Wonderboom Nature Reserve is famous for the Wonderboom, a more than 1,000 year old wild fig tree located on the northern slopes of Magaliesberg, near the Apies River, just north of Pretoria. This amazing tree was given it’s name by Hendrik Potgieter and his Voortrekkers who discovered it in the early 1800’s. The Wonderboom has been a sacred place for local Tswana tribes for many years. At the centre of the Wonderboom tree stands the original tree trunk, over 5m thick. Over hundreds of years the massive limbs of the tree spread out and would touch the ground, where new trunks would grow. This has resulted in a single tree with 13 different trunks, covering an area nearly 50m in diameter. Come visit the Wonderboom Nature Reserve to see this amazing tree, and take the interpretation trail from our new boardwalk in and around the tree.
The 200 ha Wonderboom Nature Reserve is situated in the northern part of the city and straddles the Magaliesberg Mountains. A short hike up the hill will take you to the ruins of the Wonderboom Fort, with a breathtaking view across the city. At the foot of the hill near the Wonderboom is an important Iron Age site and nearby is one of the best Stone Age sites in the area. There is a large number of dassies (rock hyrax) living in caves overlooking the Apies River. They provide a food source for the breeding pair of black eagles that nest on a rocky ledge nearby. They can often be seen circling above the reserve. The reserve has picnic facilities.
Wonderboom Nature Reserve Information:
- LOCATION: from Pretoria head north on the R101 (Paul Kruger St); just pass the mountains, turn right onto Lavender Rd; just over the Apies River bridge turn right again into the reserve.
- HOURS: Daily 07h00 to 18h00 (entrance to the reserve only until 16:00)
- MUST SEE: the 1,000 year old Wonderboom (wild fig tree), the ruins of the Wonderboom fort, and Iron Age and Stone Age archaeological sites.
Picnic Facilities.
Wonderboom Nature Reserve Contact Details:
Enquiries:
Gate: 012 543 0918
Management: 012 567 4296
Gate times: 07:00 to 18:00
Website: www.tshwane.gov.za/sites/tourism/NatureConservation/Pages/Wonderboom-Nature-Reserve.aspx
Physical Address:
Wonderboom
Pretoria, 0182
Gauteng
