Rating the Trails with my Jimny and my boys: Groenkloof Nature Reserve Trails

Rating the Trails with my Jimny and my boys: Groenkloof Nature Reserve Trails

We visited Groenkloof twice this year one in summer and one going into Autumn 2014.
Groenkloof Nature Reserve is located near the famous Fountains Valley which sits on the  southern outskirts of Pretoria. The history of the reserve can be traced all the way back to 1895, when it was proclaimed a game sanctuary by President Paul Kruger on 25 February 1895, the first in Africa. Its main purpose was to protect the shy and timid oribi, which occurred there, and other game that were being wiped out by hunters.


 

After 1910, portions of the area were rented out for the establishment of commercial plantations for the delivery of wood and the production of paper, both of which were in short supply during the world wars. By the late 1950s, the City Council of Pretoria became the owner of the area


 



In 1994 the reserve became the responsibility of the nature conservation and resorts section of the City Of Tshwane Municipality. In 1999 game was reintroduced into the reserve. 


This included Impala, Kudu, Blue Wildebeest and Ostrich. These were added to in 2002 by the introduction of Giraffe and Red Hartebeest. Sable antelope were reintroduced in 2003.




The reserve caters for a number of sporting and recreational pursuits including Hiking, Mountain Biking, a Motorcar interpretive route and a 4 x 4 route.The reserve also has a youth camp that can accommodate 30-50 children. Currently, big clean-up operations are being run to restore the original woody bush of the area. 
 

Vegetation:  Groenkloof Nature Reserve features low, broken ridges varying in steepness. The vegetation is semi pen thicket, dominated by a variety of woody species including Acacia caffra, Rhus leptodictya, Combretum molle and Dombeya rotundifolia. The under-storey is dominated by a variety of grasses.




 



 



 

 

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Wildlife: The wildlife on the reserve includes zebra, jackal, duiker, kudu, impala, blue wildebeest, blesbuck, red hartebeest, ostrich, giraffe and sable. The rich bird life will keep bird lovers busy for hours on end.

 

 

 


What to do:
Groenkloof Nature Reserve offers a large variety of activities for nature lovers just 5 km from the city centre.
Hiking trails:  4,0 km hike (white trail), 3,5 km hike (red trail), 10,5 km hike (yellow trail)
Horse trails:   Day trail: guided, minimum 4, maximum 6 horses
Weekend trail:  Maximum four hours per day
Night drives:  ± two-hour drive, including use of the lapa
Mountain bike trail:  ± 20 km route. Helmets are compulsory. No helmet, no ride
Motorcar route:         ± 5 km (interpretation route)
4x4 route:       ± 14 km (interpretation route)
Picnic area:    Exclusively for relaxing after one of the trails (bring your own firewood)
Facilities:  Overnight facilities are available for hiking, 4x4 driving and mountain biking. The Bamber Youth Camp accommodates youth groups of up to 60 people.
On the premises you can also find the Moyo restaurant
 

 

 

 
 




 





How to get there:Groenkloof Nature Reserve is reached via the entrance to the Fountains Valley Resort. Follow the R21 to the Fountains Circle, take the Fountains/Centurion turn-off into Christina de Wit Avenue. About 500 m further, turn left at the entrance to the Fountains Valley Resort. Over weekends and on public holidays visitors use the alternative entrance gate 800 m from the Fountains Valley Resort main entrance gate.
 Entrance fees:
Activity                                    Price (R)
Motor car route – 5 km          100,00
4x4 route – 14 km                  100,00
​​
Adults (18 years and older) per person                      35,00
School children (7 to 17 years) per child                  20,00
Pre school children ( 0 to 6 years ) per child             10,00
Pensioners ( 60 years and older) per person              20,00
Recovery of 4 x 4 vehicles on route                         450,00
 
Day hiking and mountain biking trails
Adults (18 years and older) per person                      35,00
School children (7 to 17 years) per child                  20,00
Preschool children ( 0 to 6 years ) per child              10,00
Pensioners ( 60 years and older) per person              20,00

Monthly Tickets
Adults (18 years and older) per person                      209,00
School children (7 to 17 years) per child                  143,00
Preschool children ( 0 to 6 years ) per child              44,00
Pensioners ( 60 years and older) per person              143,00

Annual tickets
Per person       770,00
 
Overnight hiking trail, mountain bike trail and 4 x 4 trails(max 12 persons, self-catering)
Per person per night                           70,00
Refundable damage deposit for hut   605,00
Day hiking trails per guide extra       160,00

Environmental education
Children of school going age                         30,00
Adult accompanying groups, per adult          60,00
Day group per person                                     30,00
Overnight per person                                      75,00
Bamber Group Camp
Per person/child    55,00
Adult accompanying groups, per adult   84,00
Per guide  160,00
Refundable damage deposit   1000,00
Guided day hike (four hours - including guide)            55,00
Day drive with tractor and trailer through Groenkloof Nature Reserve ± two hours
Per child         30,00

Horse trails (guided )
Day trails: two hours trail with guide 4 to 8 persons            193,00
Day trail per hour       80,00
City light/moon light trails: 3 hours include guide 4 - 8 persons     175,00
Overnight trails: per person per night max four hours per day trail 230,00
Pony rides for children ( 10 Minutes)           30,00

Night drives   Per person including use of lapa until 23:00  121,00
 

Bookings and contact numbers:
Bookings (four weeks in advance) are only necessary for the overnight facilities and if a guide is required for a hiking trail.
Call 012 440 8316 or 012 341 5204 or 079 498 3647
Fax: 086 210 2955
Email: davidb@tshwane.gov.za (management)
groenkloofnaturereserve@tshwane.gov.za (bookings)

Address: Groenkloof Nature Reserve
PO Box 1454
Pretoria
0001

Visiting hours
Summer (September to April): 05:30 to 19:00
Winter (May to August): 07:00 to 18:00

Adventurekim.com Rating and overall experience:


We rate it a 71/2 out of 10
definitely a well hidden treasure and well worth a visit
The parking area is really gorgeous and we parked under huge trees offering great shade for our cars. There are many braai areas dotted under tall trees. You will however have to provide your own wood and charcoal.

 We found the staff to be very helpful and knowledgeable and actually enjoy their work, which is refreshing. The toilets were easy to find and clean and have toilet paper. There is a small hut that sells basics nibbles and wors rolls that smelt really good and there is an area you can sit around and eat. the horses at the stables used for the outrides were in excellent condition, at times the terrain was a little rough and rocky. We also went through some treed areas which offered some relief from the hot sun 

 there are many amazing trees to be found in the wooded areas. we found lots of the indigenous cabbage trees.  the foliage was lush green many types of grasses were also found

 we found many beautiful birds and butterflies. 
 some of the areas were easy going.

Adventurekim.com

Popular posts from this blog

via ferrata - Magaliesberg Adventure - Urban Adventure

Image
Magalies via ferrata, South Africa Ok, so those of you who know me know that I have a fear of heights, actually I think it is more of a fear of not been in control, something I have to be when I work as a paramedic. This is why I love adventures so much as it really takes me out of my comfort zone and throws me into a situation where I am not in control, not in charge but at the mercy of Mother Nature and the elements, something that actually both excites and terrifies me, but none the less brings me back time and time again for that thrill of the unknown. In my job if I give up or fail someone dies and in adventures often its the turning back or "giving up" that keeps you alive and allows you come come back and try again until you succeed. The real adventure is the journey while making your way to the top, if you get there and then back down in one piece to live the tale and sit around the fire place one day telling your captivated audience of little grandchildren ho...
Read more

The mountains are alive with...chocolate!

Image
  My family recently spent a week at Monk's Cowl camping site, deep in the Drakensberg mountains, and we were blessed to be able to hike every day. We have passed this little spot nestled within the 'Valley", as the locals refer to the area, a couple of times, but never went inside. Today we finally did and what a little bustling area, in the middle of the sticks, supported by both tourists and locals alike.  Beautifully wrapped up chocolate slabs in dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. According to the lady behind the counter, who gave us all a detailed description, the white chocolate has a hint of caramel and vanilla bourbon. I love caramel so this was an instant hit with me, and found it sweet and could definitely taste the vanilla bourbon. Next was the dark chocolate, my daughter and husband's favourite chocolate. I tried out a little and was quite surprised. Rather than the bitter aftertaste from the usual dark chocolate, it was really smooth and ...
Read more

Jozi History: Ponte City, Berea, johannesburg

Image
 The History of "Pontes" or Ponte city, Johannesburg I work on the beat as a paramedic for the city fire department, inside the inner city slums of Johannesburg and have taken so many photos of this iconic Jozi building using my Samsung phone. There is so much history, pain and suffering from the glory days to a slum where drug dealers lurked and criminal elements flourished. We used to attend to many suicides by jumping, drug related emergencies and violent crimes. The nightmare when a fire broke out high up on the 34th floor.  The center of the building became a huge rubbish pile and anything from bodies, poo and household rubbish, to discarded furniture could be found here. It stunk, it was dark and dingy. But now a new vibe has taken over, a clean up, making it safe and self-sustainable. The building is under a revamp, urban renewal and you can even book tours, something on my to do list but I have just not got around to doing it yet!. So what...
Read more