early in the hike you pass one of the areas from where the soil used in its construction was excavated. Two well-preserved old graves of unknown labourers from this period lie next to the path.
After crossing the tarred game-viewing road, the trail goes up the ridge through clusters of huge acacias and other indigenous trees to the top, from where there is a magnificent view of the open grasslands on Rietvlei and far to the north over the city of Pretoria. This is a great vantage point from which to enjoy game on the plains below, so take your binoculars and check out the blue ghwarrie trees, which have been grazed into mushroom-like formations by eland.
There’s a rest stop at the beautiful, fenced-off picnic site on the Marais Dam – where there’s a large bird hide from which you can view a large variety of water birds – then you continue on the path through the valley (or take a shortcut back to the start if time is running short). En route, you’ll pass a “restaurant” for jackals and brown hyenas (where the reserve management put out carcasses) and the trail also passes close to the spot where rhinos are fed in winter.
The Green Flag accredited trail usually takes four to five hours and, since it is guided, the distance walked can be tailored to the fitness and interests of the group. It is extremely good value (R50) and must be booked in advance.
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If you feel a little more daring and would want to do longer more challenging hikes, you will have to go a look outside Pretoria for the really hard hikes. We suggest you then take your training a little more seriously, and be well prepare as South Africa has some the most difficult hiking routes, and in conclusion you should be well prepared! have a look at the following suggestions for more challenging routes that you might have a look at:
1. Fanie Botha trail, Mpumalanga
2. Drakensberg Grand Traverse, Kwa-Zulu Natal
3. Hoerikwaggo Tented Classic, Western Cape
4. Wild Coast Hike, Eastern Cape
5. Rim of Africa, Western Cape
6. Otter Trail
7. Amphitheatre Heritage Hike
8. De Hoop Whale trail
9. Hoerikwaggo Trail
10. Outeniqua Hiking Trail
11. Amatola Hiking Trail
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