Rosewood Trails Hiking Guide: Yellow Trail & Dexter Trail at Kimiad Golf Course, Moreleta Park

The golfers had the fairways. We had the trails — a footpath cutting along the edge of their morning, 25 of us in hiking boots, making our way around the golf course.

Rosewood Trails sits inside Kimiad Golf Course in Moreleta Park — a 20-minute drive from Centurion, all tar, no drama getting there. I pulled in just after 07:00 to a parking lot with plenty of room. Another Centurion Hiking Club outing, which meant the usual mix — a few new faces, a few I hadn’t seen in months, all of us doing the meet-greet-scan-attendance shuffle before making our way to the start. The mood was good. Everyone ready.

We picked up the outer rim of the golf course — a wide, well-kept path skirting the fairways, the kind of terrain that lets you look up instead of down. 25 of us, including me. A few other CHC leaders in the mix kept the stragglers and the front-runners roughly together.

Off to one side, the trail forked onto Dexter Trail — a tighter, twistier ribbon of path zig-zagging through the bush before looping back to rejoin the rim. It was meant to be a shortfall fix. The hike was advertised at 8km; the Yellow Trail alone falls short, and the official fix is to loop it twice. I read the room before we even started — 25 people are not doing the same loop twice — so Dexter Trail became the detour instead, some improvised distance dressed up as exploration.

It worked. Grass, freshly cut, no sprinklers running yet — that particular green smell that only exists before 8am. Back near the start, big old trees shading the reception area, that cooler, earthier smell trees make when the sun hasn’t reached the ground under them yet.

We closed the loop back at reception. I asked the group: fancy coffee, or another lap? 3 raised their hands for another lap. The other 22 didn’t hesitate, and we made our way to Rosewood Terrace Restaurant.

There isn’t a moment where the trail stops me in my tracks. No ledge, no view that swallows the conversation. If I’m honest, the best part of the morning comes straight off the trail — tables pushed together off to the side of Rosewood Terrace, umbrellas up against the sun, a good coffee, and breakfast with good people who’ve just spent an hour and a half on the trail with you. 22 of us decide, without much debate, that it’s onwards to the restaurant rather than another lap. That’s its own kind of verdict on a hike. Sometimes the reward isn’t the trail. It’s knowing when to stop.

Who’s this for? Big groups, small groups, newer hikers, anyone who wants an easy, social morning out. Comfortable is the keyword. It’s closer to a walk in the park than a hike — no ledges, no scrambling, nothing that’ll test you.

Going in, I gave the group the short version: we’re doing the Yellow Trail, 3.4km, it loops, about 30 metres of elevation gain along the way. No surprises after that. No drama, no near-misses, nobody struggled.

If you’re after a proper trail challenge — elevation, technical terrain, a view that makes your legs shake — look elsewhere. This isn’t that. What it is: a well-maintained path around a golf course, easy enough for almost anyone, that ends at a restaurant.

Would I go back? Yes. It’s a pleasant venue, the trail is comfortable, and finishing at the restaurant is a genuinely nice way to close out a hike.

We said our goodbyes at the table. I mentioned what was coming next, and told a few of them I’d see them on it. Walking back to the car, I caught a fellow hike leader for a last chat, the kind that always seems to happen in parking lots after these things. Then it was just the small rituals: trail runners off, comfortable shoes on, leftover snacks out of the backpack for the drive home. I tipped the car guard and got going.

Practical Guide – Rosewood & Kimiad Walking Trails

The Basics

• Activity: Hiking — Yellow Trail + Dexter Trail (Rosewood Trails)
• Location: Kimiad Golf Course, Moreleta Park, Pretoria
• Difficulty: Easy — suited to beginners, families, and groups of any fitness level
• Distance: Advertised at 8km; our route (Yellow Trail plus a Dexter Trail detour) came to 5.72km, recorded via Strava
• Duration: ~1h 30 including stops; ~1h 13 moving time
• Elevation gain: 95.2m
• Best time of year: Year-round
• Rosewood Trails on Strava

Rosewood Trails Map

Getting There

• 20-minute drive from Centurion, roughly 15km, all tar roads
• Located within Kimiad Golf Course, Moreleta Park, Pretoria
• Ample parking on-site
• Rosewood Trails on Google Maps

The Trail Itself

• Surface: well-maintained path, brick-paved in sections, dirt underfoot elsewhere — easy walking throughout
• Navigation: well waymarked — Yellow, White, and Red trail markers are clearly signposted at the start and along the route
• Landmarks: golf course fairways along the outer rim; Dexter Trail branches off into denser bush before rejoining the main loop
• No technical sections, no scrambling, no exposure
• Endpoint/payoff: no dramatic summit — the trail loops back to the start near Rosewood Terrace restaurant

What to Bring

• Water — bring your own (toilets at reception have water available if needed)
• Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection
• No dogs, no bicycles permitted on the walking trails

Safety & Logistics

• Cell signal: good throughout — the venue sits within a Pretoria suburb
• Water sources: none on-trail; water available at reception toilets
• Wildlife/snakes: no concerns to flag
• Emergency contact: Kimiad Golf Course — 012 997 2240 / kimiadgolf1@gmail.com

Good to Know

• The advertised 8km distance assumes looping the Yellow Trail twice to make up the shortfall — most groups won’t want to do this. Detouring onto Dexter Trail is a good alternative for extra distance without repeating the same loop.
• Rosewood Terrace restaurant is on-site and worth booking a table at afterward.

Cost and Booking

• R35 per person, payable on arrival (correct as at 16 August 2026)
• Email: kimiadgolf1@gmail.com 
• Tel: 012 997 2240
• Rosewood Terrace on the Web
• Kimiad Gold Course on Facebook

The Verdict

• Recommended for: big or small groups, newer hikers, anyone wanting an easy, social morning out
• Not recommended for: hikers chasing a physical challenge, elevation, or dramatic scenery
• Rating: Easy

Frequently Asked Questions – Rosewood & Kimiad Walking Trails

What is the entrance fee for Rosewood Trails?
The entrance fee for Rosewood Trails is R35 per person. This flat day-pass rate grants access to the entire designated trail network, including the 2.3km White Trail and 3.6km Yellow Trail for walking or jogging, as well as the 2.4km Red Trail for mountain biking.

Are dogs allowed on the Rosewood Trails?
No, dogs and domestic pets are strictly prohibited on the walking and running routes at Rosewood Trails. Because the paths run directly alongside the active Kimiad Golf Course and sensitive greenbelt areas, pet access is restricted to preserve safety and respect golf operations.

What are the trail operating hours at Rosewood Trails?
The trails and main restaurant venue open at 08:00 AM on Sundays and Saturdays. From Monday to Thursday, the venue opens at 10:00 AM, while Friday operations begin at 10:00 AM. Closing times range from 06:00 PM on Sundays to 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday evenings.

How long are the walking and hiking trails at Kimiad and Rosewood?
The venue features two main footpaths: the White Trail at 2.3km and the Yellow Trail at 3.6km. Both routes follow flat, gently undulating terrain around the golf course perimeter, making them easy to combine or double-lap for 5km and 10km walking or trail running sessions.

Is Rosewood Trails suitable for beginner trail runners and walkers?
Yes, Rosewood Trails is ideal for beginners due to its low elevation gain and smooth, well-marked paths. The routes consist primarily of non-technical grass and dirt tracks surrounding the golf course, offering an accessible workout without steep hill climbs or rough, rocky terrain.