Melville Koppies, Nature reserve in Johannesburg, South Africa
Melville Koppies is a nature reserve in Johannesburg with rocky ridges and indigenous plants spread across more than 150 hectares at an elevation of 1,719 meters. The landscape includes trails through different sections that showcase various plant communities and natural features of the highveld.
People living here during the Iron Age left traces between 1,060 and 1,580 AD, including livestock enclosures and iron smelting furnaces. Long before this period, around 500,000 years ago, hunter-gatherer groups established temporary camps at this location.
The name "Koppies" comes from Afrikaans and refers to the distinctive hill ridges that shape the landscape. Visitors can see how the land was used by people who lived here long ago and understand their connection to this place.
The central section requires joining guided tours, while the eastern and western areas can be visited daily without advance booking. It is wise to wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water, as the trails cross rocky terrain and open hillsides.
On Sundays, African church congregations gather in the western section, where their traditional songs and drums fill the natural landscape. This religious practice has evolved over generations in this spot and gives it a distinctive character.
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