There is more to hiking in Gauteng than squeezing in a few hours on a Sunday morning. The province’s grasslands, rocky ridges and Magaliesberg landscapes make for surprisingly good overnight adventures, and you don’t always need to travel far from Johannesburg or Pretoria to spend a night under the stars.
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While Gauteng has plenty of popular day hikes, genuine multi-day trails are a little harder to come by. That makes the handful of overnight routes all the more worth knowing about. From a proper backpacking adventure in Suikerbosrand to shorter two-day routes in the Magaliesberg region, these are some of the best options for turning a hike into a weekend away.
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
For a proper multi-day hiking adventure in Gauteng, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve near Heidelberg is one of the first places to look. The reserve has an extensive network of hiking trails through Highveld grassland and rocky hills, with overnight huts allowing hikers to turn their walk into a longer expedition. The terrain is more rugged than the seemingly endless grasslands might suggest, with plenty of climbs and descents along the way.
The reserve is also home to a variety of wildlife, including zebra and several antelope species, while the open landscape makes for excellent birdwatching. One of the pleasures of hiking here is the sense of space: you can spend hours walking across rolling hills with very little development in sight. It is particularly appealing for hikers who want a wilderness-style weekend without having to travel several hours from Johannesburg. Current access and overnight arrangements should be confirmed with the reserve before setting off.
De Wildt Adventure Trails
On the western side of Gauteng, the Magaliesberg landscape provides another option for hikers looking for a multi-day adventure. De Wildt Adventure Trails offers several routes in the mountains, including the Brown Hyena Trail, a 25km two-day backpacking or slackpacking route. The trail is divided into roughly 11km on the first day and 14km on the second, making it a manageable weekend challenge for reasonably fit hikers.
The scenery is classic Magaliesberg, with rocky mountain terrain, indigenous vegetation and expansive views across the surrounding landscape. The trail network also includes shorter routes, so it is possible to make a weekend of it without committing to the longest option. Because the trails are in the Magaliesberg area close to the Gauteng–North West boundary, check the exact location and current arrangements when booking.
A Magaliesberg overnight escape
The Magaliesberg is worth a special mention because it offers several opportunities to combine hiking with an overnight stay, even when you are not tackling a traditional five- or six-day hiking trail. The mountain range stretches across the Gauteng–North West landscape and is dotted with private reserves, hiking properties and outdoor destinations where visitors can walk during the day and sleep over.
One example is the Skeerpoort Valley two-day hike at Vergenoeg, which covers 27km over two days between Van Gaalen and Vergenoeg. The route climbs into the Magaliesberg and offers views from higher sections of the range, while overnight options include camping, tents supplied by the reserve or huts. It is a useful choice for hikers who want the feel of a multi-day trail without having to carry absolutely everything for several days.
Kgaswane’s Summit Trail
Just beyond Gauteng, but close enough to make a convenient hiking weekend from Johannesburg or Pretoria, Kgaswane Mountain Reserve offers one of the better overnight routes in the Magaliesberg. The two-day Summit Trail covers about 25km and takes hikers through a mix of grassland and rocky mountain terrain, with panoramic views across the surrounding landscape.
The route includes some scrambling over rocky sections and can be challenging in hot or humid conditions, so it is better suited to hikers with some experience. Overnight accommodation is provided in basic huts, making it a good middle ground between a fully equipped camping trip and a more traditional hut-to-hut hike. The reserve’s position in the Magaliesberg also means that the scenery changes considerably as the route moves between valleys, ridges and higher ground.
Make it a hiking weekend
One of the nicest things about hiking around Gauteng is that a multi-day adventure does not necessarily have to mean spending four or five days deep in the wilderness. A two-day route with an overnight hut or campsite can be enough to break away from the city, especially when the trail takes you into the Magaliesberg or the open Highveld.
If you are new to overnight hiking, start with a shorter two-day route before committing to a longer backpacking trail. Even on relatively short routes, you need to be prepared for changing weather, limited facilities and challenging terrain. Check the latest trail conditions and booking requirements before leaving, carry sufficient water and food, tell someone your route and avoid hiking alone on unfamiliar or remote trails.
For experienced hikers, meanwhile, Suikerbosrand is one of the most appealing places to start looking for a proper Gauteng multi-day adventure, while the Magaliesberg offers several shorter options that are ideal for a weekend away.
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