Hartbeespoort Dam travel guide

The proximity of Johannesburg and Tshwane (Pretoria) (35 km) has made this dam in the Magaliesberg Mountains a popular watersports resort and weekend retreat. Around the shoreline are marinas and large private homes overlooking the lake. For information contact the Hartbeespoort Dam Information Shop Dam Doryn crossroads next to the curio market, T012-253 1567, http://www.hartbeespoortdam.com, Tue-Sun 1000-1700.

The dam was built in 1923 in a narrow gorge where the Crocodile River cuts through the Magaliesberg Mountains. There are two major canals which conduct water away from the dam into a series of smaller canals that irrigate the farmlands around Brits. The old main road from Tshwane (Pretoria) runs through the village of Schoemansville on the north shore of the lake before crossing the dam wall and continuing to Rustenburg and Sun City. There is a Snake and Animal Park T012-253 1162, www.hartbeespoortsnake animalpark.co.za, daily, 0800-1730, R50, children (3-12) R20, tea garden, which remains a popular attraction for visiting families from Gauteng, but alongside the collection of reptiles are chimpanzees, panthers and Bengal tigers, making it unpleasant and zoo-like. Boat trips on the dam leave hourly and there are seal demonstrations at 1200 and 1500 on Saturday and Sunday. Also here is the Hartbeespoort Dam Cableway on the R513 towards Tshwane (Pretoria), T012-253 1706, Mon-Fri 1000-1530, Sat and Sun 1000-1700, R30, a 2.3-km link to one of the highest points of the Magaliesberg Mountains, and the De Wildt Cheetah Centre on the R513, T012-504 1921, http://www.dewildt.org.za, R145, children (6-12) R70, under 6s free, extra fee for a photograph with a cheetah (when available), 2-hr tours Tue-Sat at 1000 and 1400, booking ahead is essential, an important breeding centre famous for being the first such place where a cheetah was successfully born in captivity. Other species include wild dog, brown hyena and vultures. The tour begins with a talk about the centre and the genetics of cheetahs, followed by a game drive around the spacious enclosures. There is also a set lunch, but this must be booked in advance.

Once over the dam wall from Schoemansville, the road reaches the Dam Doryn cross- roads where the tourist office, the Welwitschia Country Market and a large curio market are located. From here, 2 km along the R104 is the Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort Dam T012-258 0423, http://www.elephantsanctuary.co.za, daily programmes start at 0800, 1000 and 1400, starting from R375, children (3-14) R195, which is a sister operation of the elephant sanctuaries on the Garden Route and in Hazyview . Guests can interact with the five tame elephants and ride them. Check the website for programmes, some include lunch or dinner. There’s luxury accommodation ($$$) and overnight guests can ‘brush down’ the elephants first thing in the morning....read more