The Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway (Harties Cableway), originally constructed in 1973, extends to the top of the Magaliesberg and offers panoramic views of the Magaliesberg, Hartbeespoort Dam and the surrounding area. It is situated 1km to the east of the town of Hartbeespoort in the North West Province, and is the longest mono-cableway in Africa. In 2010 the cableway was completely revamped and modernised by Zargodox (Pty) Ltd, and officially reopened on 14 August 2010 by the then Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk. While gliding up the mountain with the Harties cable way you get panoramic views of Hartbeespoort Dam. Once on the mountain you can get a 360 degree view including Brits and the Moot valley.
The Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort Dam is an elephant sanctuary providing a safe haven and “halfway house” for African elephants. It provides a fully guided, interactive elephant educational program covering elephant habits, dynamics, behaviour and anatomy. The main focus of the sanctuary is to educate visitors about all aspects of elephants and elephant husbandry, with the vision to release elephants into an environment where they can be more independent. During a guided tour, learners have the opportunity to touch and feed these gentle giants, always under professional supervision of experienced guides. The sanctuary is situated in indigenous bushveld in the Magaliesberg Mountains close to the Hartbeespoort Dam.
The privately owned Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary, is situated west of the Hartbeespoort Dam, in one of the many Kloofs (Gorges) of the Magaliesberg mountain range. This 7 ha sanctuary is the perfect free roaming setting with lush vegetation, waterfalls and natural springs, to provide, a natural environment as possible, for abandoned pet monkeys. The primates are received on the basis of public donations and are supported by funding generated by the guided tours in the Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary and the sales of curios at the entrance. A well informed guide takes the group on a walk through natural indigenous forests, on elevated wooden walkways. Learners experience and learn about a variety of exotic primates such as the Squirrel, Spider and Capuchin monkeys. Edutours agree with the goal of the sanctuary to, not only provide these primates with an opportunity to live as they would in the wild, but also, through the guided tours, they create an awareness and learners are educated that monkeys do not make good pets. That they are better suited to a natural, free-living environment.
Pretville is a film set, built and owned by Hartiwood films and the only film set in South Africa that is open to the public. Hartiwood films is famous for the Afrikaans films such as Liefling, French Toast and Pretville. There is a film theatre where the learners can view the film after they have explored the film set. The owner and renowned film producer Paul Kruger has educated our tour groups, visiting Pretville, about the art of film making.
The Jasmyn Dairy Farm is a world renowned modern-day dairy farm. The cows are directed to enter a shed to stand on an ultra modern carousal, when they are milked. Each cow has a transponder around her neck which gives the farmer exact data such as who she is, on how much milk she gives, when she last had a calf and whether she’s on medication. Before the milking machine is attached the cows are tested for Mastitis. The cows stand on this revolving carousal until it has revolved once. By then the milking process is done and the milking machines detach automatically. The cows wait patiently to leave the carousal at the exit, close to where they entered the shed. During our visit the learners learn about the anatomy of milk cows, they get to bottle feed a calf and sometimes also get a squirt of milk directly from the source. They can then view the cows being milked and are treated to drinking yogurt and a piece of cheese. A visit to the Jasmyn Farm Stall, with its distinctive landmark, a large Dutch Windmill, where all the farm’s products are sold is always enjoyed. This farm stall is well known and loved by both Hartbeespoort locals and frequent visitors to the area.
Spending a day at the legendary Roaring Lagoon, where bender waves rise two metres in the air every 90 seconds, is undeniably the main attraction at the Sun City’s famous water park, the Valley of Waves. This is where you can catch the tide and body-surf to shore. A day trip to the man-made-inland-sea includes, lazing beneath wind wept palm trees, lunch and taking your pick of the mild to wild water rides. For the more adventurous, the rides may include: The Viper, The Mamba, Tarantula, the Scorpion, Boomerango and Nobles Decent. It this is not your cup of tea then you can relax on the Lazy River, gentle, non-stop tube ride around an island
De Wildt Cheetah and Wild Care Centre is renowned for its successful breeding of cheetah and wild dogs. On our tour we may encounter the King Cheetah and a vulture enclosure.
Margaret Sema