Friends of Magalies Trails:Not Exactly the Drakensberg, But Hey, It Worked

So, this group hike was yet another thrilling installment of Suburban Wilderness Adventures, in which I continue to be absolutely flabbergasted that real, actual trails exist right in the middle of cookie-cutter suburbia.

Who knew you could be out in "nature" while still within a stone’s throw of someone’s neatly trimmed lawn?

So, funny story. I grandly titled this little adventure Wonderboom Hiking Trail, feeling very proud of my geographic awareness and general adulting. Fast forward to yesterday when my hiking guru—yes, one of those terrifyingly competent beings who somehow knows all the things I blissfully ignore—casually drops the bomb that it's actually Friends of Magalies Trails, IN Wonderboom. Excuse me? Entirely possible this was, in fact, mentioned on the group chat... which I may or may not have skimmed like a squirrel on espresso. But, you know—details.

Was this the most scenic trail I’ve ever done? Well, obviously not, don't be ridiculous—this is Pretoria, not the Drakensberg. But you know what? It had its own kind of charm. Instead of towering cliffs and endless mountain ranges, we got ever-changing angles of the city, which—surprise!—actually made for some pretty amazing views.

And this wasn’t just a park walk. This trail had inclines that made you work somewhat, declines that kept things interesting, and just enough sneaky, slippery stones to keep you on your toes.

Four-legged hikers joined us, which is always a win. Someone from the group brought along two ridiculously gorgeous dogs, instantly upgrading the entire experience. (Dog people, take note: you can bring your adventure-loving pups along. As always, you win at life.)

Oh, and we saw horses. Stubborn horses. Two of them. Who could not have cared less about our existence and flat-out refused to move, forcing us into an awkward (tiny) detour. Naturally, we all took a moment to "oooh" and "aaah" over their undeniable majesty—right before I, in true nature-conquering fashion, landed on my ass for the first time in a while. Damn you gorgeous horses.

The weather? Started nice and cool, but did start warming up, but nothing unbearable.

Now, let’s tackle the usual list of tragically unoriginal excuses people throw at me whenever I suggest hiking—and see how this trail effortlessly shuts them down:

"Petrol is too expensive!" – Not today. For locals, this was local enough that your fuel gauge would barely notice.

"I have no money to hike!" – Oh, sweet summer child. This was free. Zero rands. No entrance fees. Just you, your shoes, and a willingness to move your legs.

"It’s not safe!" – Look, I can’t cure your paranoia. Maybe wrap yourself in bubble wrap and accept your fate as a permanent indoor gremlin? Meanwhile, the rest of us will be out here, enjoying life.

So if you’re up for a short yet mildly challenging trail with a steep, but not long or going to kill you climb, then this is a solid option.

Navigation, however, can be a bit tricky since the trails aren’t well-marked, but fortunately, I was with a group, and even more thankfully, one half of the dynamic duo, L-squared, was there to lead. Specifically, the half with an unsettling, borderline obsessive love for hills.

I swear, the man sees an incline and lights up like a kid in a candy store—except the candy is pain and suffering (for the rest of us, anyway). And listen, coming from someone who is also slightly unhinged (just in other ways), you should trust me on this.

But, huh: there were only so many hills this time. Sorry for you, L!

Overall, the trail is moderate—steep inclines and rocky paths keep things interesting, but it’s doable even for kids.

RATING

AREA - Pretoria

COST - Free

DIFFICULTY - Not for beginners

LENGTH - Approx 4 km (There are other trails apparently)

TIME - Just under 3 hours

MARKERS 

Not really. If you enjoy mild panic about whether you’re still on the right path, this one’s for you.

HIGHLIGHTS 

Views and awesome people...better dogs

ABLUTIONS - 

Nope. Which led to my first bush experience. (Okay, technically my second, but the last time was so long ago it barely counts. Let’s move on.)

FREE PARKING

On the road. Looked safe enough. No suspicious activity—other than us wandering into the woods voluntarily.

AMENITIES 

None. Meaning no post-hike feast. And as we all know, if there’s no feast, did the hike even happen? Honestly, I might have hallucinated the entire thing. You decide.

NOTE TO SELF

Investigate L’s suspicious hill obsession before it somehow becomes my problem.

ON A FINAL NOTE

A solid suburban hiking experience, minus the celebratory post-hike meal (which I’m still not over).

(TO)SOLO OR (NO)SOLO

Personally? Absolutely not. Not because I fear solitude, but because I could fall, never be found, and my ghost would be doomed to haunt the trail forever. Also, I would guaranteed get lost. However, I did spot a confident solo female hiker and plenty of small groups, so if you’re feeling bold—go for it. Just, uh, maybe bring a solid sense of direction… and possibly a GPS.

DOG FRIENDLY

Yep

 I was definitely not worthy of that side-eye.