HIKING
SWAP
CITY LIGHTS
FOR STARS
BY BYRON LUKAS
You don’ t have to drive halfway across South Africa to feel as though you’ ve escaped it. These hiking destinations near Johannesburg and Pretoria trade traffic for rocky ridges, open grasslands, and star-filled skies.
NEW TO OVERNIGHT HIKING? Start with a shorter two-day route and go with friends. Pack enough water and food, check the weather before leaving, and tell someone where you’ re going. Always confirm your booking, permits, water supply, and trail conditions beforehand.
For those ready to trade the comfort of home for a backpack and a sleeping bag, or simply combine a day on the trail with a night in nature, these weekend escapes are worth adding to your list.
KGASWANE MOUNTAIN RESERVE Technically just over the Gauteng border in the North West, Kgaswane Mountain Reserve is close enough to make the cut for a weekend adventure.
The reserve’ s two established overnight routes take hikers into the Magaliesberg landscape. The Summit Route is around 25km, while the Baviaanskrans Route covers about 19.5km.
It’ s the kind of hike where the reward is not just reaching the finish line. Sitting outside your overnight hut after a day on the trail, with the mountains around you, is the whole point.
SUIKERBOSRAND NATURE RESERVE If you want to start with a proper Gauteng hiking adventure, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve near Heidelberg is a good place to begin. The reserve has an extensive network of trails winding through Highveld grasslands and rocky hills, with overnight huts for hikers.
What makes this one special? One minute you’ re dealing with traffic; the next, you’ re walking through wide-open veld with a zebra.
The terrain can be deceptively tough, with plenty of hills and little shade, so don’ t underestimate it. Don’ t assume that drinking water will be available along the route or at the huts.
A MAGALIESBERG WEEKEND The Magaliesberg is another obvious choice for hikers seeking adventure without disappearing into the wilderness for days.
Some routes are more comfortable than traditional backpacking trails, making them ideal if you’ re still figuring out whether overnight hiking is really your thing. You can hike during the day, enjoy the scenery, and have somewhere to sleep without carrying everything you own on your back.
For a more rustic experience, some Magaliesberg properties, including Rustig and Mountain Sanctuary Park, offer campsites and basic accommodation, giving you that proper weekendin-the-bush feeling without travelling too far from Johannesburg or Pretoria. IB
90 INBOUND SA / OCTOBER 2026