While Cape Town often steals the spotlight with its dramatic coastlines and challenging gorge climbs, Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest metropolis, offers a unique and rewarding hiking experience. The landscape here is characterized by sprawling grasslands, undulating hills, and pockets of pristine wilderness teeming with wildlife. Instead of ocean vistas, you’ll discover tranquil nature trails, encounter free-roaming game, and explore the captivating Highveld terrain. Some of the most exceptional hiking destinations are conveniently located within the city limits, allowing for an effortless blend of urban exploration and natural immersion. Others require a short road trip to nearby havens like Hartbeespoort Dam and the majestic Magaliesberg Mountains. Whether you’re a seasoned trekker or a novice nature enthusiast, The 10 Best Hikes in Johannesburg promise an unforgettable adventure.
- Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve
Escape the urban hustle and bustle at Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, a sprawling sanctuary situated a mere 6 miles from Johannesburg’s city center in the southern suburbs. As the largest nature reserve within the Joburg metropolitan area, Klipriviersberg offers a diverse network of interconnected trails, spanning approximately 12 miles. These trails cater to hikers of all abilities, from beginners seeking a leisurely stroll to experienced adventurers craving a challenging ascent.
Among the ten available routes, the Dassie Trail stands out as a strenuous yet rewarding hike that culminates at the reserve’s highest point. From this vantage point, hikers are treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline. For a more relaxed experience, the Bloubos Trail meanders along the picturesque Bloubos Spruit river, offering a gentle and scenic path. Keep your eyes peeled for the reserve’s diverse wildlife, including graceful zebra, swift red hartebeest, and imposing black wildebeest.
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve welcomes visitors free of charge, operating seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Simply park at the entrance on Peggy Vera Road and embark on your self-guided exploration. For larger groups of 10 or more, guided walks can be arranged upon request, providing insightful commentary and enhancing the overall experience. This is definately one of the The 10 Best Hikes in Johannesburg.
- Melville Koppies Nature Reserve
Step back in time at Melville Koppies Nature Reserve, a designated Johannesburg City Heritage Site that preserves the city’s last remaining natural ridges, untouched by the extensive mining activities of the 19th-century gold rush. Located less than 5 miles from the city center in the suburb of Emmarentia, Melville Koppies boasts a rich geological history dating back three billion years. The reserve also holds significant historical value, with remnants of Iron Age kraals gracing its northern slopes, offering a glimpse into the region’s past.
Melville Koppies is divided into three distinct sections: East, West, and Central. While the East and West sections are open to the public daily, they are unfortunately associated with a higher risk of crime. For a safer and more enriching experience, it is recommended to visit the access-controlled Central section during its Sunday sessions. Every week, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., hikers can explore the Central section independently or join a guided tour. Two trails are available, measuring 2.5 miles and 6.2 miles respectively. Entrance to the Central section costs 80 rand per adult.
- Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge
Escape to the tranquil embrace of Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge, nestled at the foot of Zwartkop Mountain within a protected nature conservancy. Located approximately an hour’s drive northwest of Johannesburg’s city center, en route to the Cradle of Humankind (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Cradle Moon offers a perfect day trip destination for hikers seeking a blend of natural beauty and wildlife encounters.
The lodge boasts an extensive network of over 30 miles of cycling, running, and hiking trails, including the Green, Blue, Yellow, and Red Trails. These trails vary in length from 5 to 8.3 miles, each offering stunning vistas of the reserve’s central lake and cascading waterfall. As you traverse the trails, keep an eye out for the abundant game, including zebra, springbok, wildebeest, and the elusive hippo. If you’re incredibly fortunate, you might even catch a glimpse of the endangered rhino. Entry to the reserve costs 50 rand per person, with an additional 20 rand fee for hiking. Other activities available at Cradle Moon include exhilarating game drives, serene fly fishing, and relaxing boat cruises.
- Modderfontein Reserve
Discover a haven of tranquility amidst the urban sprawl at Modderfontein Reserve, situated roughly 19 miles northeast of Johannesburg’s city center. As the second-largest private park in Gauteng, Modderfontein Reserve provides a stunning pocket of wilderness where dams, grasslands, rolling hills, and the Modderfontein Spruit river converge to create a sense of serenity.
The reserve offers six diverse hiking trails, ranging from the 1.3-mile Guinea Fowl Trail to the 2.4-mile Dabchick Trail. With their relatively short distances and gentle terrain, these trails are ideal for families with young children or elderly members. Many of the trails incorporate the reserve’s three dams, providing opportunities to spot small mammals such as steenbok, reedbuck, black-backed jackals, and Cape clawless otters. The reserve is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Kloofendal Nature Reserve
Explore the classic Highveld landscapes of Kloofendal Nature Reserve, located northwest of Johannesburg’s city center in the suburb of the same name. Characterized by quartzite and shale hills, Kloofendal holds significant historical importance as the home of Confidence Reef, where the first payable gold was discovered on the Witwatersrand in 1884. A monument now marks this pivotal location.
Beyond its historical significance, Kloofendal is a haven for nature, providing shelter for a diverse array of birds and small mammals, including reedbuck, duiker, and dassies. Hikers can explore the reserve independently on one of four trails, ranging from the easy, 0.3-mile Wetland Trail to the more challenging, 2-mile Rocky Ridge Trail. On weekends, the reserve hosts guided walks with varying themes, such as butterfly walks, birding walks, and geology walks. Entry to the reserve is free, and it is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Kings Kloof Trails
Venture to Mulderdrift’s Laurentia Farm, nestled near the Sterkfontein Caves in northwest Johannesburg, and discover the exhilarating Kings Kloof Trails. The farm’s hilly terrain, wooded river valley, and five well-marked trails offer a perfect setting for hiking, biking, or trail running.
The trails range from the 3.7-mile Green Trail, designed as an easy option for families with young children, to the 16.7-mile Red Trail, a technical challenge for experienced adventurers. All but the Green Trail offer breathtaking views of cascading waterfalls, with the relatively easy Yellow Trail being a popular choice. As a working farm, Laurentia is home to large herds of cattle, which you can expect to encounter along the trails. Small wild game species are also frequently spotted. The trails are open on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entry costs 40 rand per adult and 20 rand per child, with free admission for children 4 and under.
- Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, one of ten gardens managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Located in Krugersdorp, this garden is a vital green space in Johannesburg and a fantastic destination for hikers seeking a tranquil connection with nature.
While the walks within the garden are not particularly long, they are exceptionally scenic, showcasing a diverse array of rare plants, flowers, and habitats. Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens is also renowned as a birding hotspot, boasting approximately 240 recorded avian species and a well-documented breeding pair of Verreaux’s eagles that nest near the waterfall. During breeding season, the eagles are often spotted on the garden’s longest hike, a steep, 2.1-mile trail that ascends to the top of the falls. Entry to the garden costs 65 rand per adult, and it is open daily. This beautiful place should be in The 10 Best Hikes in Johannesburg.
- Uitkyk Hiking Trail
For serious hikers seeking a challenging and rewarding experience, the Uitkyk Hiking Trail is a top contender in the Johannesburg area. Located 60 miles north of the city center in the Magaliesburg Biosphere, an area recognized by UNESCO for its exceptional biodiversity and ancient human history, the Uitkyk Hiking Trail offers breathtaking panoramic views and rugged terrain.
The trail is just 5.2 miles long, but with rough terrain and steep ascents covering over 1,440 feet of elevation, it takes approximately five hours to complete. Along the way, hikers are rewarded with jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountains and Hartbeestpoort Dam. To hike this trail, booking at least a day in advance through the Fagala Voet website is essential. Due to the lack of fencing and patrolling, hikers must travel in groups of 20 or more for safety reasons and sign a mountain register before starting. Food, sun protection, a first aid kit, and at least three liters of water are mandatory for each hiker.
- Hennops River Trails
Embark on an adventure at the Hennops River Trails, located an hour’s drive north of Johannesburg on the Gauteng-North West border. Four trails start and end on the picturesque Hennops River, each diverging into the mountains for a portion of the hike. Unique river crossings via a cable car and two suspension bridges add to the excitement.
Depending on the chosen route, hikers may encounter historic landmarks, including old dolomite mines and the remains of an Anglo-Boer War field hospital. Trails range from the River Trail (an easy 1-miler) to the Krokodilberg Trail (a more challenging 6.3-mile hike). Booking is not required, and the trails are open from 6 or 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., depending on the season. Entry to the reserve costs 100 rand per adult and 50 rand per child, including access to a picnic spot with swimming pools and braai areas.
- Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
Embark on a full-day adventure to Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, located 90 miles southwest of Johannesburg. Despite being just under a two-hour drive from the city, its location within the Vredefort Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest and largest meteor craters on Earth, creates a sense of remoteness and timelessness.
Suikerbosrand showcases the region’s mountainous scenery with two well-marked, circular hiking trails that cover roughly 12 miles between them and ascend to 5,250 feet above sea level. Keep an eye out for small game, including monkeys and impala, as you explore the trails. The reserve also offers mountain biking and swimming, and self-catering chalets are available for those who wish to extend their stay. Indeed The 10 Best Hikes in Johannesburg area, include this great reserve.
