Roughly 45 minutes’ drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, surrounded by the beautiful Magaliesberg mountain range, Hartbeespoort Dam, or Harties to locals, has become a hive of activity and is a very popular weekend getaway for the two cities. The beauty of Hartbeespoort Dam is what draws people here – the dam literally cradled in the lap of the mountains – and many regard this as a retreat from the concrete jungle of city living. The 1620 hectare Hartbeespoort Dam functions both as a source of irrigation for farms in the area and as a resort, and the peace of the hills and valleys, the warmth even on winter days and the charm of the surrounding countryside, make this a place to restore the soul. The Hartbeespoort Dam is in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province.  The Hartbeespoort Dam, surrounded by the majesty of the Magaliesberg mountain range, is a popular destination for weekend getaways or day trips.
The Dam wall was constructed in 1925. Its current capacity is 205 million cubic metres and its shoreline, when full, is about 56km.
The village of Hartbeespoort is situated along the shores of the dam, among undulating hills and panoramic views on the dam and the majestic Magaliesberg Mountains. Enjoy the tranquillity of the hills and valleys, the scenic drives, challenging hikes and other entertainment on offer.  Also of interest is the Crocodile Ramble, an arts and crafts route with day visitor and overnight facilities. Pecanwood Estates hosts the annual Nelson Mandela Invitation Golf Tournament.  The Heritage Route starts at the dam, going north to the Pilanesberg National Park and on to the Madikwe Game Reserve in the north.
All water sports may be enjoyed including para-sailing, windsurfing, water and jet skiing.  For the more adventurous we offer paragliding, hang-gliding or hot air ballooning. We have an aquarium, private zoo, a snake park and a cable way. Or, explore and discover the scenic beauty, entertaining attractions, fun activities & places of interest of this wonderful area.

Hartbeespoort attractions & entertainment:

African Water Safari
Enjoy lunch while cruising across the dam in this floating restaurant.

Cheese Factory
Sample some local concoctions at this factory located in Skeerpoort.

Hans Kretschmer
Exclusive woodwork and handcrafted sword sticks.

Hartbeespoort Cableway
A magnificent view awaits those who take this cable car to the top of the Magaliesberg.

Hartbeespoort Snake & Animal Park
A rewarding close up encounter with nature.

South East Harbour Development
Consisting of two restaurants – Dockers and the open-air Fisherman’s Arms.

Tant’ Malie se Winkel
A local shop & restaurant, near the dam wall, offering everything dainty and artistic.

Magalies Park
An all-encompassing venue for outdoor activities, offering a restaurant, golf course, tennis courts, sauna and canoeing.

Chameleon Village
Curio Village and entertainment centre with various restaurants and shops. Venue for Live Entertainment.

Chameleon Village Reptile Park
Live reptile shows daily.

PHOTOS:

Bridge at Hartebeespoort Dam

Hartebeespoort Dam

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This entry was posted on Monday, December 19th, 2011 at 12:37 pm and is filed under Places of Interest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.