Best Hikes in and Around Johannesburg

Johannesburg probably isn’t the first South African city that comes to mind when someone says:

“Let’s go hiking.”

Cape Town has Table Mountain.

The Drakensberg has, well, the Drakensberg.

And Joburg has traffic.

But here’s the surprise.

There are actually some fantastic hikes in and around Johannesburg.

You can walk through nature reserves where zebra and wildebeest roam, climb rocky koppies for views across the city, hike beside waterfalls or drive less than an hour and find yourself crossing rivers and walking through proper Highveld wilderness.

And you don’t need to be training for Kilimanjaro either.

There are easy family walks, moderate weekend hikes and longer trails for people who think spending six hours walking uphill sounds like fun.

So lace up the hiking shoes, fill the water bottle and let’s go.

Here are some of the best hikes in and around Johannesburg.

1. Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve – Johannesburg South

If you only do one hike inside Johannesburg, Klipriviersberg would be high on my list.

The first surprise is just how wild it feels.

You’re still in Johannesburg, but instead of shopping centres and traffic, you’ve got rocky koppies, open grassland and animals wandering through the reserve.

Look out for zebra, wildebeest, red hartebeest and other antelope while you walk.

There are several interconnected trails, which means you don’t have to commit to one fixed distance.

Go for a short morning walk.

Or keep going and turn it into a proper hike.

Best of all?

Entry is free.

Free entertainment in Johannesburg.

Who knew?

Good for: Wildlife, views and proper hiking without leaving Joburg
Where: Kibler Park, Johannesburg South
Distance: Various routes, with longer combinations around 10–12 km
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Why go: Wildlife and Highveld scenery right inside the city

2. Hennops Hiking Trail – Near Hartbeespoort

Hennops is one of those hikes that keeps appearing whenever people ask where to hike around Johannesburg.

And there’s a reason.

You get rocky hills, river scenery, a suspension bridge and the famous cable-car-style river crossing.

Which immediately makes the hike more interesting than walking around the same suburban block twelve times.

There are different route options, so you don’t have to tackle the longest trail.

But if you’re reasonably fit, I’d choose one of the longer routes and make a morning of it.

Go early.

Particularly in summer.

The Highveld sun has absolutely no sympathy for hikers who decided to sleep late.

Good for: A proper weekend hiking adventure
Where: Hennops River area, roughly an hour from Johannesburg
Distance: Roughly 2–10+ km depending on the route
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: River crossings, suspension bridge and rocky ridges

3. Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden – Roodepoort

If your hiking partner hears the word hike and immediately starts asking:

“How far?”

“How steep?”

“Is there somewhere to eat afterwards?”

Take them to Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden.

The famous Witpoortjie Waterfall gives you an impressive backdrop before you’ve even done much walking.

From there, the geological trail climbs towards the top of the waterfall and surrounding ridges.

It’s short enough for people who aren’t serious hikers but steep enough in places to make you feel like you’ve earned lunch afterwards.

Keep an eye on the cliffs too.

The garden is famous for its resident Verreaux’s eagles.

Good for: Beginners, families, bird lovers and visitors
Where: Roodepoort
Distance: Around 3.5–4 km for the main geological hiking route
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Highlight: Witpoortjie Waterfall

4. Cradle Moon – Muldersdrift

There aren’t many places near Johannesburg where you can go hiking and casually encounter giraffe.

Cradle Moon is one of them.

Located in the Cradle of Humankind area, the reserve offers walking and hiking trails through open bushveld and around its large lake.

Expect zebra, giraffe and antelope along the way.

And that’s what makes this one particularly good for visitors.

It feels like you’ve gone considerably further from Johannesburg than you actually have.

There’s also a restaurant at the lodge, which gives you something extremely important to think about during the final few kilometres.

Lunch.

Never underestimate the motivational power of lunch.

Good for: Wildlife, couples, families and visitors
Where: Muldersdrift
Distance: Several route options, generally around 5–10 km
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Why go: Hiking and wildlife in the same outing

5. Melville Koppies – Melville

This is one of Johannesburg’s most interesting urban hikes.

You’re basically hiking through thousands of years of Joburg history while looking across the modern city skyline.

Melville Koppies is a protected ridge with archaeological sites, indigenous Highveld vegetation and fantastic views across Johannesburg.

The terrain is rocky enough to feel like a proper walk rather than a Sunday stroll around the park.

But the location is the real attraction.

You’re incredibly close to the city.

One minute you’re driving through Johannesburg suburbs.

The next you’re standing on a koppie looking across the skyline.

Just check access before visiting.

The Central section has controlled Sunday access, while different rules apply to the other sections.

Good for: History, city views and shorter hikes
Where: Melville/Emmarentia
Distance: Around 5 km depending on your route
Difficulty: Moderate
Why go: One of the best hiking views inside Johannesburg

6. Modderfontein Nature Reserve – Modderfontein

Modderfontein is a great choice when you want nature without turning the outing into an endurance event.

The reserve has lakes, grassland, wetlands and relatively gentle walking routes.

That makes it particularly useful for beginners.

It’s also a good option when you’ve convinced a friend to “come hiking” and don’t want them discovering halfway through that your definition of an easy walk involves climbing a mountain.

There are different routes, so you can choose how energetic you’re feeling.

And there are picnic areas if you’d rather reward yourself afterwards by doing absolutely nothing.

Good for: Beginners, families and relaxed hikes
Where: Modderfontein
Distance: Various routes, roughly 3–10 km
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Why go: Lakes, open space and an easy escape from the city

7. Kloofendal Nature Reserve – Roodepoort

Kloofendal is another little piece of wilderness hiding in Johannesburg.

And there’s history here too.

The reserve is connected to some of the earliest gold-mining activity on the Witwatersrand, so you can combine walking with a little Joburg gold-rush history.

There are several paths through rocky Highveld terrain, with shorter walks for beginners and enough variety to spend a couple of hours exploring.

Entry is also free.

I’d put this on the list when you want an easy Saturday or Sunday morning outdoors without committing your entire day.

Good for: Beginners, history and shorter hikes
Where: Roodepoort
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Why go: Nature and Johannesburg gold-mining history in one reserve

8. Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve – Near Heidelberg

Now we’re getting more serious.

If the previous hikes have you thinking:

“These are nice, but I want to actually walk.”

Head south towards Suikerbosrand.

This is a completely different scale.

The reserve covers a huge area of Highveld grassland, valleys and ridges, and the hiking options range from shorter walks to long day routes.

You may see zebra, eland and other game while you’re hiking.

But the real attraction is the feeling of space.

You’re close enough to Johannesburg for a day trip but far enough away that the city disappears completely.

Some of the longer routes are exposed, so don’t underestimate the sun or the amount of water you’ll need.

Good for: Experienced hikers and longer day hikes
Where: Near Heidelberg, south of Johannesburg
Distance: Roughly 4–17 km day-hike options
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Why go: Proper Highveld wilderness close to Johannesburg

9. The Wilds – Houghton

Not every hike needs to involve backpacks, hydration systems and an emergency supply of trail mix.

Sometimes you just want a good walk.

The Wilds is perfect for that.

This beautiful hillside nature reserve sits between Houghton and Killarney and has walking paths, indigenous plants and excellent views towards Johannesburg.

One of the fun parts is looking for the colourful animal sculptures hidden around the park.

This is much more urban nature walk than wilderness expedition.

But that’s exactly why it’s useful.

You can visit in the morning, get some exercise, take a few photographs and still be somewhere for brunch before everyone else has finished their first coffee.

Good for: Short walks, photography and city views
Where: Houghton
Time: Allow around 1–2 hours if you’re exploring
Difficulty: Easy
Why go: One of Johannesburg’s loveliest urban green spaces

10. Golden Harvest Park – North Riding

If you’re new to hiking, Golden Harvest is a gentle place to start.

The park has rolling grassland, indigenous vegetation and a central dam, with paths you can combine into a relaxed walk.

This isn’t the place I’d choose when I’m looking for a brutal fitness challenge.

And that’s exactly the point.

It’s somewhere you can walk with family, enjoy the outdoors and gradually discover whether hiking is actually your thing.

There are also picnic opportunities afterwards.

Because apparently every hike in this article eventually becomes about food.

I’m comfortable with that.

Good for: Beginners and families
Where: North Riding
Distance: Roughly 3–5 km depending on your route
Difficulty: Easy
Why go: A simple outdoor escape in northern Johannesburg

Best Hikes in Johannesburg for Beginners

If you’re new to hiking, don’t start by choosing the longest trail you can find.

Nobody is impressed when you’re miserable by kilometre four.

Start with Golden Harvest, Modderfontein or The Wilds.

Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden is another excellent choice because the surroundings are beautiful even if you don’t complete a long walk.

Once you’re comfortable with those, move on to Klipriviersberg and choose one of the shorter routes.

The nice thing about hiking isn’t how far you walk.

It’s actually enjoying being outside.

Best Johannesburg Hikes for Wildlife

You don’t have to drive to Kruger every time you want to see an animal.

For wildlife, Klipriviersberg is one of the best choices inside Johannesburg.

You may encounter zebra, wildebeest and antelope while hiking through the reserve.

Cradle Moon is another excellent option, particularly if seeing giraffe while walking sounds like your idea of a good Saturday.

Further south, Suikerbosrand offers wildlife in a much larger Highveld wilderness environment.

Just remember:

Wildlife is wild.

Give animals space and don’t approach them for a photograph.

Your Instagram post is not worth arguing with a wildebeest.

Best Hikes Near Johannesburg for a Day Trip

If you’re happy to drive, your hiking options improve dramatically.

Hennops is probably one of the easiest day-trip choices because the trails include river crossings and interesting terrain.

Cradle Moon works particularly well if you want hiking combined with wildlife and somewhere to eat afterwards.

And Suikerbosrand is the one I’d choose when the hiking itself is the main event.

Leave early.

Hike.

Have lunch somewhere afterwards.

Get home tired.

That’s a good Saturday.

Best Free Hikes in Johannesburg

You don’t have to pay every time you want to go outside.

Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve has free entry and offers some of the most substantial hiking inside Johannesburg.

Kloofendal Nature Reserve is another excellent free option.

Johannesburg’s municipal parks also provide free walking opportunities, including places such as the Johannesburg Botanical Garden and Delta Park.

Just remember that access rules can change.

Always check before driving across Joburg.

Nobody enjoys discovering a locked gate after sitting on the N1 for 45 minutes.

Best Hikes in Johannesburg with a Waterfall

The obvious choice is Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden.

Witpoortjie Waterfall drops dramatically over the cliffs at the edge of the garden and makes this one of Johannesburg’s most photogenic nature spots.

Kloofendal can also have seasonal water features after good rain.

If waterfalls are your main priority, summer can be particularly rewarding.

But summer also brings heat and afternoon thunderstorms.

Which leads nicely to the next point.

When Is the Best Time to Hike in Johannesburg?

Johannesburg is surprisingly good for year-round hiking.

Winter gives you crisp mornings, dry trails and generally clear skies.

But those early mornings can be freezing.

Layer up.

Summer transforms the Highveld into something much greener, but temperatures rise quickly and afternoon thunderstorms are common.

If you’re hiking in summer, start early.

And when I say early, I mean hiking early.

Not waking up at 9am, making breakfast, stopping for coffee and finally arriving at the trail at lunchtime.

The sun will punish that kind of optimism.

What Should You Take Hiking in Johannesburg?

At minimum, take comfortable walking or hiking shoes, water, sunscreen, a hat and your phone.

For longer hikes, add snacks and extra water.

I also like having a lightweight rain jacket during summer because Joburg weather can go from:

“What a beautiful sunny day.”

to:

“Where did that thunderstorm come from?”

remarkably quickly.

Download your trail map before starting if you’re hiking somewhere unfamiliar.

Don’t assume you’ll always have perfect mobile signal.

Is Hiking in Johannesburg Safe?

This is something worth taking seriously.

I wouldn’t recommend hiking alone in isolated Johannesburg nature reserves.

Go with a friend, family member or hiking group, particularly if you don’t know the area.

Start early enough that you’re well off the trail before closing time.

Keep expensive jewellery and unnecessary valuables at home.

Tell someone where you’re going.

And check recent trail information before leaving.

Organised hiking groups can be particularly useful if you’re new to Johannesburg’s trails.

The Johannesburg Hiking Club and other local groups organise regular outings around Gauteng.

Hiking with Kids Around Johannesburg

Choose the hike based on the children rather than the adults.

A three-kilometre adventure where everyone has fun is considerably better than an eight-kilometre argument.

For younger children, look at Golden Harvest, Modderfontein and Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden.

Older children who already enjoy walking may love the wildlife at Klipriviersberg or Cradle Moon.

Pack snacks.

Lots of snacks.

Children can apparently walk another three kilometres immediately after announcing that their legs no longer work if the correct snack appears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there good hikes in Johannesburg?

Definitely.

Johannesburg has several nature reserves with proper hiking trails, including Klipriviersberg, Melville Koppies and Kloofendal.

There are also excellent hiking destinations within roughly an hour’s drive of the city.

What is the best hike in Johannesburg for beginners?

Modderfontein Nature Reserve and Golden Harvest are good places to start.

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden is another attractive beginner-friendly option.

Where can I hike for free in Johannesburg?

Klipriviersberg and Kloofendal are two of the strongest free options.

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