Rosemary Hill: Family Hike Day

Final day of the long weekend, and somehow I accidentally had a wholesome, sunlit, chaos free (mostly) few days.

Also - very few mountains.

I survived, but let’s not make it a habit.

Monday wrapped up with a family day because, against all odds, I do occasionally participate in society.

There are terms and conditions, though. Non-negotiable.

Where to Find Me

At this point, my people understand the system.

If you want to see me, aim higher.

Preferably a mountain.

I’ll accept a hill in emergencies.

If it merely identifies as a mountain, I’ll consider it.

Is this selfish?

Deeply.

Am I working on it?

No.

Personal Growth

After years of what I generously called “compromise” (read: suffering through plans I didn’t choose), I’ve entered a bold new phase: doing things I actually like.

Revolutionary stuff.

Do I still agree to people-heavy plans sometimes?

Yes, when cornered.

Do I enjoy them?

Not even a little.

I show up. I contribute. I even produce the occasional socially acceptable smile.

Then I return to the mountain like a slightly dramatic homing pigeon.

Rosemary Hill

My nephew, his wife (yes, that makes her my niece, I checked), and their two kids got recruited as my hiking companions.

We hadn’t seen each other in far too long, which sounds sad until you remember I treat invitations like suspicious emails.

I thought the perfect place for the group would be Rosemary Hill, a place I’d last visited with someone way back when, who claimed she “couldn’t” do 11 km.

She did.

They always do.

Trail Distances

Your options are a flat, easy 5 km, a “technical” 5 km (read: slightly inclined, calm down) or a flat 11 km - basically where distance matters most - it's across roads and neighbouring properties.

Given the group, I had a plan.

We’d all start together on the 5 km taking the "technical" trail (which i missed last time), and then, when the split appeared, my niece and I would take the the 11 km leaving the rest to mosey around.

The Trail

The trail kicks off with a zig-zag through rosemary bushes - noticeably less zig-zagging than I remember.

Almost like the trail didn’t change… just the level of incompetence did.

Possibly because this time there weren’t two old ladies wandering in confused circles for an unreasonable amount of time, confidently getting it wrong in multiple directions.

I’d love to say I’ve grown as a navigator, but that illusion died when a 7-year-old confidently read trail markers and led us like a tiny outdoor professional.

I may try this “paying attention” thing one day.

But probably not.

We didn’t do the 11 km.

By midday, the sun had fully committed to violence, and I vividly remembered the second half being wide open, exposed, and personally offensive.

But more importantly, it had been a long weekend, and my gallery was an unhinged mess of 500+ photos that absolutely needed sorting before work the next day…

Also, I suddenly felt a deep, spiritual calling to sit down somewhere with coffee.

Rosemary Hill remains exactly as I remember—ridiculously well-run.

There’s always something around the corner: accommodation, event spaces, coffee spots, things that make you feel like you should have your life more together.

Returning in my “take 500 photos of everything” era was, frankly, an excellent choice.

Shoutouts (Because Credit Is Due)

To the 14-year-old: thank you for matching your old aunt’s enthusiasm for documenting absolutely everything.

Also, for the spider photography masterclass - especially impressive given my long-standing inability to capture a single clear spider photo without it turning into a blurry abstract piece titled Disappointment.

Most of my attempts end in mild frustration… and occasionally ignoring minor hiking emergencies around me because, obviously, the shot comes first.

Looking at you, Sage.

And ofcourse to the 7 year-old: trail leader and marker-reader.

Youth. Honestly. Rude.

A genuinely great day with people I love.

Proof that, occasionally, mixing nature with humans is not only tolerable, but actually enjoyable.

RATINGS

Trail Information

AREA

Pretoria - but like… 45-minutes-away Pretoria.

You know the one.

COST

R 50

Trail Details

TRAIL DIFFICULTY

Easy

TRAIL LENGTH

5 or 10 km

TRAIL MARKERS

Yes -shockingly effective when you actually look at them.

TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS

The whole place feels like a well-organised hug.

Efficient, scenic, and very “we have our lives together.”

WEATHER CONDITIONS TO CONSIDER

Longer route = exposed and unforgiving.

Short route = some shade, some mercy.

ABLUTIONS

SAFE FREE PARKING

AMENITIES

Plenty.

I find. You research.

That’s the agreement.

WILDLIFE & BIRD LIFE

Not that we saw.

Spiders, however, showed up strong.

NOTE TO SELF

Remember: smiling at relatives does not cause brain damage.

Occasional participation in society is not a crime.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Absolutely

PET FRIENDLY

Yes...on a leash

ON A FINAL NOTE

Highly recommended for a really nice day out

(TO)SOLO OR (NO)SOLO

(TO)SOLO