Here we have chosen to focus on venues that are especially known for their food, while also having access on the property to short walks and hikes. For our hikers guide to great hiking trails, read our hiking feature here.
Ground the Venue
Ground the Venue in Muldersdrift is a beautiful wedding and events venue which has pivoted nimbly in recent years to start offering picnics and hiking combos, in addition to running the delightful Ground Café and The Terrace. The café and the hiking trails are also pet-friendly, and this is the perfect spot for a weekend family adventure.
Set on a sprawling farm that lumbers over the rolling grasslands of the Cradle of Humankind, there are now five marked trails to enjoy ranging from 3km to 9km in length that promise great views of the valley below. You can book simply for hiking, or book a picnic from the Ground Café to enjoy while lazing in the lovely landscaped gardens afterwards. Picnics are Greek mezze style (think dolmades, salads, koftas, and dips) and there's also a kids' menu.
Although the café takes walk-ins, hiking access is strictly by prior booking only to avoid overcrowding. Book your visit at groundthevenue.com.
Rosemary Hill Farm
This working organic farm and function venue in Mooiplaats just east of Pretoria (about a 20-minute drive from Menlyn on Maine) has it all – hiking trails, mountain biking, The Rosemary Hill Coffee Shop, The Greenhouse Café (with the "best pizza in Pretoria"), a farm shop, wine tasting, and fantastic accommodation options that look like they came straight from a decor and design magazine photoshoot. For the adventurous, they also offer segway tours, while the more athletic can enjoy padel or horse riding.
Being an organic farm, Rosemary Hill Farm focuses on sustainability with biodegradable packaging, solar heaters, water-wise facilities, and of course, tasty organic food. Breakfast and light meals are served from 07:00, ideal for a bite to eat before or after tackling one of the two trails (5km and 11km) that snake their way past the farm's aromatic rosemary fields, alongside the dam and through pretty woodlands. Find out more and book an overnight stay at rosemaryhill.co.za.
Jan Smuts House Museum
Jan Smuts House in Irene is an immaculate museum that brings to life the historic home of statesman and general Jan Christiaan Smuts (1870 – 1950) who served two terms as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa. For fans of house museums, this is a rare gem with excellent descriptions, and many of the finer details of the Smuts' family home are still intact. Much careful restoration work has also been ongoing during lockdown and the museum has now never looked better.
After exploring the museum, retreat to the quaint Ouma Isie's Tea Garden and Restaurant before setting out on the short 2.3 km 'Oubaas Trail' up to the top of the Smuts Koppie. While not a particularly strenuous walk, when combined with a visit to the museum and tea garden, this still makes for a lovely day out. In spring, you can also enjoy a display of wildflowers blooming in the arboretum, or you can take a moment to reflect in the Place of Quiet. They also have a caravan park if you're in the mood to extend your stay.
Jan Smuts House Museum is located in Irene (about 40km north of Sandton via the M1). Contact David Neveling-Daffue at +27 82 383 6024 for more information.
Fourways Farmers Market at Modderfontein Reserve
Close to the city but with acres and acres of space to enjoy long walks in nature, the sprawling Modderfontein Reserve has become a favourite with Joburgers, especially since the Fourways Farmers Market (originally located in Fourways opposite Montecasino) moved here in mid-2020. The huge open-air market (open on Saturdays and Sundays) now boasts what must surely be the biggest beer garden around, as well as dozens of tasty food stalls presented by weekend market favourites such as SumTing Fresh and Che Argentine.
We recommend arriving early as it can get very busy and there are often queues to get in. Taroko Trail Park offers various easy-going trails that vary in length (a full loop is about 11km) that wind their way through the reserve and past its three dams (great for birdwatching) and plenty of mountain biking tracks to follow. Find out more here.
NIROX Sculpture Park
Set in 15 magnificent hectares, the beautifully landscaped NIROX Sculpture Park is home to an astonishing collection of contemporary sculptures by local and international artists, and is often the venue for events such as open-air opera performances and folk music festivals. Also on offer is And then there was Fire, a woodfired grill and tapas café, where you can enjoy a delicious meal cooked over open flames.
A great space for a long or short walk, Nirox is ideal for a weekend getaway: meander through the scupltures, lounge on the lawn, or titillate your tastebuds at their restaurant. The Cradle is also home to many other hiking and biking trails, hot air balloon rides, and several great accommodation options.
Also worth a look
There are of course plenty more places to grab a bite in close proximity to a good walk, although we feel the above places are especially worth a mention due to their memorable food offerings. Other spots in Gauteng that offer food but definitely are more famous for their very scenic hikes include: Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge, Adventure Zone Cullinan, and Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden.
Find our full hiking guide here.
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