A hiker’s treat awaits you Learn as you hike at Melville Koppies

A morning exploring the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve and Heritage Site is proving very popular among residents.

On 30 August, despite the chilly start of the day, about 100 enthusiastic explorers in their family or friend groups traversed the 55-hectare koppies. “I never realised there was this amazing place in the middle of Joburg”, said one visitor.

When one reaches the gate you’re given a map that you can use to follow the numerous paths that criss-cross the koppies. These take the walker through grassland, forested areas, alongside the river and up to the top of the koppie where, on a clear day, you can see to the Magaliesberg, Brixton and Braamfontein.

One will also find displays on view at the lecture hut that give details about the hunter-gatherers that first lived there hundreds of thousands of years ago and the early farmers who were smelting iron from ore-bearing rocks long before gold was discovered in Joburg. You can see one of the furnaces that was unearthed in the 1960s and has been carefully reconstructed and learn how the smelting was done. If you’re observant, you’ll notice different groups of stone-walling scattered across the koppies, the remains of these settlements. There is a connection to Joburg’s gold-mining history too – Lourens Geldenhuys, who bought part of the farm Braamfontein in 1886, tried his luck at finding gold. Blasted quartzite rock remains as a sign that the gold content wasn’t sufficient to warrant mining.

Keen on hiking this heritage site and leaning more for yourself? Then head on over on 6, 13, 20 and 24 September at 8am to 11.30am. Numbers will be restricted and booking and prepayment (non-refundable unless it snows) are essential. Park opposite the entrance at Marks Park Sports Club, Judith Road (security will be patrolling the koppies while you are walking); it’s R80 for adults, R40 for scholars and all donations are used for the maintenance of the koppies.

Details: 011 482 4797.