Things To Do in Hartbeespoort, South Africa

Hartbeespoort Things to Do

Located about an hour north of Johannesburg and 30 minutes from Pretoria, Hartbeespoort is a resort area in the Magaliesberg Mountain range. The town built around a dam on the Crocodile River that feeds both agricultural and leisure industries.

The Hartbeespoort Dam

Opened in 1923, the dam created irrigation to the areas above it.  Because of its location in the mountains, many wealthy families from Pretoria and J’burg built summer homes along the dam road. It is possible to drive over the dam wall, but bear in mind that this is a single lane road and in peak periods, such as over weekends or over holiday periods, you may have to wait for several phases of traffic light before you reach the front of the traffic line.

The Ferry Boat from the Hartbeespoort Snake and Animal Park, gives an excellent view and goes close to the actual dam wall,  passed all the mansions and headed back. Activities on the catchment include yachting, jet skiing or paddleboading.

Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway

A magnificent view awaits those who take this cable car to the top of the Magaliesberg. The view from up there is absolutely beautiful. On the one side you have a full view of the dam and the other side a view of the Platinum mines and farms.  There is quite a bit to do there including a paragliding ramp, a one mile walk called Dassie Loop with informational markers showing points of interest along the way. Built on the farm Arendsnes (Eagle’s Nest), the cableway is situated on 150 hectares of indigenous bushveld (woodland ecoregion) and is the home of the endangered Black Eagle. The Fish Eagle and White Backed Vulture are regular visitors.

There are several dining options available as well as a full service bar and souvenir shop. Call ahead and the center will have a picnic basket ready when you arrive. Take your basket to one of many viewing points and perhaps see one of the soaring birds of prey circling overhead. It’s a great place to relax and commune with Mother Nature.

Animals

With five rivers flowing through the area, lush woodlands and the Magaliesberg mountain range, this area creates a broad variety of animal habitats. The Hartees Animal Sanctuaries Projects is a collective group dedicated into protecting injured, orphaned or endangered species until ready to return to their habitats.

Many of them have visitor’s hours and interactive programs. Vulpro Rehabilitation Center cares for wounded birds of prey. Monkey Sanctuary takes orphaned monkeys, lemurs and bushbabies to adulthood in a familiar habitat. Ann van Dyk Cheetah Breeding Station is a capture program for preserving the cheetah population. Hartbeespoort Aquarium also provides a place for orphaned animals.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Hartbeespoort, South Africa.