Modderfontein Reserve Hiking Guide
Spend the day at Modderfontein Reserve and forget all about the city. The reserve in Joburg features endless hiking and biking trails.
The park is huge! With 265 hectares of land, Modderfontein Reserve is the second-largest park in Gauteng. The expansive space allows for plenty of conservation activities to be managed alongside the hiking and biking trails. The reserve practices alien vegetation removal, tree planting, environmental education, and monitoring.
Modderfontein Reserve is also home to plenty of animals, like steenbok, reedbuck, duiker, black-backed jackals, Cape clawless otter, hedgehogs, and four varieties of mongoose. So keep your eyes open!
Modderfontein Reserve Logistics
The main access to the reserve is at Taroko Farm. You’ll see the signs for this as you’re driving to the reserve. The park is open 6 am-6 pm every day, including weekends and public holidays.
Entrance fees
Pay in cash or card at the Taroko Center. No bookings are required.
Running, hiking, or picnicking: R30
Cycling: R50
Parking
Parking is plenty at Modderfontein Reserve. There are two large lots with an attendant.
What to eat
You can bring your own picnic during the week.
On the weekends, the Fourways Farmers Market sets up shop and you can get nibs and goodies from over 60 vendors!
Modderfontein Reserve Trails
Hiking
Modderfontein Reserve hiking has a lot to offer. There are 8 hiking trails on the reserve. Five are basic trails that are between 2-4km. The two longer trails are 5km and 11km, and they are also used for trail running.
Take the 5km trail if it’s your first time. You’ll do a large loop around the Grebe Dam. The trail is easy and well-maintained. Or, if you’re hardcore, go straight for the 11km hike to also loop Fish Eagle Dam.
The park vibe was very serene. Though there were other people on the trails, everyone is going at their own pace so you’ll likely feel like you have the whole park to yourself at times!
Birding is common here so bring your binoculars. There are several bird huts you can enter on the trails to watch the ibis, eagles, and Secretary birds found near the dams.
Check out the detailed map.
p.s. When first looking up Modderfontein, I didn’t understand that hikers can also go on the trail-running paths. So, when we visited I expected a short 3km walk. We ended up doing the 5km trail… I was 100% the only one not dressed in my hiking clothes- haha. Next time we will do the 11km hike and keep our fingers crossed that the farmers market will be open again. (We visited during level 4 lockdown so the market was not operating).
Biking
If you’re up for more than just Modderfontein Reserve hiking, get on a bike! There are 4 trails (10km-40km) available for biking that accommodate all skill levels. The biking trails rarely overlap with the hiking trails and they loop around the entirety of the park. You may spot some of the fauna on your ride. As a bonus, you can also get your bike washed at the Taroko Center.
Looking for more hiking in and around Joburg?
