The Parkview neighborhood in the north of Johannesburg offers some of the best running in the city, between the lovely sidewalk of Westcliff Drive, the killer views from the Westcliff Stairs, and the peaceful loop around Zoo Lake. Runners can combine these features for a pleasant tour of one of Johannesburg’s most charming old suburbs. We recommend starting at Zoo Lake and completing the shady 1 km cement circuit. Go south on the dirt path to Princess of Wales Terrace and turn RIGHT out to Lower Park Drive. At the end of the road, turn RIGHT onto Jan Smuts Ave, then RIGHT again onto Westcliff Drive. For a stunning views of Johannesburg, use Crescent Drive. A gate leads to the steep stone “stairway to heaven.” Runners can build serious endurance sprinting up the staircase to Wexford Avenue, Pallinghurst Road, and Woolston Road. The route is 4.25 one way, and runners can either backtrack from Woolston Road or pick their way back on the quiet residential streets of Parkview.
Features:
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Essentials
- 8 km (5.3 miles) out and back, including the stairs
- 98 meters (323 feet)
- Zoo Lake
- Jan Smuts and Lower Park Bus Stop
Current Weather & Forecast
Johannesburg, ZA
7:52 am,
Jun 23, 2026
clear sky
7°C
L: 7°
H: 7°
Daily ForecastHourly Forecast
Today
11:00 pm
30° / 32°°C
1 mm
100%
9 mph
78 %
1011 mb
0 mm/h
Tomorrow
11:00 pm
27° / 31°°C
1 mm
100%
10 mph
78 %
1011 mb
0 mm/h
Thursday
11:00 pm
28° / 28°°C
1 mm
100%
12 mph
77 %
1012 mb
0 mm/h
Friday
11:00 pm
28° / 30°°C
1 mm
100%
15 mph
77 %
1012 mb
0 mm/h
Saturday
11:00 pm
28° / 30°°C
0.91 mm
91%
13 mph
78 %
1011 mb
0 mm/h
Today
8:00 am
31° / 31°°C
0.72 mm
72%
9 mph
74 %
1010 mb
0 mm/h
Today
11:00 am
31° / 32°°C
0 mm
0%
7 mph
73 %
1009 mb
0 mm/h
Today
2:00 pm
30° / 30°°C
0 mm
0%
9 mph
73 %
1009 mb
0 mm/h
Today
5:00 pm
30° / 30°°C
0 mm
0%
8 mph
75 %
1011 mb
0 mm/h
Today
8:00 pm
31° / 31°°C
0.24 mm
24%
8 mph
78 %
1009 mb
0 mm/h
Today
11:00 pm
30° / 30°°C
1 mm
100%
9 mph
74 %
1009 mb
0 mm/h
Tomorrow
2:00 am
30° / 30°°C
1 mm
100%
9 mph
73 %
1010 mb
0 mm/h
Other Routes in Johannesburg, South Africa
This lengthy dirt path along is pleasant itself for a run of up 20 km one-way, and also connects to a 3.5 km loop on paved paths at Emmarentia Dam/Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, and a 5k dirt loop around Delta Park.
During non-golf hours, the Randpark Golf Club opens its facilities to runners, offering 3, 5, and 8 km loops. Free, secure, and open for night running (BYO lighting). There are also fitness classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
A favorite for trail running in Krugersdorp, King’s Kloof features well-marked 7, 14, 17, 20, and 22 km loops across varied terrain including jeep roads and dirt singletrack. Grab a map at the kiosk and bring plenty of water.
The paved and dirt trails/roads surrounding the “Cradle of Humankind,” named a UNESCO World Heritage site for the numerous hominid fossils found here, are popular with runners and cyclists. We’ve mapped a 5 km route commonly used for races.
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve & Thaba Trails
Johannesburg, South Africa
Run through the “Jewel of the South,” a 640 hectare nature reserve 10 km south of the city center. Popular running options include the 12 km Wildlife Loop and the Thaba mountain biking trails.
Though officially a cycling venue, the PwC Bike Park invites trail runners to explore the 13 km of dirt trails at their space in Bryanston. A day trail running pass in R20.
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