Hennops Hiking Trail Guide

The Hennops Hiking Trail, just an hour from Johannesburg, offers a popular Gauteng day-hike with routes ranging from 2 to 10 km. The 5 km Zebra Trail, which includes the crossing, is the top pick for first-timers seeking a moderate challenge.

Route options and distances

Hennops offers three main hiking routes, with entry fees of R100 per adult and R50 per schoolchild. The Dassie Trail measures at 2 km. It is described as the easiest and most family-friendly. The Dassie Trail is listed as taking 1 to 2 hours.

The Zebra Trail is 5 km long and listed as a good option for beginners. It will take around 2 hours. This trail is described as easy to moderate, and The Zebra Trail passes over the cable car and past the dassie caves, Bomakieries Bos, and Oude Muragie.

The Krokodilberg Trail is the longest option, at 10 km. Experienced hikers will spend 3 to 5 hours on this more challenging stretch, which is listed as moderate to hard. The Krokodilberg Route starts at Hadeda Camp, and is described as average to difficult.

What the river crossing adds

One feature that sets Hennops apart is the river crossing. This 10 km Krokodilberg route includes a cross of the Hennops River, with hikers able to use a suspension bridge or cable car to get across, depending on the setup on a particular day. Hikers may use suspension-bridge and cable-car crossings depending on the set-up.

Hikers who choose the 5 km Zebra Trail also get the river-crossing experience, as this route passes over the cable car. That means first-timers who pick the Zebra Trail will get to experience the river crossing, without committing to the full 10 km round trip on the Krokodilberg route.

Which route suits a first-timer

Given the three route options, which is the best hike for a weekend trail scout?

The 2 km Dassie Trail is clearly the shortest loop. But sources recommend the longer Zebra Trail for beginners. That’s an excellent guideline for first-timers, especially those who may want a side of the river experience. The Zebra Trail goes all the way to the cable car and crosses the river, before looping back, for a total of 5 km. That makes for a brisk but still family-friendly hike.

Stronger hikers aiming for the full experience can add the remainder of the Krokodilberg trail for a tougher, 3 to 5 hour round trip. The 10 km Krokodilberg hike is rated moderate to hard, and described as average to difficult.