The Wilds: Joburg's Controversial Garden of Eden
There is a big park in Johannesburg, very near to the city center, called the Wilds. For many years I didn’t go there because everyone said it was dangerous. Even the name – the Wilds, bwahahahaaaaa – has a menacing tone to it. I assumed the warnings were legit.
I’ve now been to the Wilds twice over the last several months, and damn, is it beautiful. The Wilds is so stunning and peaceful and well landscaped and immaculately maintained that it puts most other Jozi parks to shame. (I don’t say this lightly, as I’m a serious fan of Joburg parks.) The park was opened in 1938, after the Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company donated it to the city on the condition that the land remain in its natural state. The park is hilly and planted with thousands of indigenous trees and other native flora, crisscrossed by several kilometers of winding stone paths.
Walking on the Wild Side
I don’t want to totally discount the perception that the Wilds is dangerous. I’ve visited lots of quote-unquote dangerous places in this city – Hillbrow, Alexandra, Yeoville, and many others – but none of them seem to elicit quite the same level of terror that the Wilds elicits in the minds of longtime Joburgers. From what I can gather there were quite a few very violent crimes – rapes, murders, and armed robberies – committed in the Wilds in the 1980s and 90s, and a group of university students were mugged there in 2012.
I can see why criminals would choose the Wilds as a place to commit crime. The park is vast and the vegetation dense, providing ample opportunity to hide and take people unaware. Hillbrow, Joburg’s most crime-ridden area in the late 20th century, is right next door, and the park straddles Houghton Drive – an easy escape route. And although the Wilds is now completely enclosed with fencing, it didn’t use to be. So yeah, I understand why people have historically been afraid to go visit the Wilds and remain afraid today.
But…I was in the Wilds last last Friday and saw no sign of anything nefarious. I saw families having braais (barbecues) and girls strolling with their boyfriends and groups of teenagers sitting on benches listening to music. I walked up and down the pathways with a group of friends, one of whom lives right next to the Wilds and goes there every day with his dog. I admired the skyline views, the aloe trees, the perfectly manicured lawns, and the ancient cycads inside the park’s greenhouse.
Last Friday, the Wilds was glorious in every way.
The Secret is Out on the Wilds
My friends who live near the Wilds joked that they don’t want me to write about it, because then the secret will be out about how great it is. But the more people who visit the Wilds, the safer it will become. After years and years of terrible stories, I understand why so many Joburg residents are hesitant to go. Really though, this park is too beautiful to be virtually empty. The Wilds’ staff obviously work hard to maintain this park and they’re doing an amazing job. Their hard work deserves to be recognized and enjoyed.
If you love Joburg and you love the outdoors, then you are guaranteed to love the Wilds. Get some friends together, leave your valuables at home if you must, and go check it out on the next sunny day.
The Wilds (see location here) has secure parking just off Houghton Drive and full-time security at the entrance.
Comments
My goodness, this reminds me of many happy times when I was a student, oh so long ago now.
:)
Thanks Heather, my to do list just keeps getting longer and longer ! Looks beautiful, I didn’t even know this existed.
My gosh, I would be there EVERY DAY. That is gorgeous. Love the trees and paths. Is there a National Park service that maintains the trails? Are South Africans better trained than Americans, because I saw no litter. Impressed.
I love parks and green spaces. I miss them terribly. Glad to hear that the Wilds has cleaned up its act, of course, if everyone was on a liveable wage, crime would drop, but what do I know? I’m not a politician :P Love the Hillbrow tower in the background photo the best!
Thanks Lani. Yep, you’re right about the crime – if only the solution were more simple. South Africa has one of the biggest wealth gaps in the world and that’s going to take a while to change. But I do think it’s getting there – things are already way better than they were a couple of decades ago.
That’s promising :)
Sure brought back memories of happy carefree days - still have pictures in an old album of my mother and other family photos with the koppies and wild flowers in the background.
PS I usually visit your site when feeling a bit “homesick” or yearn for some SA sunshine. Am never disappointed! If its not too risky…can you check out Zoo Lake - another childhood favourite - when you have a spare moment?
Hi Paul,
Thanks so much for your comment and I’m happy to hear that you enjoy my blog when you’re homesick. I haven’t written about Zoo Lake in many years but here is my post from a few years ago: http://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/2011/01/03/zoo-lake-where-the-locals-go/. The park is still extremely popular and great for visiting, although it gets insanely crowded on weekends. The other big change is that the Zoo Lake Bowls Club has closed down, which is really sad. But otherwise it’s great!
Hi I’m living here 2 years and have heard about the beauty of the wilds. Have tried numerous times to find entrance with no luck. Any tips where exactly it is.
Hi Niamh, the main entrance is right off Houghton Drive. If you’re heading north from downtown, the entrance will be on your left, just after the Sunnyside Hotel and the Rodean School. I hope that helps!
2Summers, why does the man who started cleaning up this crime hole, not get any credit? HE started ON HIS OWN, to clean overgrowth away and only then, did the Municipality join him. Read his story in Country Life.
Hi Elna, James is a friend of mine and I know all about his incredible work. I wrote about it here: https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/2017/11/20/reclaim-wilds-sunday/.
Bahaha - James also an ol’ pal of mine. Had lot to do with him when I was GM at Origins Centre. (Small world indeed)
Indeed! That James gets around.
Thanks for the positive info! There seems to be so little of that nowadays (besides your blog). I’ll make a point of visiting the Wilds next time I’m in Joburg. What a great view of the skyline!
Thanks so much Graeme :)
Thank you for helping me to find more hidden gems in this city! It was so beautiful and the best views! Will be back!
Wow, I’m so glad you went! Thanks for the comment.
Oh my! I used to stay in Killarney (walking distance to the Wilds) for almost two years and I’m ashamed to say not once did I visit the park. I too had heard the bad rep and I never saw many cars in the parking lot on Houghton Drive, so I figured it’s pretty deserted. Will make a point to visit. Thanks H.
Please do! It’s never too late :)
Thank you so much for this post. I’m living in South Korea at the moment and really miss the nature that surrounds Jo’burg. I drove past The Wilds for many years but never bothered to visit for the same reason as many others. It’s now on the to do list for our visit back next year!
Is there a fee to pay if we come as group of students in the park?
Nope, it’s free.
I used to live in a flat in Killarney and go to school at King Edwards and commute every day via the Wilds. This was from 1982-1986. Every girlfriend I had was taken on romantic walks through the park and I used often take friends for tea at the kiosk. I even used to sleep at the top of the hill under the stars on warm summer nights, and when they put the new water tank up top I wrote my name into the cement. (Naughty me) When I was needing a wide open space to practice playing the bag pipes - off I went to the Wilds- much to the horror of some of the patrons. Of course who could forget all the wedding parties that came for photographs on Saturdays. So many happy memories. I didn’t know you could enter the Wilds now. I was back in Jozi recently and tried to take my late father for an outing and couldn’t find a way in. Nice to see that from the pictures it’s still in good nick.
Oh yes, it’s in great shape. The main entrance is at the bottom off Houghton Drive. I hope you’re able to visit the next time you’re here - thanks for the trip down Memory Lane.
Hey Heather, when last were you at The Wilds? Can I go for a solo Sunday morning walk on my own? Killarney is my hood now, it will be so convenient if part of my routine. Thanks.
Hi Lesley, I last went to the Wilds maybe 4-5 months ago. I really think it’s fine to go alone - just stay on the Killarney side of Houghton Drive (don’t go over the pedestrian bridge) as I’ve heard that other side is still a bit creepy. The Killarney side always has people in it and there’s always a guard at the entrance. Have fun!