If you are looking for things to do In Hartbeespoort we’ve got you covered. Hartbeespoort is a popular resort town in the North West province of South Africa. The town is best known for being the home of Hartbeespoort Dam, a popular tourist attraction in South Africa. The dam lies 20km west of Pretoria, and 35km north-west of Johannesburg.
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Our Favourite Things To Do In Hartbeespoort
There are is a host of activities that you can get up to to make the most of your time there and we have shared some of our favourites with you.
Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway
The best way to experience Hartbeespoort is arguable from the Hartbeespoort aerial cable way. From here, you will have a birds eye and panoramic view of the Magaliesberg mountains, and the dame itself along with the surrounding areas. The cable way is well-maintained by the Harties Cable Way company. Beyond the cable ride, there is a lot to do at the base station and at the top. There is a walkway if you aren’t a fan of heights.
Along the walkway there are educational placards with information about the different points of interest that you will see at the from the top. If you get hungry in the middle of your visit, you can visit Hero’s Cableway Grillhouse and Pizzeria at the base station or Pizza Hut at the top. Although food cannot be brought onto the site, you can order a picnic basket at the venue (with your own choice of refreshments) and enjoy a memorable picnic amid the magnificent scenery. If you are lucky you might even see endangered vultures while you are there.
The Cableway operates from Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 16:30. On Saturday they have extended hours, with the last car ride down at 18:30.
Lesedi Cultural Village
This is undoubtedly one of the best tourist destinations in South Africa, and the best place to experience the diversity of South African culture. If you are a tourist it is an absolute must, but even for South Africans, it’s a great place to learn about the different cultures. At Lesedi Cultural village you will visit five traditional homesteads that are inhabited by tribes people who live according to the tribal folklore and adhere to the old ancestral traditions.
The village is inhabited by genuine tribes people (not actors) and you can experience Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele traditions on your visit to this cultural landmark. You will enter these homes and hear stories about their individual cultures and rites. There are presentations that take place daily where you will be educated on South African history and its people. After the ceremonies, you can enjoy a truly traditional South African. There is also a craft market on-site where you can buy some arts and crafts and memorabilia to take home.
Hot Air Baloon Ride
Another nice way to get an aerial view of Hartbeespoort and the surrounding Magalies area is on a hot air balloon ride. You can watch the crew preparing the balloon for flight, while you enjoy hot coffee, tea, biscuits and muffins from the clubhouse. After a safety briefing from your pilot, you can prepare for liftoff and take to the skies where you will see the landscape with a 360 degree view. Flights last for approximately 1 hour so long as the weather permits it.
During the flight, MCC (South African variant of Champagne) will be served as you soak in the views from the balloon. Alternately, it can be served on landing to celebrate the trip while the crew packs up the balloon. Afterwards, you can take a shuttle ride back to the Clubhouse Pavillion and Restaurant where a wide variety of freshly cooked food will be served. You will also receive a certificate of achievement for the at the gathering after the flight.
Bill Harrop’s balloons operate every morning, weather permitting. The balloons lift off just prior to sunrise so meeting times depend on the time of the year. For more information, visit the official website of whichever balloon operator you will use.
Abseiling
If you want to get your blood pumping, try your hand at abseiling with and experience the thrill of one of the most popular bucket list activities. You can abseil with Mountain Adventures, which is 150m from the upper station of the Hartbeespoort Cable Way. The abseil is 50m high and a great thrill even for beginners. Mountain Adventures is one of South Africa’s top mountain guiding schools so you can trust that you are in safe hand. To ensure safety, they use an independent safety rope that ensures safety.
From the upper station where you kit up, you can see all the way to Gauteng, and see landmarks like the Coca Cola Dome in Northgate Johannesburg, or the Telkm Tower in Pretoria. So if you take the cable up to take the view, you can cap it off with a stimulating descent down the vertical cliff. Otherwise, the return path for the abseiling takes you back to the upper station so that you can still take the cable car down and not forfeit your cable car trip. The abseil is fully guided and all the necessary safety equipment is provided for you. So challenge yourself and over come your fears amid marvelous views.
Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park
Don’t let the name fool you, there is a lot more to see than snakes. They have a diverse array of animals that includes big cats, wild dogs, bears, birds and monkeys to name a few. The place is a lot like a zoo but with quite a difference in how the animals are kept (for the better). It is and is well-kept and all the enclosures clean and with ample space for the animals. It is an ideal destination for the whole family and there is more to do than just seeing the animals.
The Snake Park also offers education programmes and has a variety of exciting water sports on offer. Between the snakes and the big cats, the children will be kept busy. The park holds an entertaining Snake and Seal show on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. To add to the fun, on weekends you can take a 25-minute boat ride at the Harties Sports Centre.
Visit The Dam
This one is pretty obvious but we still had to put it in. The Hartbeespoort Dam is likely the main reason that you will go to Hartbeespoort. There is a host of water activities offered by different companies in the area. Whether speed boating or ferry ride, there are ample services that are offered to help you make the best of your time here.
If you want to do it your own way, you can bring your own water vehicle and take to the waters. If you prefer to stay on land, the dam has parks on its banks were visitors can kick back. There are also barbecue facilities in certain areas of the parks so bringing your braai meat and charcoal here is not a bad idea.