Kloofendal Nature Reserve: A Longer Drive Than Necessary

Before we even get to the trail, I need to clarify something.

My chaos is not a storytelling device

If you think I exaggerate for dramatic effect, I assure you my real life is significantly more confusing than anything I could ever make up.

This is well…

me.

A Sensible Plan (Immediately Undermined)

On that note… a few weeks ago, Carol and I saved a date for Kloofendal so she could scout it as a possible future trail for her group hikes.

Despite the fact that I was convinced I had hiked it before, which is usually a hard no for me (I rarely repeat trails - I’m not an animal), I agreed, fully prepared to do Carol this HUGE favour,

So essentially, a selfless act.

A generous offering of my time.

Practically community service.

To jog my memory, I typed “Kloofendal” into my own website. Nothing came up.

Suspicious.

Still, I remained adamant. I KNEW I had done it.

A few days later, my new hiking pal - (gifted to me by the Universe on a solo hike a few months back), formerly known as “The Lady,” now temporarily upgraded to “G,” and one more hike away from being promoted to a spice - messaged to ask if I was hiking the weekend.

I said Kloofendal. She said yes.

At this point, everything seemed in order, and you would be forgiven for thinking the plan was locked in.

It was not.

I Need Help

Sunday morning arrives. I set off, convinced I know exactly where I’m going.

Shortly after arriving, I became aware of a small but significant detail.....

Carol and G were at Kloofendal in Roodepoort, while I was standing (very confidently) at Klapperkop in Pretoria.

A trail I HAVE actually hiked before.

Geographically speaking, this was not ideal.

It’s the moment I briefly reflected on how everyone in my pre-hiking life managed to tolerate me for so long.

I can only hope that once you accept this is genuinely who I am, it transitions from irritating to… oddly endearing.....like a dassie with a car.

So I turned around. Drove back. Passed everything I had just passed.

Again.

Thirty full minutes of my life evaporated into thin air and unleaded fumes.

While merging onto the Roodepoort split, I wondered:

If I ever die broke, people will whisper,

“But she worked so hard for so many years. How did this happen?”

Not brunch.

Not clothes.

Not audacity.

No.

It was petrol.

Petrol burned while driving confidently in the wrong direction.

This is not a metaphor.

This is an actual expense.

Finally, The Point of This Blog

Now to the trail.

Despite my confidence, insistence and

absolutely no evidence, I had NOT done Kloofendal before.

I then remembered why.

In the early days, I’d asked about it and was told repeatedly that it was dangerous.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Joburg Parks involved on arrival, which - given my recent experiences - immediately set a standard.

And honestly? It delivered.

Okay, the toilets were… not great, but just lower expectations, assume they belong to another council and keep moving.

Why Kloofendal Is Worth Visiting

Kloofendal Nature Reserve is beautiful and well maintained.

One of the best things about it is that you’re not boxed into one rigid route - you can tailor the hike to your mood, fitness, or tolerance for inclines.

There are moments where you completely forget you’re surrounded by suburbia.

Proper pockets of calm.

Views that remind you why you came.

Climbs that make your legs feel like they earned breakfast.

Yes, there are moments where you absolutely remember you’re in Johannesburg. But even then, it’s still perfectly pleasant.

The park also features historical mining machinery from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marking it as the site of Johannesburg’s first gold mine.

There are organised walks and talks, mainly run by the selfless Friends of Kloofendal, a volunteer group dedicated to preserving the reserve.

RATINGS

Trail Information

AREA

Roodepoort

COST

Free

Trail Details

TRAIL DIFFICULTY

Depends on you.

TRAIL LENGTH

We did around 5 km, with gentle inclines, making it a solid but enjoyable hike.

TRAIL MARKERS

Yes, but I can’t comment on quality — I followed Carol

TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS

It’s close (well, for me, nearly a two-hour drive, but bygones), it’s free, and it’s nature.

WEATHER CONDITIONS TO CONSIDER

It is mostly open

ABLUTIONS

SAFE FREE PARKING

AMENITIES

None

WILDLIFE & BIRD LIFE

Probably a few buck...there always are...I never see them

NOTE TO SELF

Investigate the process of donating your brain to medical science.

Results could be groundbreaking.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Yes

PET FRIENDLY

Probably not, you will need to check

ON A FINAL NOTE

Would absolutely recommend this trail. It’s accessible, flexible, and lets you escape the city without actually leaving it.

Would not recommend hiking with me if you value arriving at the correct trail on the first attempt.

Choose wisely.

(TO)SOLO OR (NO)SOLO

(TO)SOLO

Both G and Carol have walked it solo.