MELVILLE
KOPPIES - EAST
Description:
A short
walk with great views – half on the rocky koppies and half
through the cute suburb of Melville.
Directions:
It straddles the suburbs of Emmarentia and Melville in north
Johannesburg (Map Studio pg. 81 DS 97).
Walk Time:
Under 1 hour.
Dog Friendliness:
Technically all dogs should be on lead in the koppies, but
nobody seems to comply. Put your dog on lead when walking
through Melville.
Parking:
The best place to
park is in the street outside the houses in Hill St. You can
also park in the street near the gate in Zambesi Rd on the
Emmarentia side. There are no car guards.
Safety:
The usual safety
concerns should be followed on the Koppies – walk in a group
and/or preferably with a big dog.
Facilities:
There are a few benches and trash bins en route. You can walk to
any of the restaurants in the busy 4th Ave Melville
for coffee, drinks and food.
Water:
None en route.
Walk:
Walk to the end of
Hill St and cross the grassy area to a path that leads up a
rocky slope. This path takes you to the fence and gate that run
alongside Zambesi Rd. From the fence, the path swings to the
left and you climb up to a small koppie where you will see the
first of the fine views east and south across Johannesburg.
The path then takes
you west along the ridgeline and leads you up past some houses
to your right to another long green fence with a trig beacon.
WARNING: there is quite a bit of broken glass here. The fence is
the boundary of the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve where dogs
are not allowed. The view from the trig beacon is great – look
for the 5 church spires to the south in Melville and Westdene.
From the trig
beacon you walk due south along the path towards these church
spires. There is a gate that will lead you onto 5th Street where
you will need to put your dog on her lead. If you want to get a
drink continue along 5th Street until you reach the
intersection with 4th Avenue. There are
2
restaurants on the right. And many to the left at the traffic
light about 500 m further along the busy street.
When you want to
return to you car, head back towards to 6th Avenue
and walk in an easterly direction. It is a quiet, pleasant, and
often shady street with many quirky houses. At 8th
Street turn left and walk to the bottom of the road where you
will reach the grassed section from whence you started. Turn
right and walk back to Hill St and your car.
Watch Out For:
(1)
Litter and occasional human faeces on the initial walk up. (2)
Glass near the trig beacon. (3) Barking dogs and cars on the
walk through Melville.
More Info:
Wendy Carstens
of the Melville Koppies Management Committee – 011.482.4797
© Dogwalk Publications -
07 July 2007
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