The Wilds Nature Reserve

5 Regan Levendale - a month ago

The Wilds Nature Reserve is a piece of natural Heaven in the midst of the concrete jungle that is Johannesburg.

Ample parking and they still follow COVID protocols, as in temperature checks and recording of names.

An amazingly beautiful serene nature reserve with various path options to take depending on your fitness level and that of your beloved pet, either in the East or Western part.

Quiet time in nature as you sit on one of the various benches scattered around or grab your blanket and just chill on lush green grass.

So many interesting spots to see and relax at whilst enjoying nature’s sounds and look out for the 67 Owls in the trees above and around you.

In essence it’s FREE entry and a great place to relax, chill or have an amazing walk. As always BE SAFE u0026 AWARE of your surroundings!!!

4 Teneal Jean-Pierre - 4 months ago

Extremely relaxing! Beware though there's a lot of up hill! It's so peaceful. Some ponds are sort of dry but there are a few with water. The view is absolutely amazing and they have very beautiful plants and trees in this reserve unlike some places!

5 Arielle M. Lusinga - 4 months ago

It's quite picturesque, serene and clean. What a breath of fresh air. If you're looking for somewhere to unwind and be one with nature, this is the perfect place for you. The best part is that it's totally free of charge!

5 Sizwe Nxumalo - 7 months ago

Wow what a lovely place. The place is so beautiful for relaxing and to unwind. Nice see the birds singing and there is wind blowing. Great view of the Johannesburg CBD

5 Lee Ratsie - 8 months ago

The park is very clean and well maintained, I enjoyed every moment. It's so peaceful. We didn't get to see the waterfall as there was no water but I'm happy, ooh and entrance is free ????????????

4 Shakira Pillay - 4 months ago

Parking was an issue. Waited 20 minutes for a parking. Nice, peaceful, and relaxing. You can have a picnic there. It is free. People take there dogs as well

4 Nikki Moutsatsos - 8 months ago

Today we explored the west side of The Wilds Municipal Nature Reserve (Houghton) situated in the heart of a literal concrete jungle.

The park itself is really lush and pretty. Ideal venue to combine a relaxed walk with appreciation of art. Corrugated steel/iron structures by James Delany as well as mosaic and other artistic touches make this a really interesting walk. A spectacular array of flowers and trees. The green, manicured lawns are perfect for a picnic.

I would describe this as more of a walk than a hike. We explored the west side and this was more or less a 3km walk. For a longer walk one can venture over the bridge to the east side.

Dogs welcome on the leash. Perfect spot for a day out with smaller children. The walkway is paved throughout but contains many steps and climbs so is probably not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. The walk does not require a high level of fitness. The majority of the paths are shady which is very welcome in this extreme heat. The water features will be beautiful once they have been fully restored.

This is a public park and one has to appreciate the work the local community has done here to turn around this venue. Their commitment translates into a much transformed reserve compared to a few years back. They have a really informative facebook page you can visit @ Friends of The Wilds, Joburg to truly understand the progress they have made. Weekly group events such as walks and yoga are facilitated from this platform.

Parking on site is limited but safe parking is available at St John's school just down the road. The school's parking has access control and has security on duty. Free parking and entrance.

The Wilds used to have a very bad reputation as a crime Hotspot due to the location and reports of muggings. Thanks to intervention by the local community this has dramatically improved. The Wilds is divided into two sections separated by a bridge. The West side which we visited today is not a safety concern at all. This side is well maintained and has many visitors and has not had any incidents of crime reported since the community got involved. The East side had a few incidents of sporadic crime a few months ago. As per "Friends of the Wilds" recommendations the East side should be visited in groups of 3 or more people at a time and is not suitable for solo walks.

An enjoyable Saturday morning!