The city has just under 60 public swimming pools and for many Joburgers, weekend mornings or afternoons spent splashing about at the local pool is one of the highlights of a city summer.
This swimming season runs from Sep 1, 2024 – Mar 31, 2025, and the city has announced that 47 swimming pools will be open – with 28 open right through, and the remaining 19 pools opening in a staggered manner as maintenance is completed. We're pleased to say that one of our favourites, the Olympic-sized heated pool at Ellis Park is ready to herald the change of season. Popular pools, the historic Orlando Swimming Pool in Soweto and Zoo Lake in Parkview, will open at a later date to be advised by the city.
Where to go swimming in Joburg
ELLIS PARK SWIMMING POOL
A historic pool with attractive period features, Ellis Park Swimming Pool is one of the few Olympic-sized pools in the city and is a popular venue for swimmers looking to put in some training hours. There are three pools: the heated Olympic pool, a kiddies' splash pool and a 25m unheated pool that is only open during the busiest periods. The main pool is divided into two halves. One half has lanes for serious swimmers and the other is a free-for-all, open area usually packed with local kids from the nearby suburbs who easily spend the whole day here during the summer months. The changing rooms have lockers (bring your own padlock) and there's a small tuck shop selling soft drinks and snacks. Head there in the week to get in some training, or alternatively spend a Saturday there splashing about. Just a note: Ellis Park can get exceptionally busy over peak holiday periods, but the vibe is unparalleled.
Cnr North Lane and Erin Street, Doornfontein.
LINDEN SWIMMING POOL
This indoor swimming pool is open all year round and is heated. A half-Olympic-sized pool, it is very popular with families, particularly those with kids who are learning how to swim, as well as more serious swimmers who make use of the dedicated training lanes. There is also a small (unheated) baby pool outside. A particular pleasure is to swim here during one of Joburg's summer thunderstorms as the sound of the rain pounding off the pool's dome-shaped, corrugated iron roof is quite dramatic. If you get a seasonal membership at Linden you can also use it at Zoo Lake pool.
ORLANDO SWIMMING POOL
Opened in Soweto in 1954, Orlando's Olympic-sized swimming pool was constructed through a fundraising initiative led by Reverend Trevor Huddleston, an Anglican priest and anti-apartheid activist who is famous for his unwavering support for the people of Sophiatown during the forced removals of the 1950s. There are several public swimming pools in Soweto (including Power Park which is notable for its view of the iconic Soweto cooling towers) although this is the largest and oldest of them all. The length makes it a great option for those looking to do more serious swimming but this should not deter families and those looking to cool off as it is also a popular spot for outings over the weekend.
Makhetha Street, Orlando West, Soweto.
PATERSON PARK SWIMMING POOL
Completed in 2019, this swimming pool was built as part of the new Paterson Park Multipurpose Centre. As well as an open-air swimming pool, the new centre also has a soccer pitch, five-a-side fields, tennis courts, a basketball court, a pavilion, and a multi-functional sports hall. Reflecting the birdlife of Norwood's Paterson Park, the building is decorated with a colourful collection of bird murals and installations that were created by local artists as part of the ArtMyJozi project.
Paterson Park, Norwood.
SYDENHAM SWIMMING POOL
A Joburg family favourite, this spacious outdoor pool is one of only a few in the city that has diving boards, making it a popular place for daredevil teens to show off in the summer. For the little kids, there is also a separate children's splash pool area. With something for the whole family, it is a great place to head to if you are looking to escape the city's heat.
Cnr 12 & Dunvegan Street, Sydenham.
VERITY PARK SWIMMING POOL
This unusual swimming pool in Parkhurst's Verity Park is curve-shaped which makes it slightly impractical for doing laps. We don't mind, because its location in one of Joburg's most fashionable suburbs means boutique shopping and plenty of cafés and ice-cream parlours are just a few blocks away on 4th Avenue, making it an added bonus for families who like to come here at weekends and splash about.
Verity Park, Cnr 14th Street and 5th Avenue, Parkhurst.
Note: Zoo Lake is undergoing maintenance, but is set to open for the 2024/2025 season. Follow City of Joburg for updates.
Built in the 1930s, this well-maintained, historic pool retains its original features. Probably the most unique thing about the Zoo Lake baths is its perfectly square shape of 30m by 30m. There are no demarcated lanes per se so pick a direction and do your laps. Or for fun, you can always opt for a full circuit – just watch out for the teenagers practising their dive bombs near the shallow end. Arrive early to mark out your picnic spot on the grassy area overlooking the pool or if the sun is blazing you'll find shade on the bleachers. On weekends look out for the ice-cream bicycle doing the rounds.
Cnr Prince of Wales and Lower Park Dr, Parkwood.
Tips for swimming at Joburg pools
Joburg's public swimming pools are open Tue – Fri from 10:00 – 18:00 and weekends from 10:00 – 17:00 during the swimming season (September through March). Pools are closed on Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill and New Year's Day. Entrance prices vary but generally start at R6.00 p.p. for children and R20 p.p. for adults. Seasonal tickets are also available. Some of the city's pools have free entrance (we are only aware of Hofland Park in Bezuidenhout Valley, but there may be others).
In the spring, even if the temperatures hit 30 degrees, the water in the pool is usually bracingly cold, while by mid-November you'll find it to be a much more tolerable temperature for cooling off on a hot day. If you want to swim outdoors during the autumn and winter months the only outdoor swimming pool that stays open year-round is Ellis Park.
Run by the City of Joburg, all public pools have lifeguards. While there are changing rooms and cold showers, most Joburg pools do not have lockers so you might want to consider locking your valuables in your car or leaving one of your group to watch your belongings. At the swimming pools that do have lockers (such as Ellis Park), you will need to bring your own padlock.
You are allowed to bring in your own drinks and snacks although alcohol, glass bottles, and braais are forbidden. Some pools also have a tuck shop where you can buy cold drinks and sweets.
Open for the 2024/2025 swimming season
According to the City of Joburg, the following swimming pools will be open throughout the summer. Note that opening depends on water cleanliness and the availability of sufficient staff and pool maintenance supplies from the city. Upgrading is ongoing so some pools will be opened in a staggered manner with a few opening in September, some in October, and others in November. During the season, pools have been known to close abruptly for maintenance issues. We have listed above the Joburg pools that we've frequented and can recommend from personal experience. Below, find a complete list of pools open for the season from Sep 1, 2024 – Mar 31, 2025.
Pools open from Sep 1:
Coronationville (Heated, Glencairn Street, Coronationville), Windsor East (Viscount Avenue and George Street Windsor), Linden (Cnr 4th Avenue and 11th Street, Linden), Verity Park (14th Street, Parkhurst), Kensington B (Cnr Abbington and Sirdar Kensington), Robin Hills (Cherry Drive, Robin Hills), Riverlea (Ashburton Street, Riverlea), Forest Hill (John Stephenson Road, between Golf Stree, Leonard Ext and Rifle Range Road, Forest Hill), Crown Gardens (Cnr Ulster Crescent, Crown Gardens), Moffat Park (Cnr Southern Klipriviersberg Road and Nephen Road, Moffat Park), Hofland Park (Cnr 3rd and 4th, Bez Valley), Roosevelt (Cnr Muldersdrift and Preller Streets, Roosevelt Park), Florida Lake (Fourth Road Florida Lake, Florida), Rhodes Park (Langerman Drive, Rhodes Park), Ellis Park (Cnr North Park Line, New Doornfontein), Eldorado Park Ext 4 (Heerenchracht Road, Ext. 4 Eldorado Park), Paterson Park (17th Street, Orange Grove),
Soweto and surrounds: Moletsane (286 Mokgatla Street, Moletsane), Dobsonville (3290 Nonhlanhla Street, Dobsonville), Meadowlands (173 Motswedi Street, Meadowlands Zone 3), Pimville (Heated, Motjatji Street, Pimville), Power Park (60 Nicholas Street, Cnr Old Potchestroom Roa, Orlando Power Station), Noordgesig (375 Noord Street, Noordgesig), Senaoane (1925 Mabalane Street, Phiri), Jabavu (3132 Mlangeni and Mbatha Drive, Jabavu).
Lenasia: Lenasia Ext 2 (Cnr 3749 Olifant and Elm Streets, Lenasia Ext 2), Lenasia Ext 10 (Cnr Shari and Alabama Street, Ext 10), Lenasia South (Cnr Wimbledon and Wellington Streets, Ext 4).
Pools opening later in the season:
Rabie Ridge (1072 Stilt Avenue, Ivory Park), Newclare (Steytler Street, Newclare), Ochse Square (Cnr 3rd and 10th Streets Albertsville), Blairgowrie (Cnr Suzman and Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie), Florida North (Marthinus Du Plessis Park, Ontdekkers Road), Roodepoort (Exner St, Roodepoort), Little Falls Resort (5 Falls Road, Little Falls), Eldorado Park Ext 9 (Ivy Road, Ext 9, Eldorado Park), Malvern (Cnr Marathon Street, Malvern), Diepkloof (14497 Immink Street, Diepkloof Zone 4), East Bank (1562 Springbok Crescent, Alexandra), Sydenham (Cnr 12 and Dunvegan Street, Sydenham), Zoo Lake (57 Lower Park DR. Parkview, Randburg), Pioneer Park (Corner 11th and Rosettenville Road, Wemmer Pan, Pioneer Park), Florida Lake (610 Ontdekkers Road, Florida), Klipspruit (1244 Mofokeng Street, Klipspruit), Orlando (3959 Ngiba Street, Industria Park, Orlando East), Yeoville (Cnr Kenmare and Rocky Street, Yeoville).
Pools closed for the season:
Vrededorp (Cnr 13th Street, Vrededorp), Windsor West (Allis and Alexandre Streets, Windsor).
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