2 Best Sights in Melville and Emmarentia, Johannesburg

Overlooking Emmarentia Dam, the large and beautiful botanical gardens are five minutes from Parkhurst. This gigantic parkland, dotted with trees, fountains, and ponds, is a wonderful haven. You can relax on benches beneath weeping willows surrounding the lake, where canoeists and windsurfers brave the water, or wander across to the 24-acre rose and herb gardens. The gardens' flora includes an alpine collection and a cycad collection. On weekends bridal parties use the gardens as a backdrop for photographs.

A 50-hectare (123-acres) nature reserve and heritage site on the southern side of the Johannesburg Botanical Garden, Melville Koppies preserves lands as they were before the 1886 gold discovery. The central section of the reserve is opened on Sunday mornings from 8 until 11:30 am, with safe parking at the adjacent Marks Park Sports Club and security guards stationed at various points. Visitors can undertake the 5-km (3-mile) hiking trail or the 3-km (2-mile) heritage trail that includes information stops that examine the archaeology, history, geology, fauna, and biodiverse Highveld flora of the area. The site includes a 500-year-old Iron Age furnace.  Don't visit the east and west sections of Melville Koppies Nature Reserve alone, as it isn't safe.