Northcliff Eco Park

Archaeological sites were found on the eastern side and on top of Northcliff Ridge, confirming inhabitants from 500 000 – 250 000 years ago and more recent remnants of Iron Age farmers occupying the ridge 300 years ago, nothing was preserved because of a lack of urgency by the then National Monuments Council and community involvement.


Apart from being one of the highest natural viewing points in Johannesburg the Ridge as an ecological site has much to commend preservation. Areas of importance include Topography/Geology, Vegetation, and Wildlife.

The area to the east of the water tower has always been a nature reserve known as Chudleigh View, though recent maps no longer indicate it as such. On the plateau there is a problem with weeds and human impact is visible in the form of graffiti, litter and fires destroying the trees and bigger shrubs. Below the cliffs there is less human impact and the vegetation is remarkably unspoilt. The Ridge has three distinct ecozones largely determined by the topography, namely grassland on the plateau, cliff face vegetation and protea grassland on the slope below. This adds greatly to the diversity and interest of the area.

1. Topography & Geology Northcliff Ridge consists of a plateau, a rocky cliff stretching the entire length of the reserve and a steep slope below. The Witwatersrand, of which Northcliff Ridge forms part, is an ancient geological system of sedimentary rocks, mostly hard white quartzite. Northcliff Ridge’s elevation provides the visitor with unobstructed views of the city and surrounding countryside. The view stretches from Mohale City in the west along the entire Magaliesberg range in the north to Bedfordview in the east, taking in business nodes such as Randburg, Sandton and Rosebank along the way. To the south, it offers a spectacular view of Hillbrow and the Johannesburg central business district. View sites enable visitors to orientate themselves and are therefore always popular urban attractions to visit. Northcliff Ridge allows the visitor to enjoy the views in a natural setting rather than in a built environment from behind glass or barricades as in high buildings or towers. The Ridge is certainly most popular for its amazing sunsets.

2.Vegetation Wild flowers At least twelve species of indigenous flowers are found on the Ridge, but there may be many more as flowering is seasonal and it takes many site visits to record them all. Many wildflowers are small and hidden by the grass, but are much more visible after a fire. Trees and shrubs No trees grow naturally on the plateau or on the southern slope. However, the cliffs and northern slope have many different trees; some 28 species having been identified. The protea grassland especially has a rich variety of trees, of which the wild pear (Dombeya rotundifolia) and the highveld proteas (Protea caffra) make a fine showing when in flower. The cliff face vegetation includes Milkplums (Bequaertiodendron magalismontanum)