Picnic spots in Joburg under R100 per family
A picnic remains the cheapest, simplest family outing in Joburg — but the city's parks are not equal, and a R100 budget cap forces some real choices. Below is the working list of spots where a family of four can spend a morning with a picnic basket and pay less than R100 in entry, parking and incidentals combined. Food and drink you pack yourself.
We've leaned towards spots with at least one of: secure parking, a fence or natural boundary, public toilets, and grass that's actually mown.
The Wilds Nature Reserve, Houghton
Free entry. Free parking inside the gate. The Wilds has had a remarkable second life over the past decade — once unsafe and overgrown, it's now actively maintained by volunteers, with painted owls hidden along the paths and a genuine sense of community ownership. Two koppies, indigenous gardens, paths, picnic spots and views over the city.
Best for: confident walkers (4+), parents who like a city-view picnic, families who want grass plus a small hike in one trip.
Avoid: weekday evenings (it closes at 6pm); rainy days (paths get slippery).
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, Roodepoort
Entry is in the R30–R50 range per adult, kids under 6 free at last check (always check current rules). A picnic basket gets a whole family across the threshold for under R100. Once inside: huge lawns, a famous waterfall with resident black eagles, paths suited to under-5s and older kids alike, secure parking. Probably the best-value paid picnic spot in Greater Joburg.
Best for: birding-curious families, any age group, anyone who wants a "proper" Joburg outing on a budget.
Tip: Arrive before 10am on Saturdays. The lawns near the waterfall fill quickly.
Emmarentia Dam and the Joburg Botanical Garden
Free entry. Paid security parking outside the gates. The dam is for swans, canoes, dog-walkers and watching the rowing club row; the adjacent botanical garden has the better picnic lawns and rose gardens. Both are walkable in one outing.
Best for: kids who like running across vast open lawns, parents who want a coffee from the on-site kiosk (the only real extra cost), anyone in the central/western suburbs.
Tip: Park inside the botanical garden gate (not on the road), then walk over to the dam. The security trade-off is worth it.
Delta Park, Craighall
Free entry. Free parking. One of the largest urban parks in the country, with a fenced kids' play area, a dog-walking area, picnic lawns, and a bird sanctuary at the southern end. Genuinely safe-feeling on a Saturday morning when families are about. Less so at quiet times — don't go solo at dusk.
Best for: dog-owning families, kids who need to run, anyone in the northern suburbs.
Marks Park, Emmarentia
Free entry. Paid (cheap) parking. Sports-club picnic atmosphere: cricket on the field, kids on the play structure, families with cooler bags on the grass. Toilets accessible. A small shop on-site if you forgot something.
Best for: families with kids who like watching organised sport, anyone wanting a slightly more populated, lower-stakes vibe than a remote park.
Modderfontein Reserve
Entry is around R30–R60 per adult depending on the day (check current rates). For under R100 total you get an enormous reserve with hiking trails, a dam, picnic spots, occasional zebra and antelope sightings, and a genuinely peaceful atmosphere on the east side of the city. Secure parking, well-managed.
Best for: families who want a "nature reserve" experience without driving to a real reserve, kids 5+ who can walk a short trail.
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, south of the M2
Free entry. Free parking. A true urban wilderness — 680 hectares of grassland, zebra, wildebeest, walking trails. Best done as a group rather than solo.
Best for: older kids (8+) who can walk, families who want a "real" reserve experience without the drive to the Magaliesberg.
The actual cost breakdown
For a family of four (two adults, two kids under 12), on a Saturday morning:
- Pack: sandwiches, cut fruit, a juice each, a flask of coffee. Cost: about R80 from a normal grocery shop if you don't go fancy.
- Entry + parking: R0 at Wilds, Delta, Klipriviersberg, Emmarentia; up to R80 at Walter Sisulu or Modderfontein.
- Incidental: R20 for an ice-cream on the way home.
Total: R100–R180 depending on the spot. Hard to beat as a Saturday plan.
What to actually pack
The classic SA picnic kit: blanket (one washable, one waterproof underlayer), cooler bag with ice, refillable water bottles for everyone, sandwiches, fruit, biltong, a packet of crisps. A frisbee or kite for between meals. Sunblock applied twice. A change of clothes per kid for the inevitable grass-stain.
Where to next
Browse our Johannesburg directory for all the kid-friendly venues we've vetted, including indoor options for when the weather turns. For rainy backup plans, see indoor play areas in Johannesburg for rainy weekends. For day-out options just outside the city, see toddler-friendly farms within an hour of Joburg.