I wanted to know if this one was going to happen. It was freezing all weekend, and the temperature predicted for our Sunday hike was 18 degrees. The weekend was filled with temperatures you would expect in winter, and we were working our way through mid-spring.
According to the news, snow was on the Drakensberg mountains, and people were stuck in their vehicles. My home town, Newcastle, was also covered in snow. Friends shared pictures of them playing in the snow. This is unique, as the last time it snowed was 20 years ago.
On Saturday, the maximum temperature was 11 degrees. It was cold, to say the least.
Strange, I thought. I spoke to individuals who have been around much longer than I have about this phenomenon, and they reckoned it happens every year. I just nodded my head and thought, “I don’t recall this happening last year or the year before,” and left it there.
The hike was supposed to start just after seven, but because of the freezing temperatures, our club leaders decided to move it to 08h45, which was also a good idea.
The turnout for the hike was small but better than I thought, taking the weather into consideration. There were some new faces and many familiar ones. We were 9 hikers who braved the temperatures that morning. It’s R45 pp hiking.
Some decided to do the 5km hike, and others went for the 10km hike. We all ended up staying together, and we hiked just over 9km.
The Wolwespruit Trail Park is familiar to me. I have been there many times before because it’s close to me, and I like the setup, which I will get to. It’s a mere 15km drive, and it took me about 20 minutes to get there. The park is located in the Erasmuskloof, Pretoria area.
The trail park has a variety of trails for hiking/running, and mountain biking. The hiking/running trails vary from 5 to 10km and zig-zag throughout the 90 hectares of property. The mountain bike trails range from 3 to 23km.
At one point, we hiked along a stream, crossed many bridges, and ascended to 161 meters. If you hike the entire 10km, which includes going up, you are looking at moderate difficulty, and if you just stick to the 5km, you have an easy hike.
The cool weather and the fact that trees mostly covered the first part of the hike resulted in a hike with little effort. Fellow hikers’ moods were positive along the way, and everyone enjoyed it.
We chatted away along our hike about various topics and occasionally stopped for a glimpse of the aviation show taking place at the Waterkloof Air Force base.
Our 9.7km hike took just over 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete. It was filled with good people, nature, and exercise, which is always a win in my book.
Afterwards, some of us decided to get a cold one and something to eat, which is a nice way to finish a hike. The Wolwespruit Trail Park has a lot of value. Since my last visit, they have added an additional restaurant called the BOMA. It has a relaxed atmosphere.
They have an open entertainment area where you can get something to eat and drink while listening to a live music performance. If you have kids, you can keep an eye on them while they play away just to the side of the restaurant’s kids’ play area.
It’s a rather nice setup. It reminds me of the Taroko Trail Park but offers much more.
Two restaurants, PLTFRM and BOMA. Then you have Create if you want to get all artsy and create your own crockery. TREK Bicycles also has a presence where you can get your mountain bike thing on. They answer questions and supply all the mountain bike gear you would need.
This is all situated in the heart of Pretoria. Wolwespruit MTB & Trail Park has a good thing going.
Trail Info Hiking Trails: 5KM - 10KM Level: Easy - Moderate Elevation: 161 Meters Well Marked: Yes River: No, more like a stream. Waterfall: No Dam or Lake: No Pet-friendly: Yes Wildlife: No Mountain Bike Trails: Yes Toilets for Hikers: Yes Cost: R45 pp Venue Info Coffee Shop: Yes Farmers Market: No Secure Parking: Yes Card Payment: Yes Toilets: Yes Picnic Area: No Restaurant: Yes, more than one. Accommodation: No Bookings Required: No Open & Close: Mon to Fri: 5:30 AM - 6:30 PM, Sat & Sun: 6 AM - 6 PM Contact Info Website: Wolwespruit Bike & Trail Park Facebook Page: Wolwespruit Bike & Trail Park Facebook Page Location: Wolwespruit Bike & Trail Park Google Map Location
My overall experience was good, even if it was a bit cold. It blows over as soon as you start moving. I can’t think of anything I disliked about the hike or the park. It still seems to be very well maintained. The trails are well-marked and clean. It’s all good for now.
This is all I have to say about the Wolwespruit Trail Park Hike Review. I hope this inspires you to visit them. Make a point of visiting one of the restaurants after your hike/run or bike ride. It’s an excellent way to end a day in nature.
