The Wilds — Will Hike with Strangers for Views

jeeksparties8
May 4
3 min read

So. There I was, once again hit with the realization — hiking? Still awesome. Hikers? Somehow, even more so.

Case in point: I agreed, without hesitation, to hike with a total stranger I’d met exactly once, on a trail, the previous week. Imagine that??

We got to chatting about The Wilds. I told her I'd been there a while ago, before I morphed into someone who documents every rock and moss patch. Back in my pre-photo-obsessed, pre-blogger era.

I’d always wanted to go back, and finally capture what I keep telling people - The Wilds? Gorgeous.

Yes, it has a reputation. But so does every other high school teenager from the 80s. Doesn’t mean it’s still relevant.

What had I seen as I started my walk on my very first visit? A yoga class. On a peaceful, well-maintained, gorgeous patch of grass.

How dangerous can a place really be if people are out there downward-dogging under the open sky?

There was also just enough security around to feel safe, but not enough to make it feel aggressively weird.

Anyway, back to real time. She said, “Let’s go next week?” I said, “Absodamnlutely.”

Let’s pause and fully absorb the seismic weight of that moment: I don’t say yes to brunch plans with people I’ve known for years. Literal decades of friendship? Still might ghost your group chat. But two hours chatting on a trail? Sure, stranger, let’s hike!

But that’s the weird magic of hiking — it short-circuits the social norms. It links up people who’d never interact under normal circumstances. And yet, out there, sweating and swatting at bugs, you realize you actually share the same priorities: fresh air, dirt under your boots, and a deep, burning resentment toward uphill sections you chose.

She even dragged her other half along (poor guy). And it was fabulous.

The reserve is breathtaking — calm, peaceful, and impeccably maintained.

It's not exactly a "let’s conquer Everest" situation, but it’s definitely not a lazy Sunday-in-the-park stroll either.

This place has inclines. You can sweat. Or you can choose not to. The suffering level? Fully customizable. You pick the route, the distance, the drama. It’s like a build-your-own adventure,

You’ll find benches to rest your soul (or feet) scattered throughout, with extremely zenny settings. You will either get a pond (with or without a waterfall), majestic trees, chirping birds, beautiful views of the city, a picnic area with beautifully trimmed grass, lovely winding routes through majestic trees.

Basically, whatever your tender little hiker heart is yearning for — it’s there, waiting, and probably bathed in golden sunlight.

You can even cross over the main road via a bridge for an extension of the hike — totally worth it. (But fair warning: they recommend you don’t hike that side alone.)

Bottom line? Nature is right there. It costs exactly zero rands. It’s stupidly gorgeous. It’s basically therapy — without having your Discovery savings deducted.

So quit doom-scrolling, lace up, and go hike before you overthink it... again.

RATING

AREA - Houghton

COST - FREE

DIFFICULTY - Whatever you want.

LENGTH - Whatever you want