A Day in Nature

Whether you spread it over a relaxed weekend or tackle it in one active day, living in the Upper Highway means some of KwaZulu-Natal's best green spaces are right on your doorstep. Within minutes of Hillcrest, you'll find forest walks, river gorges, mountain bike trails and quiet suburban nature pockets that make it easy to spend time outdoors without travelling far. Here's a simple plan to make the most of it.

Start your morning with a gentle forest walk at Springside Nature Reserve in Hillcrest. This small but beautiful reserve is known for its shady indigenous forest and peaceful atmosphere. A short network of trails winds through tall trees and across small streams, making it ideal for a relaxed walk rather than a strenuous hike. It's a favourite with local birdwatchers and dog walkers, and early morning is usually the quietest time to visit.

Next stop is a mid-morning coffee and caper at Giba Gorge Adventure Park, one of the Upper Highway's best-known outdoor activity hubs.

Whether it's the kids scooting around the BMX track, the avid mountain bikers and trail runners making use of the single-track trails, the adrenaline-fuelled downhillers or families and couples choosing to picnic on the lawn or relax in the outdoor restaurant, here you will find a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with something suitable for all abilities and ages. The café overlooking the valley is a great place to stop for coffee while watching riders heading out onto the trails.

It's always a lovely idea to pack a simple picnic lunch for your outdoor adventure using local favourites. Pick up fresh bread or pastries from Bellevue Café, cheeses from Lifestyle SuperSpar Hillcrest, and something sweet from Miss Honey's Farm Stall at The Mushroom Farm. Add seasonal fruit and a bottle of lemonade, and you have an easy outdoor meal at one of the quiet suburban parks.

After lunch, slow things down with a gentle wander through the leafy suburbs of Winston Park or Gillitts, where quiet roads and small greenbelts are popular with walkers and dog owners. It's an easy way to stretch your legs and enjoy the area's mature trees and birdlife.

If you still have energy by the afternoon, end the day at Krantzkloof Nature Reserve in nearby Kloof. The reserve protects a dramatic gorge along the Molweni River and offers several viewpoints with sweeping scenery of the valley. Late afternoon light across the gorge is spectacular and makes a fitting finish to time spent outdoors.

Nature is never far away, and sometimes the best days out are the simplest ones, close to home.