The Wonderboom Nature Reserve is situated in the northern part of Tshwane and straddles the Magaliesberg. This 200-hectare reserve is famous for its magnificent specimen of Ficus salicifolia, a wild fig tree called the “Wonderboom”. 

The fig tree is older than 1 000 years, and legend has it that it has grown to be this big because the chief of an indigenous tribe lies buried beneath its roots. It is recorded that the tree was once big enough to shade 1 000 people at a time or 22 ox wagons with 20 oxen in front of each. Today it is much smaller, probably because of the devastating fire in 1870 that was started by a hunting party or due to a parasitic infestation, which put the tree under quarantine for 20 years. Over the years, the branches have grown longer, hanging lower until they touched the ground, where they rooted and produced a circle of daughter trees. There are now three circles of daughter trees surrounding the original tree.

 
Activities and facilities

Bookings and contact details

Bookings are only required for the Wonderboom Lapa and if you need a guide for a hiking trail. All bookings must be made two weeks in advance. The contact details are as follows:

• Tel:                    012 358 1792
• Email:                wonderboom@tshwane.gov.za (bookings and enquiries)
• Postal address:  PO Box 1454, Pretoria, 0001
• Website:            www.tshwane.gov.za/wonderboom.cfm

  Visiting hours

• Summer (September to April): 07:00 to 17:00
• Winter (May to August):                    07:00 to 17:00

Entrance to the Wonderboom Nature Reserve will only be allowed until 16:00.