Nature Reserves and Areas
Rietvlei Nature Reserve
The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is situated 18 km from the centre of Pretoria and 38 km from the
OR Tambo International Airport. The 3 800 ha of endangered Bankenveld grassland includes
open plains and undulating hills. The extensive vlei areas and tributary streams support the
scenic splendour of the azure blue Rietvlei Dam.
The reserve is owned and managed by the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.
Some 1 600 head of game, including blesbuck, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, Burchell's
zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck, springbuck, mountain reedbuck, steenbuck and grey duiker can be
viewed here. From your own vehicle it is easy to spot these animals on the open plains, and the
60 km of tarred and dirt roads will take you close up.
Alight from your vehicle and be revived at the Marais Dam picnic site. Ablutions are available
and a bird hide and shady spots with braai facilities are perfect for settling down while watching
water birds and hippo. Bird watchers can be sure of seeing birds at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve
that they have never seen before. View elusive nocturnal animals, such as brown hyena, blackbacked jackal, ant-bear, aardwolf, porcupine, springhare and bush pig, on a guided night drive
that ends at the popular Rietvlei Nature Reserve Lapa for a memorable braai under African skies.
Come to Rietvlei Nature Reserve to encounter cheetah, leopard, buffalo and white rhino on
guided hiking trails and horse trails. Day and weekend trails are available. Discover the secrets
of the reserve's natural environment through various educational programmes presented by
qualified guides. Booking is essential for all activities.
Daily bus tours are available for big groups preferring day-time game drives. Bookings for bus
tours are not essential, but if a guide of the reserve is to accompany the group, an advance
booking is essential.
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For more information, call 012 345 2274 or 012 358 1811/12.
Groenkloof Nature Reserve
The Groenkloof nature reserve is located near the famous Fountains Valley. Mzilikazi was a
Southern African king who consider to be the greatest Southern African military leader after the
Zulu king Shaka. He arrived in the beautiful valley of Groenkloof in the 1820s, by which time
the baKwena had already driven the San people out. Mzilikazi settled at Meintjieskop while his
impis built two of his cities in the area. The women used to fetch water from the Apies River,
which they called Enzwabuhlungu. This means “something that hurts”, which refers to the sharp
dolomite rock that hurt their feet. The Sotho name is Entsabohloko and refers to the circumcision
rite, during which the young men of the tribe had to go into the river's water.
On 25 February 1895, President Paul Kruger proclaimed this valley on the southern outskirts of
Pretoria a game sanctuary – the first in Africa. Its main purpose was to protect the shy and timid
oribi, which occurred there, and the large herds of game that were being wiped out by hunters.
After 1910, portions of the area were rented out for the establishment of commercial plantations,
because of wood and paper shortages 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 Department of Nature Conservation and
preparations started for the re-release of game. Impala, kudu, blue wildebeest and ostrich were re
introduced to the reserve in 1999, and 2002 saw the release of giraffe and red hartebeest.
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 large variety of different activities for nature lovers just 5 km
out of 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:
Weekend trail:
Night drives:
Mountain bike trail:
Motorcar route:
4x4 route:
Picnic area:
Facilities
Day trail: guided, minimum 4, maximum 6 horses
Maximum 4 hours per day
± Two-hour drive, including use of the lapa
± 20 km route. Helmets are compulsory. No helmet, no ride
± 6 km (interpretation route)
± 14 km (interpretation route )
Exclusively for relaxing after one of the trails (bring your own firewood)
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 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
Road. 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
4 x 4 Trial
Per vehicle
Adults (18 years and older) per person
School children (7 - 17 years) per child
Pre school children ( 0 - 6 years ) per child
Pensioners ( 60 years and older) per person
Recovery of 4 x 4 vehicles on route
Day hiking and Mountain biking trails
Adults (18 years and older) per person
School children (7 - 17 years) per child
Preschool children ( 0 - 6 years ) per child
Pensioners ( 60 years and older) per person
Monthly Tickets
Adults (18 years and older) per person
School children (7 - 17 years) per child
Preschool children ( 0 - 6 years ) per child
Pensioners ( 60 years and older) per person
Annual tickets
Per person
Price
(R)
70,00
25,00
18,50
10,00
18,50
350,00
25,00
18,50
10,00
18,50
152,00
108,00
33,00
108,00
550,00
Overnight hiking trail, mountain bike trail and 4 x 4 trails(max 12 persons, self
catering)
Per person per night
Refundable damage deposit for hut
Day hiking trails per guide extra
Environmental Education
45,00
400,00
135,00
Children of school going age
Day group per person
Overnight per person
27,00
27,00
60,00
Bamber Group Camp
Per person/child
Adult accompanying groups, per adult
Per guide
Refundable damage deposit
Guided day hike (4 hours - includes guides)
45,00
45,00
135,00
650,00
50,00
Day drive with tractor and trailer through Groenkloof Nature Reserve ± 2 hours
Per child
27,00
Horse trails ( Guided )
Day trails: 2 hours trail includes guides 4 - 8 persons
Day trail per hour
Overnight trails: per person per night max 4 hours per day trail
75,00
45,00
216,00
Night drives
Per person including use of lapa until 23:00
90,00
Lapa hiring (during the day)
1 - 15 persons
30 persons or less
16 - 60 persons
Refundable damage deposit
500,00
870,00
1350,00
400,00
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
Fax: 012 341 0483
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
Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary
The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary was named after South Africa's greatest ornithologist
mammalogist yet, J Austin Roberts.
Born in Pretoria in 1883 and growing up in Potchefstroom as a minister's son, he received his
grounding from Thomas Ayres, a famous pioneer amateur ornithologist based there.
The University of Pretoria presented the self-taught Roberts with an honorary doctorate for his
many achievements. These included standard South African reference books on mammals and
birds.
The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary was officially proclaimed as a nature reserve on 26 February
1985
The sanctuary is located in the Walkerspruit Open Space System. Two streams, the Walker and
the Argo, feed water into wetland basins of which nine are small perennial dams that attract a
multitude of water birds. The sanctuary was fenced in June 1970 and became a valuable civic
amenity with recreational and educational value.
Activities and Facilities
The Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary has a wide variety of bird life that can be observed from the
bird hide. Guided walks can be arranged and there is an exhibition hall.
Wildlife
Species include unique birds such as the crowned crane and the blue crane.
Vegetation
The veld type of the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary is mixed bushveld.
Visiting hours
Summer ( September - April): 07:00 - 18:00 Winter ( May - August): 07:00 - 17:00
How to get there
From the Fountains Circle (on the R21), take the George Storrar turn-off. Travel east passing
Koningin Wilhelmina Avenue, where George Storrar Drive changes into Middel Street. Turn left
at the first traffic lights, Dey Street, and then left again at Boshoff Street. The entrance to the
sanctuary is on the left. Entrance Fees Bird hide: Free Guided walks: Adults R 37,00 (19 years
and older) Children R 25,00 (18 years and younger) Guide R125,00 (min 6, max 15 people per
guide)
Bookings and Contact Numbers
Reservations: Call 012 440 8316, Fax 012 341 0591 or e-mail audreyb@tshwane.gov.za
Bookings are only necessary for the guided walks - preferably 4 weeks in advance
Enquiries: Tel: 012 440 8316 / 012 341 0591 Fax: 012 341 0483 Email: davidb@tshwane.gov.za
Chamberlain Bird Sanctuary
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Reserve size: 2 ha
Admission times 07:00 - 15:30. After hours the key can be collected from the retirement
home on the corner of Rose and Kieser Str.
Entrance fee: No charge
Pets: Not allowed
Facilities: Bird hide
Directions: From Soutpansberg Rd turn northwards in Parker Street, and then left in Rose
Street. The sanctuary is on the corner of Rose and Kieser Streets.
Contact numbers: 012 440 8316 or 012 341 0591
Fax number: 012 341 0483
E-mail davidb@tshwane.gov.za
Wonderboom Nature Reserve
The Wonderboom Nature Reserve is situated in the northern part of the city and straddles the
Magaliesberg Mountains. This 200 ha reserve is famous for its magnificent specimen of Ficus
salicifolia, a wild fig called the "Wonderboom".
The fig tree is older than 1 000 years, and legend has it that it grew this big because the chief of
an indigenous tribe lies buried beneath its roots. It is recorded that the tree was once big enough
to shade 1 000 people at a time, or 22 ox wagons with 20 oxen in front of each! Today it is much
smaller – probably because of the devastating fire in 1870 started by a hunting party, or because
of a parasitic infestation, which put it in quarantine for 20 years. Over the years the branches
have grown longer, hanging lower and lower until they touched the ground, rooted and produced
a circle of daughter trees. There are now three circles of daughter trees surrounding the original
tree.
Come and see this amazing tree, and take the interpretation trail from our new boardwalk in and
around the tree.
Wonderboom Nature Reserve has a large number of dassies (rock hyrax) living in caves
overlooking the Apies River. They provide a food source for a breeding pair of black eagles that
nest on a rocky ledge nearby and that can often be seen circling above the reserve.
At the top of the Wonderboom Hill are the ruins of the Wonderboom Fort, one of four forts built
by the former Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek at the end of the 19th century to defend Pretoria
against the British forces. It was never used. It was blown up, probably on the instruction of
Prime Minister Jan Smuts, in the early days of the Second World War, lest it be used by antigovernment dissidents as a springboard for an attack on the state. At the foot of the hill near the
Wonderboom is an important Iron Age site and nearby is one of the best Stone Age sites in the
area.
The reserve has picnic facilities.
How to get there?
Drive northwards on Paul Kruger Street (R101) and Mansfield Avenue for about 6 to 7 km from
the city centre. Immediately after the road goes through the opening in the Magaliesberg range,
turn right onto the M1 and cross the Apies River. The entrance is on the right about 300 m from
the R101.
Tariffs
Entrance Fees:
Activity
Price (R)
Day tariff
Adults (13 years +)
25,00
School children (7 to 12 years)
14,00
Pre-school children (younger than 6 years) 5,00
Pensioners (60 years +) and disabled
16,00
people
Annual tickets *
Adults (13 years +)
School children (7 to 12 years)
Family (max 6 people)
Clubs
Pensioners (60 years +) and disabled
people
450,00
210,00
1 355,00
3 200,00
300,00
Guided day hike*
Per person (± four-hour hike)
Environmental education guide
Children (18 years and younger)
Adults (19 years +)
Annual tickets are valid for 12 months.
50,00
135,00
27,00
27,00
Guided day hike:
The day tariff R25,00 per person and R135,00 per
guide.
Enquiries:
Nature Conservation West
Telephone 012 440 8316 or 012 341 5204
Fax: 012 341 0483
Wonderboom Nature Reserve
Gate: 012 543 0918
Management: 012 567 4296
Gate times: 07:00 to 18:00 (entrance to the reserve only until 16:00)
Moreleta Kloof Nature Area
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Reserve size 80 ha
Admission times 06:00 - 18:00
Entrance fee No charge
Game species: Impala, zebra, blesbuck, springbuck and ostrich
No pets allowed.
Facilities
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Restaurant, ablution facilities, self-guided walks
Activities
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Hiking trails (self-guided, or a guide can be booked for R125,00)
Rademeyer Hiking Trail: 1,57 km
Duiker Hiking Trail: 2,89 km
Suikerbos Hiking Trail: 3,32 km
How to get there
From the N1, take the Rigel Avenue off-ramp and travel east. Turn left into Hans Strijdom
Avenue. Turn right into Rubinstein Street and travel until you get to Helios Street. Turn left into
Helios Street. Park in Helios Street.
Contact number 012 358 1510
Fax number 012 358 0467
E-mail Adelene Marais at adelenel@tshwane.gov.za
Faerie Glen Nature Reserve
Bird life – which is abundant in this 128 ha reserve – and includes crested barbet, hamerkop and
some canary species. The reserve is a transition zone between Bankenveld (grassland), sour
mixed bushveld and sour bushveld (acacia veld).
Admission times
1 January to 31 December, 06:00 to 18:00 Pets: Dogs on leashes
Facilities
Three hiking trails:
Hadeda route: 6,2 km
Acacia route: 4,5 km
Kiepersol route: 11,3 km
For more information, call 012 358 1510 or fax 012 358 0467
How to get there
From the N1, take the Atterbury Road off-ramp, turn east and drive up to Genl Louis Botha
Drive. Turn left here and follow the signs to the reserve.
Admission Fees
Adults 13 years and older per person R5,00 School children 7 - 12 years per person R2,00 Preschoolchildren 0 - 6 years per person Free Pensionars 60 years and older per person R2,00
Season tickets valid for 6 months Adults 13 years and older per person R200,00 Schoolchildren 7
- 12 years per person R150,00 Pre-school children 0 - 6 years per person Free Pensioners 60
years and older per person R150,00 E-mail Adelene Marais at adelenel@tshwane.gov.za
Colbyn Nature Area
This 80 ha open space reserve is important for its peatland. Peatlands are developed over
hundreds of years in conditions of low-energy flow and anaerobic breakdown of vegetation.
Admission times 06:00 - 18:00
Entrance fee No charge
Pets: Dogs on leashes until further notice.
For more information, call 012 440 8316 or fax 012 341 0483 or e-mail David Boshoff at
davidb@tshwane.gov.za
How to get there
From the N1, take the M2 Pretoria/N4 Witbank off-ramp and keep left at the fork so as to drive
west towards the city centre. Turn right into Duncan Street and again right into Church Street.
Turn left into Kilnerton Road. The nature area is to the right of this road.
Boardwalk Bird Sanctuary
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Reserve size: 2 ha
Admission times: All hours
Entrance fee: No charge
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Pets: Not allowed
Facilities: Restaurants, boardwalk and a bird hide.
For more information, call 012 358 1510 or fax 012 358 0467 or e-mail Adelene Marais at
adelenel@tshwane.gov.za
Special Features
Timber walkways were erected at the edge of the dam to give a tranquil atmosphere and allow
people to walk there. Bird hides are placed at strategic places to allow for excellent opportunities
to watch water birds.
How to get there
From the N1, take the Rigel Avenue off-ramp and turn east. Turn left into Hans Strijdom Drive
and right into Haymeadow Crescent. The bird sanctuary is situated on the left of the road.
Struben Dam Bird Sanctuary
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Reserve size: 11 ha
Admission times: 1 January to 31 December from 06:00 to 18:00
Entrance fee: No charge
Pets: Dogs on a leashes
Facilities: Self-guided walks, casual fishing
For more information, call 012 358 1510 or fax 012 358 0467 or E-mail Adelene Marais at
adelenel@tshwane.gov.za
How to get there
From the N1, take the Atterbury Road off-ramp and travel east. Turn left into Lois Avenue. At
the circle, turn right into Ingersol Road. Turn left into Ilkey Street and right into Innes Road. The
sanctuary is on your right.