Melville Koppies Nature Reserve

Melville, Johannesburg

Melville Koppies Nature Reserve is one of those gems of open spaces, within the city boundaries, that are often overlooked. It is quite a small reserve but is important for botanical and geological reasons. There is a 2-3 hour hiking trail on the western section of the reserve. The central section of the reserve is a National Heritage Site. Optional guided tours operate during these times. Parking is available in Marks Park. The other two sections of the reserve are open each day during normal daylight hours. The trail in the western section start at the gate in 3rd Avenue, Westdene. Maps of the trail are available from the red postbox in 3rd Avenue.

Melville Koppies is a nature reserve and a national Heritage site. It is not available for functions, braais or picnics. Visitors to the reserve can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a pristine environment preserved in the middle of Johannesburg. Keep to the paths so that the indigenous flora and fauna are not damaged.

         
 

The reserve falls under Johannesburg City Parks  who provide regular patrols of the area. The friends of Melville Koppies handle  the day to day management of the reserve and also run many very informative tours with recognized experts in their particular field.

  
Inside the entrance gate on the central section
Our guide
 
         
 
 

The rocks in the reserve are between 2,7 and 3,2 billion years old. The geology department of Wits University use the reserve for study purposes.

  
         
 

There is a surprising variety of things to see in the reserve and a brief tour will produce the unexpected, from rocky crags to wooded riverine bush.

  
Prof. Kim Hein, our guide from Wits
 
         
 
 

Conclusion

Melville Koppies is well worth a visit. You are more than welcome to take your dog along to the east and west section of the reserve (but not to the central section). Although the reserve is patrolled on a regular basis, it is still advisable to take normal precautions while walking in the reserve as it is a public open space (east and west).

www.veld.org.za gives all the up-to-date information on what is planned by the Friends of Melville Koppies. If you would like to lend a hand in maintenance work parties your help would be most welcome.

 

  

Maps

Click on image for larger version

 

 

               Open Days for Melville Koppies CENTRAL        

                                                   2008                                                           

Park opposite the entrance at Marks Park Sports Club,      

                     Judith Rd, Emmarentia.             011 482 4797                        

                                                                                                        

MONTH

date

time

 January

6

3pm to 6pm

 

13

8.30am to 11.30am

 

20

3pm to 6pm

 

27

8.30am to 11.30am

February

3

3pm to 6pm

 

10

8.30am to 11.30am

 

17

3pm to 6pm

 

24

8.30am to 11.30am

March

2

3pm to 6pm

 

9

8.30am to 11.30am

 

16

3pm to 6pm

 

23

8.30am to 11.30am

April

6

3pm to 6pm

 

13

8.30am to 11.30am

 

20

3pm to 6pm

 

27

8.30am to 11.30am

May *

4

2pm to 5pm              NB

 

11

8.30am to 11.30am

 

18

2pm to 5pm

 

25

8.30am to 11.30am

June *

1

2pm to 5pm

 

8

8.30am to 11.30am

 

15

2pm to 5pm

 

22

8.30am to 11.30am

July *

6

2pm to 5pm

 

13

8.30am to 11.30am

 

20

2pm to 5pm

 

27

8.30am to 11.30am

August *

3

2pm to 5pm

 

10

8.30am to 11.30am

 

17

2pm to 5pm

 

24

8.30am to 11.30am

September

7

3pm to 6pm                NB

 

14

8.30am to 11.30am

 

21

3pm to 6pm

 

28

8.30am to 11.30am

October

5

3pm to 6pm

 

12

8.30am to 11.30am

 

19

3pm to 6pm

 

26

8.30am to 11.30am

November

2

3pm to 6pm

 

9

8.30am to 11.30am

 

16

3pm to 6pm

 

23

8.30am to 11.30am

December

7

3pm to 6pm

 

14

8.30am to 11.30am

 

21

3pm to 6pm

 

28

8.30am to 11.30am

 

 

MELVILLE KOPPIES WEST WALKS.  2008

 

These start from the dead end off Arundel Road in

 Westdene at 8am

Socialised dogs are welcome on these walks.

 

From Main Road, an extension of Beyers Naude

 Drive, in Melville,

 turn west at the traffic lights in 4th Ave.

keep May’s Chemist on your left

 and the Boulevard shopping centre on your right.

Keep right all the time.

 The road starts off as AYR, then becomes

             KOREA,  then ARUNDEL.

Arundel Rd is a dead end.

Turn right into the other little dead end

 Melville Koppies West is well sign posted.

 

Dates of Melville Koppies WEST walks for 2008

 

5th Jan

2nd Feb

1st March

5th April

3rd May

7th June

5th July

2nd August

6th September

4th October

1st November

6th December

 

 

Kids’ Nature Trails on MK EAST

April 7th to 11th

Duration; two hours from 9am to 11am

Booking essential  for these 011 482 4797

                                                                                                                                                                                           

Melville Koppies; Cross Koppies Hike

 

Cross Koppie hikes at 8am from Marks Park

Saturday  May 24th

Wednesday 24th September

Duration; 3 hours. No dogs on this hike

 

 Websites for information

 www.veld.org.za

www.footprint.co.za

www.wildswalk.co.za

www.joburg.org.za

 

Melville Koppies West

A guided walk will take place at 8am on the 1st Saturday of every month

 

For details and bookings

Friends of Melville Koppies Nature Reserve

Contact Wendy Carstens 011 482 4797

Footprint hiking club

To view other pages on the Footprint Web click on a hyperlink below