Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve Opens Three New Overnight Campsites to Boost Multi-Day Hiking

03 November 2026

The Gauteng government is expanding overnight accommodation in Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, opening three new campsites to cater to a growing demand for multi-day hiking. The move comes amid a push by the provincial government to unleash tourism potential in its largest reserve while maintaining state ownership and oversight.

Under a 25-year public-private partnership, set to launch this year, a private concessionaire will develop, operate and finance the concession area that includes the new campsites and existing overnight hiking infrastructure. The Gauteng Department of Environment and Agriculture issued a request for proposals (RFP) in August, inviting private sector bids to redevelop reserve tourism facilities for the next quarter century while the department focuses on conservation management.

When finalized, the concession deal will introduce much-needed upgrades to Suikerbosrand's dated tourism facilities, providing fresh impetus to the reserve's established reputation as a destination for overnight hiking trips. Hiking enthusiasts already flock to explore the reserve's 18,000 hectares of Highveld grassland and hilly terrain via a network of trails that can be extended into six-day backcountry treks.

Multi-day hikes are a hallmark of the reserve experience, with six overnight huts scattered along the trail network that allow hikers to turn a walk into a longer quest, camping under the stars and cooking up meals in the wilderness. A key challenge, however, has been the limited number of huts relative to the number of hikers. The new campsites will ease the bottleneck for hikers hoping to embark on longer journeys through the wilderness.

At 18,000 hectares, Suikerbosrand is Gauteng's largest provincial nature reserve, situated about 50km from Johannesburg and near the town of Heidelberg. The reserve is a mecca for local and international hikers, and hosts upwards of 50,000 visitors a year. Unlike other Gauteng nature reserves, where access is limited to day visits, overnights are available, making Suikerbosrand a destination for overnight hiking in Gauteng.

The new campsites, described as "eco-closed" in proposal documents, will prioritize environmental sustainability, with composting toilets, grey water systems and waste management plans mandatory in submissions. All concessionaires will be expected to obtain environmental impact assessments and apex predator management plans approved by the Gauteng Department of Environment and Agriculture, ensuring that reserve operations and facilities meet conservation standards while park management retains wildlife oversight.

"Suikerbosrand lies within a key biological corridor linking the Witwatersrand ridge to the Magaliesberg," said Bobby Peek, Director of the Endangered Wildlife Trust. "Protecting critical habitat and maximizing conservation outcomes must be top priorities for concession management."

The Gauteng Department of Environment and Agriculture said the partnership was intended to improve facility offerings for visitors and boost tourist numbers, while lightening the department's financial and operational burden on tourism in its large network of nature reserves. A spokesperson did not disclose the projected revenue the province could earn from the concession, but noted that it would be used to support reserve conservation and operations.

As the deadline for bids draws near, the future of overnight hiking at Suikerbosrand seems set for a more crowded future. With the potential to build out infrastructure for longer itineraries away from the main trail network, hiking enthusiasts should soon have access to more spots to base their multi-day outtings, opening up the reserve's untamed stretches to a whole new audience.