Six top hiking trails in Pretoria
If you're in Pretoria over the December holidays, you might want to consider doing these hikes and stay active.
Pretoria has at least six hiking trails anyone could be proud of.
Tswaing Crater
This easy trail is 40km north of Pretoria and a favourite among hikers because of its fascinating geology, history and natural beauty.
It is a 7.2km trail with picnic and braai facilities. The route skirts the rim of a crater, believed to have been formed when an asteroid collided with earth some 200 000 years ago.
Admission: R20/person.
Contact number: 083 505 2271.
For more information: www.gauteng.net
Oubaas Trail, Jan Smuts House
This beautiful 2.3km 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 top of Smuts koppie.
Admission: R10/child and R20/adult.
Contact number: (012) 667 1176.
For more information: www.smutshouse.co.za
Wonderboom nature reserve
The Wonderboom nature reserve was 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 beautiful scenery can be experienced with a 2.5km trail leading to a fort, built just before the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer war.
Admission: R10/child and R28/adult.
Contact number: (012) 440 8316 or (012) 341 5204.
For more information: www.tshwane.gov.za
Faerie Glen nature reserve
The Faerie Glen nature reserve is in the centre of Pretoria East, but it serves as a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and is just perfect for a family outing.
The 4km Kiepersol route, winds up a hill, providing beautiful views over the leafy suburbs, which are particularly impressive when the jacarandas bloom in summer.
Birdlife is magnificent and there are numerous picnic spots and a bird-viewing deck along the route.
Admission: R3/person.
Contact number: (012) 358 1510.
For more information: www.tshwane.gov.za
F.R.O.G.S. (for realisation of greater sustainability)
This moderately difficult 8km walk near Cullinan (about 50km from Pretoria) is a treasure trove of magnificent views, highveld vegetation and fascinating rock formations.
There’s also a waterfall and plenty of rock pools in which to cool off, with a variety of picnic and braai facilities. Campsites are available if you want to make a weekend of it.
Bookings are essential.
Contact number: 0861 522 262
For more information: www.jacanacollection.co.za
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.
Admission: R20/child and R40/adult.
Contact number: 082 550 1892
For more information: www.somabula.co.za
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