Groenkloof Nature Reserve - A Revisit

So, it was a Saturday. Salt was off working and Pepper and I decided to tackle a hike. It had been a while since Pepper had experienced the great outdoors with me, and in his absence, I had evolved into a full-blown hiking snob.

Choosing a trail was no small matter. This wasn’t Salt, my human GPS and backpack mule. No, this was Pepper—think Dumb and Dumber in hiking boots when Pepper and I hit the trails!

Pepper's infamous response when I question our route is always a casual shrug followed by, "Doesn't matter, makes no difference anyway." It's like navigating with a human compass stuck on 'whatever' mode—typical Pepper, leading us confidently into the great unknown, with zero concern for directions or destinations.

Salt, in his infinite wisdom, suggested we revisit the Groenkloof Nature Reserve—a trail he and I had conquered before. We did the 5 km, and I bravely suggested Pepper and I take on the 10.5 km. "It's well-marked," Salt assured. "Go for it, Mom. It should be safe," he added, knowing full well our notorious struggles with directions.

So, like obedient little explorers, off we went. Now, I hadn’t started my blogging journey the last time I did this hike, so most of it was a blur.

The beauty of having a bad memory? Your deepest, darkest secrets are safe with me because they’ll be forgotten in a heartbeat. And, I get to experience things like it’s the first time… every single time.

As we pulled up to Groenkloof, I was hit with a reality check: it was WAY busier than I remembered. Salt and I had been smart enough to start an hour earlier, thus avoiding the masses. The parking lot was packed, yet once on the trail, it surprisingly didn’t feel crowded—until the last stretch, at least.

The hike began with a manageable uphill. For the first 2 km, the ambiance was graced by the not-so-soothing sounds of Pretoria traffic. Now, the Reserve can’t control that, but for someone now used to serene, quiet trails, it was a bit of a buzzkill.

Thankfully, as you delve deeper into the walk, the highway noise fades, replaced by the chirping of birds. Then, just as you get comfortable, the traffic noise makes an unwelcome return.

Once the incline ends, you’re greeted by flat grasslands in the middle. Then, around the 8 km mark, it starts getting steep again.

The trail is wonderfully marked from start to finish, with each kilometer boldly indicated. That’s a first for me, and I found it oddly satisfying to know exactly how far we’d trudged.

Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any wildlife. But hey, it’s not like the reserve has them on payroll to make appearances. Wildlife sightings are always a roll of the dice.

So, there you have it. Groenkloof Nature Reserve: busy parking lots and traffic serenades. Despite all this it was a good reminder of why I love the great outdoors—memories made, even if I’ll forget them by next weekend.

Here’s to more hikes with the Dumb to my Dumber, and hopefully, fewer traffic symphonies.

My Old Hag Ratings: Numbers with a Lot of Explanations.

AREA: Groenkloof (Pretoria)

COST: R 58 pp - go figure.

DIFFICULTY - MODERATE

If you 50+ and breathing, taken at your own pace.....no problem!

LENGTH - 10.5 km

Despite the noise and our knack for getting lost, it really was an enjoyable , with just enough inclines and declines to keep things interesting.

It was pretty much like Modderfontein, which Pepper and I did last week, but with a bit more variety in the terrain.

TIME -3 HOURS

ELEVATION -266m

Again....... at your own pace, should not be a problem at all.

MARKERS - Extremely well marked (I am here to tell the tale am I not?)

Absolutely loved the fact that each kilometer was marked. Especially since I am the last dinosaur on Earth without a smartwatch that tracks my steps, tells me my blood type, and forecasts my next poop! How do I ever survive without those vital updates??? But on a hike…. much appreciated.

I did kind of feel like there should have been a finish line with someone handing out a medal at the end though!

AMENITIES - None that we saw, but with Pepper there could have been a full on festival and we would have missed it. He does not play around my Pepper. We go, we hike and we leave.

ABLUTIONS - no idea....as I said Pepper does not play around!

Safe parking a plenty.