Emmarentia Dam, located in Emmarentia, north of Johannesburg, is reputed to be the best dog walk in the city. A vast and well-liked park for escapes from city life, it features peaceful lawns where families may gather and play, and walks dotted with wooden chairs arranged deliberately to provide periods of calm and introspection.
Emmarentia Dam, despite its allusion to the singular, is actually made up of multiple smaller dams where dogs can splash around and swim freely. The main dam, however, is utilized extensively for canoe club training and is a popular destination for canoeists and windsurfers all year round.
Emmarentia Dam is undoubtedly one of the city’s most serene locations, and many weekend visitors enjoy picnicking and barbecuing on the grassy grounds there because of the location among water and trees. There are natural grassy spaces and woodlands, as well as a tea room with excellent scones.
The two smaller dams at Emmarentia Dam were built to manage floodwaters, while the main park at the dam, known as Jan van Riebeeck Park, was established in 1952 to commemorate 300 years since the arrival of the first Dutch settlers at the Cape. Around the dams, reed beds have grown, attracting a variety of species, including bishops and weavers.
The annual summer sunset concerts, which feature a range of local and international musicians performing together in one of Johannesburg’s most adored places, are also held on the banks of the dam.