LOCATION: City of Tshwane, Gauteng
TRAIL: Singletrack and jeep tracks
DISTANCE: Various
GATE TIMES: Open to day visitors from 5:30 to 19:00 in summer, and 7:00 to 18:00 in winter.
ENTRY FEE: R45
IDEAL SHOE: ASICS FUJI TRABUCO PRO
The forested Fountains Valley in the Groenkloof Nature Reserve near the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria is popular among trail runners, mountain bikers, hikers and 4x4 enthusiasts. It offers a network of well-marked and neatly maintained trails, ranging from three- to ten-kilometres in length. Stitch a few of those loops together and you can do some proper mileage.
The running is on a mix of single- and jeep-track and isn’t overly technical as it traverses gentle slopes and grassy plains. There is good birding if that is your thing (lookout for specials such as Black Cuckoo, Little Sparrow Hawk and Whitethroat) and you’re likely to see giraffe and zebra along the way. Yeah, it's pretty wild indeed. So wild in fact, if it weren’t for the sound of traffic, you could almost feel as though you were somewhere out in the remote mountains.
On the opposite side of the valley you can also run up to Fort Klapperkop, a Boer War fort turned military museum and Fort Schanskop near the Voortrekker Monument. It may be accessed from Fountains Park via a tunnel under the railway line.
