Sunny Apartment in Forest Town
Forest Town, Johannesburg
Savanna biome · Jacaranda
Can support Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital
From R 900 a night
40 km away
Where to stay near Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
Largest nature reserve in Gauteng
Gauteng, South Africa
Malaria-free
About Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
Suikerbosrand is the largest reserve in Gauteng, a ridge of grassland and rocky hills south of Johannesburg near Heidelberg, about forty minutes from the city. It is a hiking and cycling reserve with a network of day trails and overnight huts, eland, zebra, blesbok and black wildebeest on the grassland, and a good highveld bird list including the southern bald ibis. There are picnic sites and a self-drive loop, and it is malaria-free. It is the easiest way to get onto the highveld grassland from the city for a day.
Things to do: Hiking · Camping · Rock climbing · Bird watching
Where you can stay: Camping · Chalets · Nearby B&Bs
Wildlife near Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
What people record most across Gauteng. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Gauteng, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
No stays are linked to Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve yet. These are the closest ones we have, by straight-line distance from the park, so check the drive before you book.
Gannochy Flat
Parktown, Johannesburg
Jacaranda
Can support Friends of Zoo Lake
Price on request
40 km away
Rose on Kerry
Parkview, Johannesburg
Grassland biome · Jacaranda
Can support Friends of Zoo Lake and more
From R 1,500 a night
41 km away
Auckland Park Manor
Auckland Park, Johannesburg
Grassland biome · Jacaranda
Can support Friends of Zoo Lake
From R 1,200 a night
41 km away
Sanctuary Mandela
Houghton Estate, Johannesburg
Grassland biome · Jacaranda
Can support Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital
From R 4,850 a night
41 km away
The Franklyn Parkview
Parkview, Johannesburg
Grassland biome · Jacaranda
Can support Friends of Zoo Lake and more
Price on request
41 km away
When to visit Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
Most of the rain at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve falls from October to March, peaking in December at about 136 mm. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 26°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 2°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 130 | 26 | 15 |
| February | 94 | 26 | 15 |
| March | 72 | 25 | 13 |
| April | 54 | 22 | 10 |
| May | 15 | 21 | 6 |
| June | 6 | 18 | 3 |
| July | 3 | 18 | 2 |
| August | 8 | 21 | 5 |
| September | 15 | 25 | 10 |
| October | 68 | 26 | 12 |
| November | 95 | 26 | 13 |
| December | 136 | 26 | 15 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1682 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
26.4866° S, 28.2360° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve: your questions
Where is Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve?
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is in Gauteng, South Africa.
Is Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve malaria-free?
Yes. Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is in an area recorded as malaria-free, which is why it is a common choice for families with young children and for a first safari. Malaria risk can shift with the season and the year, so confirm current advice with a travel clinic before you go.
What wildlife can you see near Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve?
In Gauteng, commonly recorded species include animals such as Southern African Hedgehog, Black Wildebeest, Blesbok, Serval and birds including Eurasian Bittern, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
When is the rainy season at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve?
Most of the rain at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve falls from October to March, peaking in December at about 136 mm. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 26°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 2°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1682 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve?
The best time to visit Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is Mar-May, Aug-Oct.
What is there to do at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve?
Popular activities at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve include hiking, camping, rock climbing, bird watching.
Parks near Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve.
Malaria-free parks and game reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in GautengAll protected areas
