10+ Best Hiking Trails in Johannesburg (A Local’s Guide)
Unlike our mates in Cape Town, we aren’t as blessed with natural beauty. Instead of towering mountain ranges, pristine beaches, and a rugged coastline, we have the great flat wilderness of the veld.
Luckily, there are hiking trails in Johannesburg (and nearby) worth checking out. Plus, I’ve also thrown in a few around Magaliesberg for those who don’t mind a longer drive.
Psst…Want more South Africa and hiking inspiration? Check out these other posts:
- Where to Find Delicious Vegan Food in Johannesburg
- 15+ Best Hikes in South Africa With Mind-Blowing Views
- 10+ Spectacular Multi-Day Hiking Trails In The Western Cape
- The Best Drakensberg Hikes That’ll Take Your Breath Away
- Hiking the Mnweni Circuit: A Spectacular 3-Day Drakensberg Hike
- The Most Unique Places to Stay Near Johannesburg
Table of Contents
Best Hiking Trails in Johannesburg
Hennops River Hiking Trail in Magaliesberg
Okay, let’s kick things off with one of the most popular hiking trails near Johannesburg – Hennops River.
It’s a 45-minute drive from the City of Gold, but well worth it if the only nature you’ve seen lately is your house plants.
Get your thighs burning and heart rate up by tackling one of the three circular routes:
- The 2.5km Dassie walk
- The 6.1km Zebra Route
- Or sweat it out with the challenging 11.3 km Krokodilberg Route
One of the coolest things about Hennops is that all the trails begin by crossing the Hennops River either via an old-fashioned cable car or a suspension bridge.
Don’t forget your camera! You’ll want to snap some pictures with the rolling Magaliesberg mountains in the background!
Dog-friendly hiking trails: No
Entrance Fee: R100.00 per adult
Africaland in Hartbeespoort
Africaland, also known as Phaladingwe Hiking Trail, is a lesser-known hiking spot around Johannesburg.
You can conquer three hiking trails (3.5km, 6.8km, and 9km) that wind around the natural landscapes of the Pelindaba Wilderness. Along the way, you’ll see the skyline of Sandton in the distance and wander past the Magaliesberg mountain range.
If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Impala, Kudu, Nyala, Eland, and Duiker!
Not in the mood for hiking?
Africaland also offers rock climbing, abseiling, and mountain biking!
Dog-friendly hiking trails: Yes
Entrance Fee: R100.00 per adult
Good to Know: You can’t start hikes after 11 am
Shelter Rock in Magaliesberg
A lot of people (myself included) are obsessed with the Shelter Rock hiking trail in Magaliesberg.
It’s one of the most scenic hikes around Johannesburg, taking you past the ruins of an Iron Age Village, ancient elephant-made footpaths, and sweeping views of the Magaliesberg Mountains.
If you summit the 8km hike on a clear day, you can see all the way to the hills surrounding Sun City, Hartebeestpoort Dam, Sandton, and the West Rand!
Dog-friendly hiking trails: Yes (R40.00)
Entrance Fee: R100.00 per adult
Good to Know: You can’t start hiking after 11 am, and you need to book in advance
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve
WARNING: Klipsrivier has a reputation for being unsafe. Please be careful. Leave your valuables at home and hike in a big group.
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve is located 10km from Johannesburg’s city centre.
Covering 600 hectares, it’s home to zebra, blesbok, and over 230 species of birds. If you’re looking for a thigh burner, hike the circular 8km Dassie Trail to the top of a hill or take the flatter Bloubos Trail that follows the river.
Dog-friendly hiking trails: No
Entrance Fee: Free
Good to Know: The reserve is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset
Top Places to Stay Near Johannesburg, South Africa
Melville Koppies Nature Reserve
WARNING: Melville Koppies has a reputation for being unsafe. It’s advised to only hike with a guide and to leave your valuables at home.
Calling all history buffs searching for hiking spots in Johannesburg!
Melville Koppies is the last remnant of Johannesburg’s ridges (before the discovery of gold) and has geology that dates back a whopping three billion years.
The nature reserve is divided into three areas:
- Melville Koppies Central: Access is controlled and is only for organised hikes and tours.
- Melville Koppies East: This section is open to the public daily, and socialised dogs are welcome.
- Melville Koppies West: It’s open daily, but advised to only visit with a guide.
The best way to explore Melville Koppies is with one of the Sunday-morning hikes. You can opt for the easy 4km walk or tackle the challenging 10km hike.
Dog-friendly hiking trails: Yes
Entrance Fee: R100.00 per adult
Good to Know: The reserve is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset
Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens
As a Joburger, my memories of Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens involve me swimming beneath the waterfall (before it was banned) and squinting at the sky, trying to spot Verreaux’s eagles that nest above the falls.
It’s one of my favourite places in Johannesburg and hands down the prettiest!
(It does a good job of giving Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town a run for its money).
But besides the epic waterfall, there are a few walking trails that wind through the gardens. The longest hike takes you to the top of the Witpoortjie Waterfall!
Dog-friendly hiking trails: No
Entrance Fee: R100.00 per adult
Good to Know: Open 7-days a week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Read More: 15+ Wonderous Waterfalls in South Africa That Will Make Your Jaw Drop
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in Heidelberg
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is a 35-minute drive from Johannesburg. There are three hiking trails and an extensive amount of flora and fauna.
For beginners, there’s the easy 4km Cheetah trail, but if you want something more challenging, tackle the 10 or 17km hikes.
There are also overnight trails!
Dog-friendly hiking trails: No
Entrance Fee: R45.00 per adult
Good to Know: There is a wheelchair friendly hiking route!
Rustig Nature Reserve in Magaliesberg
Located 1 hour and 30 minutes from Johannesburg, along the southern slopes of the Magaliesberg, Rustig has three day-hiking trails to suit all levels.
Olivenhout Hiking Trail: Looking for easy hiking trails in Gauteng? Olivenhout is only 3km away and will take around 2 hours to complete. There is a steep section, but your glutes will thank you later. Hikers need to start the trail before 12 pm.
Witstinkhout Hiking Trail: If you want something more challenging, Witstinkhout is the perfect route. It’s 5km and will take you around 3 hours to complete. Hikers need to start before 11 am.
Karee Hiking Trail: Karee is the most gruelling hike at Rustig. It’s a 13km hiking trail and is for advanced hikers. There’s a lot of uphill here – you’ve been warned! But the views are worth the burn. Hikers have to start before 9 am, and it should take between 5 and 6 hours to complete.
Dog-friendly hiking trails: No
Entrance Fee: R70.00 per adult
Good to Know: Booking is essential (space is limited), and you need to be off the property by 5 pm on Saturdays and 4 pm on Sundays
Day Hiking Essentials for Johannesburg, South Africa
Before you go hiking in Johannesburg and the surrounds, there are a few things to be aware of. Johannesburg is hot and sunny, so you need to be prepared, because heatstroke is no joke!
Packing these hiking essentials will help keep you safe, whether you’re doing a short 3km trail or a strenuous 10km hike.
- Hiking Backpack: Invest in a quality backpack for hiking trips. For these trails in Johannesburg, look for something lightweight, durable, and functional. The best part? You can use your daypack for the gym or a carry-on for flights.
- Good Pair of Hiking Shoes: I like hiking in trail runners for day hikes as they’re lighter-weight than heavy-duty hiking boots.
- Pack LOTS of Water: Most hikes in Johannesburg won’t have a place to fill up your water bottle. Pack at least three litres of water, especially for longer trails. I like Hydro Flasks because it keeps your water ice-cold.
- Warm Jacket: If you’re hiking in Johannesburg during the winter, the air is cold, and the wind is icy. Pack a light-weight jacket – that you can peel off as the day heats up and put back on if the weather turns.
- Hiking Snacks: Always bring snacks, even if it’s a short 3km hike. My favourites are bananas, apples, pretzels, and roasted chickpeas.
- Heat Protection: The sun in Johannesburg and Magaliesberg takes no prisoners. Always make sure you’ve packed sunscreen, a hat, and a pair of UV-protection sunglasses.
Johannesburg Hiking Trails: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! While Johannesburg doesn’t have the dramatic mountain ranges of Cape Town or the Drakensberg, it does have some great hiking trails in and around the city. Options range from easy nature walks inside urban reserves like Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens to more challenging full-day hikes in the Magaliesberg mountain range, less than two hours away.
Safety varies by trail. Some reserves like Klipriviersberg and Melville Koppies have a reputation for incidents, so it’s strongly advised to hike in a group, leave valuables at home, and avoid going alone. The trails in the Magaliesberg, such as Shelter Rock, Hennops, and Rustig, are considered safe and well-managed.
It depends on the hiking trail. Some let you book permits in advance, while others let you pay on the day.
Did I leave out your favourite hiking trails in Johannesburg and around the city? Hit ya gurl up in the comments below!
If you like it, then you should put a pin on it!
Thanks very informative 🙏🥰
Thanks for all the cool options – definitely want to try one out soon! 🥾
Happy hiking 🙂
Loved this. Your IG page is also beautiful
Thank you so much!!
Thanks very much for the great info, may I ask you to confirm the suikerbosrand nature reserve, that’s not near the Vredefort dome as far as I’m aware, that looks like another hiking establishment called suikerbos which is located a bit further south west near Parys.
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is a 34-minute drive from Joburg CBD. It’s one hour away from Parys.
Thank. you for a very informative site. And loved the fact that you included vegan eateries too !
Glad you found the post useful 🙂