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The Wilds
Houghton,
Johannesburg
Do you ever find yourself
stuck in Johannesburg with time to spare and not knowing how to
spend it? Within easy reach of the city centre there are several
opportunities to enjoy a walk in nature. The Wilds is one of them
and thanks to the hard work TJ and his family, this
inner city indigenous park is in a beautiful condition. Their is a network of
paved footpaths that explore every area of the reserve and an
exploratory stroll could well take an afternoon to accomplish. The
idea of paved paths may tend to deter the hiker but I found my visit
well worth the effort and certainly one I can recommend to my fellow
hikers.
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Car parking is
available on the corner of Houghton Drive and St.
Patricks (at the entrance to St Johns School). Dogs are
allowed provided that they are kept on leashes. |
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The trails
provide excellent views over Johannesburg , contrasting
to the lushness of the vegetation that surrounds one. |
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The walks are
quite hilly and one certainly knows the feeling of
exercise once you have completed the walk. The trails are
laid out on both sides of Houghton Drive and are
connected by a footbridge. |
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Even in Winter
(these pictures were taken in August) there is an
abundance of greenery including some lovely lawns to
relax on. |
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There are also
some surprises! Some beautiful examples of Cycads are to
be found in the gardens. |
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A Tree Fern or
two can also be found. Have a seat on a park bench and
relax and allow the beauty of the surroundings to ease
those thoughts! |
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Security
In
common with inner city parks in major cities throughout
the world, it is advisable to take normal precautions
and not to walk alone. It is advisable to walk in a
group of a minimum of five people and to leave all
expensive belongings at home. |
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Some fine specimens of flora |
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Click on the map for a larger image |
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Management
The Wilds is
managed by Johannesburg City Parks.
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Footprint Hiking Club
To view other pages on
this website click on a hyperlink below
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