Nestled amidst the picturesque landscape of Pretoria lies Wolwespruit. This is a tranquil haven for hiking and mountain biking. The Wolwespruit park got its name from the spruit that is running through the area. They started with mountain bike trails and added three hiking trails and are continually seeking ways to improve these trails.
Wolwespruit is located in the Erasmuskloof area in Pretoria and the park has the perfect trails for first-time or beginner hikers.
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We made our way to Wolwespruit quite late in the afternoon and the trail was still kinda busy – mostly with mountain bike riders and trail runners. And even though there is a spruit running through the area, the sound is drained out with the N1 highway noise located next to Wolwespruit. So, it is not as peaceful as other hiking trails in Pretoria, like the Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve and the Faerie Glen Nature Reserve. However, we still had a great time.
As mentioned above, there are mountain bike trails and hiking/trail runner trails, but luckily, they are not combined, however, they do cross here and there. Just follow the rules where you keep to the left and pass right.
We’ve decided to do the orange trail – Mountain Wolf trail which was the perfect short hike to start off our holiday. The trail has some shade areas, but also spots where you can enjoy the sun.
More information about Wolwespruit
Location
Situated in the (📍) Erasmuskloof area, you can easily find the entrance. Enter through the beams which have a huge sign indicating Wolwespruit right at the entrance. There is more than enough parking space and then make your way to the entrance of the restaurant and bike shop.
Price
You can buy a day pass or an annual membership. All these depend on whether you want to do the MTB trails, the hiking trails, or both. All their pricing can be seen on their website.
Annual membership pricing (2024)
- MTB and run membership = R1150
- Trail run & hiking membership = R999
- Children MTB and run membership (under 12) = R399
Day Pricing (2024)
- MTB day pass = R70
- Trail/ Hiking pass = R45
- Kinds under 12 = R45
You can buy the day passes at the bike shop, which is also where the trail starts.
Operating Hours
The park is open every day and even on all public holidays.
- Weekdays – 5:30 to 6:30 pm (they have a night ride available every Tuesday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm)
- Weekends – 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Start of the trail(s)
Once you’ve bought your tickets, then you can continue over the small bridge located next to the bike shop. Turn left and follow the road next to the pylons. There are signs indicating the start of the trail(s). All trails start at the same point. At the beginning of the trail, we weren’t quite sure whether we were on the right track until we reached the sign that indicated that it was starting point B (about 1.5 km from starting point A). So, if you are also not sure then just continue straight with the path until you reach the sign that shows the split for the purple trail and the orange trail.
Trail Options
There are three trails available at Wolwespruit, all with different lengths and being loop trails. You can find a map of the different trails located at the entrance of the bike shop.
Running Wolf Trail (purple)
The running wolf trail is a 4.5km trail that is easy and flat trail that is perfect for the whole family. Once you’ve reached the split at the road, there will be a sign indicating to keep left for this trail. The Running Wolf trail runs next to the highway, through the ‘forest’ area, so it can be a bit noisy.
Mountain Wolf Trail (orange)
This trail is a 6.5km trail that is seen as a more intermediate trail with certain areas being steeper than others. I do however believe that this can easily be done by any family member. This was the trail we opted for, and it took us about 2 hours. Take note that we did take our time with this hike and just took in the beautiful scenery while chatting away and taking the occasional photo. You can say we went on a leisurely walk through the park. Continue to the right where the road splits up into two directions. The rest of the trail is marked and easy to follow.
You’ll also find the highest point of the park that overlooks the rest of the park and the highway.
Combined Trail
You can also combine the running wolf trail and the mountain wolf trail which will make up a 10km trail. You start with the purple trail and once you’ve reached the orange trail you can continue with it.
Pltfrm Restaurant
Once you are done with your hike, you can stop at the PLTFRM Restaurant right at the start/end of the trail. We ended our hike with some drinks and dinner. I’ve heard before from various people that the service here was not so great, although we quite enjoyed our quick service. And I’m all about a delicious ‘chippie’ – so I’ll be back for that!
They also have a great area where you can have a picnic while your doggies run around. Oh yes, did I mention that the restaurant is a pet-friendly restaurant???
Their operation hours are:
- Monday to Saturday from 07:00 to 22:00
- Sunday from 08:00 to 20:00.
So even if you do not want to go hiking, the restaurant alone is worth a visit in my opinion.
PS: There is also a clay café available on site.
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