Tucked into Johannesburg’s northern suburbs near Sandton, Rietfontein Nature Reserve is a roughly 25-hectare pocket of protected indigenous bushveld built around a rocky quartzite koppie, run by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo as part of the city’s wider network of nature reserves. Walking trails wind through natural grassland and rocky outcrops, giving visitors a genuine countryside feel just minutes from the surrounding suburban sprawl. It’s valued as a quiet green escape for hikers, birdwatchers and anyone wanting to unplug from city life without leaving Johannesburg, and occasionally hosts small outdoor events and markets.