Past the Pond Traditional Geocache
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Size: 
(micro)
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Enjoy this walk past the lawns and down to the pond. There has been an unfortunate incident recently (in September 2011) in The Wilds, so please be careful when going there. We suggest you do this cache over weekends when the park is busier and there is more activity. If you do want to go during the week do not go on your own, but in a group of at least 4 or 5 people. We have only been here on weekends when it is relatively busy and have felt secure doing that.
One of the oldest parks in the city, The Wilds offers Joburgers 40 acres of indigenous plants, shrubs and trees and beautifully laid stone pathways weaving up and down the koppies of the Parktown ridge. It has spectacular views of Hillbrow to the south and Sandton to the north. The paths crisscross the west and east sides of Houghton Drive, the latter slightly wilder than the west, with its lush green lawns and pretty ponds. Donated to the City by the Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company in 1924 on condition that it remain in its natural state, the garden is planted with the best of South Africa's indigenous flora - Cape fynbos, huge strelitzias, beds of clivias, elegant arum lilies, proteas, and trees such as yellowwood and cabbage. It opened to the public in 1938. The Wilds has security guards at the parking at the main entrance in Houghton Drive, Parktown
Source: (joburg.org.za)
Parking coordinates are provided as an additional waypoint and the park is open from sunrise to sunset according to the sign at the gate. The security is only at the entrance to look after cars and control access through the official entrance. They do not patrol the park. Having spoken to them about the security issue, their advice is that the west side (this side) is fine, and the east side is normally fine, but sometimes they do have incidents on the other side of the bridge.
We also come here regularly to check up on these caches, so you are welcome to confirm with us when we are going and take the walk with us.
The cache is hidden at the coordinates provided, near the end of the path, just past this pond.
You will need your own writing implement.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zntargvp