PAULSHOF 3 RIVERS WALK
An almost
perfect urban walk that is suitable for residents and visitors.
It covers the confluence of 3 rivers (Klein Jukskei,
Braamfontein and Sandspruit) and makes maximum use of green
strips along these streams.
Directions: From the N1 take the
Rivonia Road off-ramp and west onto Witkoppen Road. Turn right
into Regent Road at the Cambridge Crossing traffic light.
Dog Friendliness: Technically all dogs should be on lead, but
nobody seems to comply so watch out if there are other big dogs
around. There are some annoying barking dogs in the houses
adjacent to the walk.
Walk Time: About 1 hour.
Parking: 2 places to park - both unguarded, but they are not
isolated. 1) Next to the playground equipment in Brackenhill
Road;
2) On the grassed area at the corner of Brackenhill Road and
Regent Street.
Safety: Take the usual precautions, but there is quite a lot of
use by walkers, bikers and horse-riders at weekends and at about
5-6pm weekdays. There are several security guard outposts along
the route.
Facilities: There are bins placed at various places. Children's
playground equipment is at parking area #1 above. Several
bridges help with crossing the Jukskei River.
Water: There is obviously water in the streams - sometimes it
can be smelly and they are usually polluted. No clean drinking
water or taps en route. In the rainy season it may not be
possible to cross the Braamfontein Spruit.
The Walk: You start at one of the two car parks mentioned above.
Walk onto the greenbelt alongside the Klein Jukskei River and
turn left (east).
Follow the path with the houses to your left until the path
crosses over to the other side where you will reach Regent
Street. Cross over carefully and continue down the right hand
side of the stream. After about 50 m cross over the wooden
bridge back to the other side of the stream and continue
eastwards on the left hand side. The 2nd car park is on your
left.
After about 700 m you will join the path that runs alongside the
Braamfontein Spruit. Turn left and walk north. The Spruit is on
the right and more houses with lots of barking dogs are to your
left. Follow this path until you reach Umfolosi Road. The path
winds to the right through some rocks and tall weeds to the end
of Umfolosi Rd.
At the end of the road turn left and follow the sandy path past
a low-fenced thatch house with some barking German Shepherds.
Just past the house, the path turns right down to the confluence
of the Braamfontein and Sand Spruits. It is easy to cross over
at this point.
Make your way up the low bank on the other side where you will
reach a large grassy paddock. Turn left and take the path that
runs alongside the Sandspruit until you reach a security outpost
at the corner of some tennis courts. You can continue along the
Sandspruit on either side, but that is another walk.
Turn right and take the path alongside the tennis courts to a
gate in the security fence near Achter Road. The path continues
to the right adjacent to some split pole horse paddocks. Follow
the paddocks as the path takes you back to the Braamfontein
Spruit and back upstream. You are now on the other side of the
river and the path winds round until you are heading south.
Continue past a new and fancy housing development to your left.
As the development ends, the path forks just before a rocky
section. If you take the left fork, you will walk alongside the
river past another security outpost and continue along the river
all the way to Sandton. Take the right fork down to the river.
Cross over by jumping easily from rock to rock. On the other
side you will find yourself back at the confluence of the Klein
Jukskei River and the Braamfontein Spruit. Walk up the stream
keeping the houses to your left and stream to the right. The
path continues on this side all the way back to the car parks.
You can re-cross the river back to your car using the wooden
bridges as you come to them. Or you continue west alongside the
stream until Umhlanga Avenue. You can cross the stream at the
road and return to your car on the other side. If you want you
can cross the road and continue for about 500 m on the south
side of the stream returning on the same side to Umhlanga
Avenue.
Watch Out For: Sometimes smelly and often polluted water which
you will have to jump across at 2 points, barking dogs in houses
adjacent to the greenbelts and 2 busy roads you have cross.
© Dogwalk Publications -
14 January 2008
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