Wonderboom Nature Reserve Hiking Trails

The Wonderboom Nature Reserve is situated in the northern part of Tshwane and straddles the Magaliesberg. Here you’ll find one of the most popular hiking trails in Pretoria that’s also conveniently located close to the city.

Wonderboom Nature Reserve is steeped in history and dates back 2300 million years with the beginning of the Magaliesberg Ridge formation.

Wonderboom Nature Reserve hiking trails

This 3.9-km loop hiking trail in Pretoria may be short, but it is generally considered to be a moderately challenging route thanks to the steep climb to the top. Wonderboom is popular for hiking, running, and walking, and for those times when you are after some solitude during quieter times of the day.

The entire family can join in this fun outdoor adventure with great aerial views of the historical fort. The Wonderboom Fort was one of four Forts Built around Pretoria for protection against the British. Today you’ll find the fort in ruins, but still provides breathtaking views over the City of Pretoria and a great attraction that helps keep the hiking experience somewhat engaging.

There are multiple routes to choose from including the Wonderboom hiking trail or Magaliesberg trail. On good days and during the rainy season in winter, you’ll walk past a man-made waterfall. Other highlights to catch along your excursion is a cave, wooden walkparths, and great scenes of the city. Experts recommend the best times to visit this trail are February through October.

Do note that navigation along the route is not very well-signed, having the map downloaded ahead of time can help keep you on track.

More about the Wonderboom wild fig tree

This 200-hectare reserve is famous for its magnificent specimen of Ficus salicifolia, a wild fig tree called the “Wonderboom”.

The fig tree is older than 1,000 years, and legend has it that it has grown to be 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 that was started by a hunting party or due to a parasitic infestation, which put the tree under quarantine for 20 years.

Over the years, the branches have grown longer, hanging lower until they touched the ground, where they rooted and produced a circle of daughter trees. There are now three circles of daughter trees surrounding the original tree.

Cost: R45pp per adult, R30pp per for pensioners and kids under 18. Pay at entrance, no cash is accepted. Guided hikes are also available, see rates here