Weekend Getaway to Mountain Sanctuary Park

Mountain Sanctuary Park is perfect for a tranquil weekend trip, located right on the border between Gauteng and North West provinces.  Just two hours away from Johannesburg or Pretoria, you can leave after work on a Friday to start your weekend.  

Plan two nights (Friday and Saturday) at the park during the summer.

About Mountain Sanctuary Park

Mountain Sanctuary Park is a privately owned nature reserve in the Magaliesberg Mountains. It is home to a vast expanse of hiking grounds and two rivers. The rivers are on the eastern and western edges of the park and each has incredible, clear natural pools that you can take a dip in.  

Here you can make your own adventure by choosing to take a trail, or not. There are plenty of footpaths but you are free to wander off the paths and explore the ancient, rocky landscape. 

The park does not accept day visitors so you’ll have the park to yourself (with the other campers) for a relaxing weekend with hiking, braais (South African BBQ), and swimming in natural pools. 

Mountain Sanctuary Park is home to plenty of wildlife. I saw my very first wild chameleon near the eastern natural pools! Monkeys and warthogs also call the park home.  

How to get to the park

The park gates are open until 8 PM only on Fridays. On other days they close earlier so check your arrival time with the park.  

Do not use GPS all the way to the park. It will take you in the wrong direction. Once you reach the dirt road, start to follow the Mountain Sanctuary Park signs. There is a large gate that is operated by a hand motion sensor as you pull up. You’ll drive another couple of kilometers until you reach reception. 

You can get to the park in a sedan. Just drive slowly on the unpaved road. Once you’re at the park there is no need for the car until the weekend is over.  

Read the park’s directions here.  

Hiking at Mountain Sanctuary Park

Hiking options at Mountain Sanctuary Park are endless! There are 1000 hectares of land you can wander through. Hiking is a make-your-own-trail kinda deal. Footpaths will lead you to the most popular spots and signs will indicate you’ve reached a location of interest. 

Perdewater grotto and mountain top 

Follow the pipeline track to the Perdewater Grotto. It is about a 20-minute walk from the rest camp. You will follow a literal black pipe to this grotto. The pipe fills the reservoir that you’ll pass near the rest camp. This is the same water that you drink out of in your cabin. 

 Stop to check out the cool boulders jutting out from the earth.  

You can fill up your water at the grotto (preferably straight from the falls).  

From there, continue on your own to the “false” top of the mountain. There are some worn paths but it’s best to make your own trail. Head to one of the large boulders and rest for a nibs break.  

Weikloff Stream and natural pools  

You can head straight to these eastern pools from the rest camp, following trail signs from the reservoir. It is about a 20-30 minute walk. Or, go to the pool after hiking to the Perdewater Grotto to cool off.  

You can wander up and down either side of the pools until you find one to your liking! There is one pool that is deeper than the rest. You’ll be warned by reception that if you go too far north/up the stream, you’ll pass into a restricted hiking area that is not marked in any way. Occasionally, there is a patrol from the restricted hiking area (as it requires a permit) so don’t go too far!  

Our favorite little pool was just on the border according to Google Maps but no one came our way. On a hot summer day, the water felt great! 

To head back to the rest camp, go back to the reservoir or take a longer path following the mountain bike trail signs. On this trail, we missed a left turn that would have brought us back to rest camp sooner. Instead, we went to the edge of the park’s border (which was fenced off from the neighboring lodge property). We followed the fence and took the service road back to rest camp.  

West Pools 

The west pools are just a 15-minute walk from the rest camp. The water is colder than that of those on the eastern side of the park. However, the space is beautiful and is right up against the forest. We saw plenty of butterflies and dragonflies. 

Hiking map 

Check out the map. You’ll get one from reception but this one is a little more detailed. Screenshot it to your phone or download the image. 

Does building your own trail scare you?  

It almost scared me. Only if you try very, very hard you may be able to get lost. We thought we were too far off a trail near the end of our day hike but we made it back to rest camp with only a 20-minute detour. 

Lodging Options

There are several self-catering lodging options in Mountain Sanctuary Park. You can choose to stay in log cabins, chalets, or cozy huts. Alternatively, you can bring your own camping gear and camp!  

The eight log cabins can fit 4-6 people. There are four chalets that fit between 2-4 people. These two options are best for travelers who want everything ready to relax. The units come with a full kitchen (gas stove, oven, microwave, and fridge), proper utensils, and real plates and glasses.  

Campsites accommodate 6 people per lot. Bathroom facilities are clean and you can request an electric link when you book. 

If you’re looking for something more rustic but don’t have camping gear, opt for the cosy huts. They “bridge the gap between camping and log cabins/chalets.” Bring your own bedding and towels. There are basic kitchen facilities (plate gas stove and a bar fridge) and camping-style utensils. There are no bathrooms in these units—you’ll use the camping facilities. You can also do a combo and some people can stay in the hut while others can camp right outside (for an additional fee).  

There is no Wi-Fi in the huts but MTN had good signal.  

Bring your groceries

The lodging options at Mountain Sanctuary Park come with kitchens and a braai. Take advantage of it and bring your groceries from town. Be aware that you need to bring your own oil and spices too.  

There is a restaurant and bar on site. This comes in handy (especially if you forget to bring coffee like I did!) 

It rained on us while we did our braai so we had to improvise!

Monkeys!

Mountain Sanctuary Park is very safe. Occasionally, monkeys will get into your lodging if you don’t close all the windows and doors. Put all your food away in the fridge or cupboard.

A monkey (or something…) managed to get into our locked lodge and eat the bread we left wrapped on the counter. The unknown animal also peed on top of the fridge before it left.

Things to see and do at Mountain Sanctuary Park

Bring your own mountain bikes and choose from a range of trail options varying in difficulty.  

Rock climbing: bring your own gear and trad climber. (No, I don’t know what a trad climber is but the park website says you need one). 

If you’re too lazy to walk to the natural pools (shame!), there is also a swimming pool on-site

Mountain Sanctuary Park Tips

The park has a lot of rules but this makes it a peaceful spot to visit. If you’re looking to blast your favorite public radio station or the latest Black Coffee single, look elsewhere. There is “no-nonsense,”  no radio/TV noise, and no pets allowed.  

Additionally, no day visitors are allowed without a guide and permission. You’ll have to check with the park in advance if you’d like to do this. 

Book in advance—when I enquired about 3 weeks out from our weekend stay there was only one cabin available.  

Budget

The park’s prices are listed on their site. Send them an email to make a booking and you’ll pay by EFT.  

A log cabin for two people will cost around R 2800.  If you don’t have a car, a small automatic rental will cost around R 1500 for a weekend. 

Bring a little bit of change. You’ll need to pay a R50 cash deposit for your cabin keys.