Points of Interest & Landmarks • Gardens
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Nature & Parks in Johannesburg
THE 10 BEST Johannesburg Parks & Nature Attractions
Nature & Parks in Johannesburg
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Nature & Parks
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Travelers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travelers across the globe.
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What travelers are saying
- Georgia H4 contributionsAn amazing Sunday market. So much fun things to do and great art to see. Especially love the primal gin distillery. Highly recommendWritten October 6, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Karen BPort Elizabeth, South Africa205 contributionsThis is a very big zoo! Fortunately we hired a golf cart and got to see everything.
Not a lot of places to buy food, so you must take your picnic with you.
Toilets spaced out well.
Very large variety of animals!Written September 20, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Kennedy Welani T1 contributionThis is the BEST park in Johannesburg by far. Beautiful forest with indigenous trees in the middle of the concrete jungle. This is the Lil Eden where I find my center.Written January 23, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- CMobileColombo, Sri Lanka238 contributionsWe had a great picnic near the boat hire area of the park, on a Saturday around noon. The park was in good shape, security guards patrolled, kids played and the geese entertained. All in all a good spot for an a picnic outing with younger children.Written January 14, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Farah F14 contributionsI went on a solo hike. The landscape is great. Many opportunities for great photos. There's not much shade though so go early if in the summer. I didn't see animals most likely they were napping. The trails were clear but not marked enough. I used the AllTrails app to guide me. There's a stream at the beginning of the trail and you can spot dassies aka rock hyrax. They are so cute! More suitable for adult or solo hikers. The Moreleta Nature Reserve is a more fun trail for young children. Overall I love this place!Written September 29, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Hannelie BJohannesburg, South Africa2 contributionsWe visit the park every Sunday with our dog, and the three of us enjoy it equally. the park is expansive and well maintained, with diverse sections, including lovey small eucalyptus forests. It has gorgeous views, including most beautiful panoramic views of the city.
We take coffee and lounge on one of the benches, but there is also coffee available right across the road, or from three nearby outlets. The park offers a range of options for picnics, from spreading a blanket on the grass to using movable picnic benches.Written May 26, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - elouise36Isle of Arran, UK155 contributionsA area of stunning natural beauty that I would never have expected to find so close to a city let alone actually "within a suburb" of the city! We were travelling from Soweto and wanted some time out in nature so picked this place for its ease of getting to in combi taxi. We found what was described in a leaflet as the main entrance, but wandered aimlessly up the road, to find out after that access is via another gate down the road (!), so we headed down, found it, and then discovered it was locked! Luckily the phone number was displayed and I got through to a very helpful person, who was eager to help us. She told us the Eastern part of the reserve was open at all times because it is safer (however im now not sure whether she meant western by the time we got there), and gave me detailed instructions on exactly how to find it on foot. We made it! Were so glad as my friend being on the slow side had taken all morning to get ready (Africa time...not always such a bad thing tho!)...and I knew rain was coming.
We managed to get into the park and head up the reddish coloured soil tracks leading to some of the rocky outcrops "koppies" with stunning (would be on a better day!) views across the whole of the city of Johannesburg. There were many paths to take, and it was lunchtime so we found a sheltered spot as the rain was coming on, as my friend will not eat sandwiches in the rain (!). I could now relate completely to the archaeology of this area, imagining what it was like during neolothic times (we were afterall in a kind of cave....), we could have wondered for hours up here, if it wasnt for the torrential downpour.
I am so thankful for the telephone operator who helped us find the entrance as it was definately worth the effort, and id love to return to see some of the educational aspects of the site as we didnt have long enough really. We got down the hill, and straight into a combi as the sky opened ;) Couldnt have timed it any better...Written July 3, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Traveller85065 contributionsIt's so great to have a place so close but far enough out of the city that is peaceful and relaxing. Our dogs absolutely loved the entire experience and we had no issues with any of the other dogs.Written February 12, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sightsee584086836241 contributionI had an unforgettable 3-day hike to Augrabies National Park with Senzo, and it was amazing! The trip was well organized and prepared, allowing us to fully enjoy the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife encounters. Senzo ensured easy communication before and throughout the hike. Overall, it was an memorable experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to explore the beauty of South Africa.Written June 20, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Toronto Travel EnthusiastToronto, Canada1 contributionIn mid-January I booked a last minute tour with MoAfrika for a half-day (closer to 3/4 of a day) tour to the Cradle of Humankind. I was a little disappointed in the tour - there was only one other person on the tour, no guide, only a driver. And it seemed pricey for the service provided - about 2,000 Rand, about US$140.
But the site itself was amazing. I particularly enjoyed visiting the caves where Little Foot and Miss Mes were discovered. It’s one of the most significant archaeological finds - they were our ancestors! The museum was also very interesting.
A really worthwhile outing, about an hour from Johannesburg. You can probably save some money by engaging a taxi driver to take you out to the cave and then to the museum.Written January 31, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Love to travel, eat and relaxPretoria, South Africa212 contributionsThe park is small but has a large selection of birds. Walkways are well laid out and cages are easy accessible. A small restaurant is sitauted at the entrace with drinks lights meals and snacks. To realy enjoy the animal behaviour you should spend at least 2 hours in the park. Tickets available at the entrace to the park. Bahrooms are also available in the park.Written March 7, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- sharmlaKempton Park, South Africa262 contributionsThis is a beautiful, lush, scenic nature reserve.
Gates open at 7am and close at 6pm.
Entry if FREE.
We saw wildebeest, Camera (or human) shy squirrels. A very brave meerkat. The reserve has more animals, but we did not encounter more on our hike. Speaking of hikes, one can choose either, 4.2km or 3km or 2km hike. We started on the 2km but somewhere along the route, we were enthused bu nature and the pleasant company that we ended up joing the 4km trek and eventually hiked 6.2kms; which we accomplished in a modest 2, 15hours.
There are braai(barbecue) facilities on the reserve, but one must reserve a braai stand in advance telephonically or by email. Good luck with your communication. Their response or lack of response in our case; caused us a 40 minute wait for the Manager on Duty to authorize us acquiring a braai stand, even though we called days ahead and emailed and got no response. Though kudos to the manager, she immediately consented to us braaing.
Alternatively one can take a picnic basket and just indulge at leisure. There are no restrictions on visitors taking in alcohol either.
If you are of the lazy visitor type, there is an adorable. quaint tea room. One can buy cool drinks, cakes, tea, coffee, cappuccinos, toasted sandwiches, etc at very reasonable prices. Do tell the waitress if you prefer your coffee strong, mine was a little weak for my liking. (My mistake, I should have alerted the waitress, I like my coffee strong like the African sun)
Overall it is an exquisite hiking site for a large family outing or with friends.
There is ample parking, but get there early. We arrived there at 8H30 am and found parking immediately.
There is manned security at the gate. You sign in and are allowed immediate entry. It is a secure, crime free hiking site.
Fellow hikers, (even though breathless) are friendly and will greet you, do responding in kind accordinglyWritten February 5, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Companion218637681073 contributionsLovely clean surroundings. Felt very safe walking there with my dog. Had a great coffee at Emzini across the entrance to the damWritten September 4, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- keith WClevedon, UK24 contributionsMiles of Trails best suited in my opinion to beginners and Intermediates. There are trails of various lengths which are difficulty colour coded like ski runs. I would only class myself as intermediate , but tried a few of the Black trails which we not too challenging, The best bits were near the river and the lake. There were even monkeys in one bit ! I hired a bike for ZAR 175 (£9-10?), it was OK apart from the rear tubeless tyre which had to be pumped up and partially lost pressure fairly soon after, so I felt the rim get banged a lot, and the rear end was hanging out more than usual ;-). Glad it wasn't my wheel !. Bike was a bit tired but adequate for these trails.Written August 27, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- slinkymacvelvet2 contributionsLarge spacious and serene. one of jhb's best parks connected to botanical gardens and emmarentia dam. great spot.Written September 1, 2013This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
