Hartbeespoort Dam — “Harties” to everyone in Gauteng — fills a gap in the Magaliesberg where the Crocodile River breaks through the range. The dam wall was completed in the 1920s for irrigation, and the reservoir behind it has since become the playground of Johannesburg and Pretoria: holiday homes, marinas, markets and restaurants strung along the shore under the cliffs.
It is about half an hour north-east of Maropeng and makes a natural second half to a Cradle day, especially for families. Be aware that the dam has a long-standing water-quality problem and is periodically blanketed by water hyacinth; it is a place for boat trips and views rather than swimming.
Top things to do: Hartbeespoort Dam
Ride the Harties Aerial Cableway
First built in the 1970s and completely rebuilt in 2010, the cableway lifts you in modern gondolas to the crest of the Magaliesberg. A walkway at the top circles viewpoints over the dam on one side and the bushveld plains on the other, with restaurants and a children’s area. On a clear winter day you can see for a very long way.
Cruise the dam
Boat cruises of one or two hours leave from several jetties, many with a buffet lunch or sunset drinks included. The two-hour lunch cruise is the most-reviewed activity in the area on GetYourGuide.
Visit the sanctuaries
On the western side, the Elephant Sanctuary offers guided, educational programmes with a small group of African elephants, and the neighbouring Bush Babies Monkey Sanctuary has boardwalk tours through forest where rescued primates live free. Both can be booked as a half-day tour.
Cross the wall and browse the markets
The single-lane road over the dam wall passes through a short tunnel and under a triumphal arch. Nearby, Chameleon Village and the Welwitschia Country Market sell crafts, curios and food — touristy, but good for last-minute presents.
How to get to Hartbeespoort Dam
- By car: about 60 minutes from Sandton via the R511 or R512, 40 minutes from Pretoria, and 30–40 minutes from Maropeng via the R560 and Skeerpoort.
- By tour: day trips from Johannesburg combine the cableway with a lunch cruise; others add the Lion & Safari Park or Lesedi.
- Traffic: the roads around the dam, and the one-way dam wall in particular, jam on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Go on a weekday or arrive early.
Insider tips
- The cableway closes in high wind and lightning; summer afternoons are the riskiest time.
- Morning light is best for views from the top; sunset is best from the water.
- Do not swim in the dam.
- Combine with the Lion & Safari Park or Lesedi, both about 15 minutes south on the R512.
Best tours: Hartbeespoort Dam
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Hartbeespoort Dam:
Boat cruise from €34 Hartbeespoort: 2-Hour Dam Cruise with South African Food
A relaxed way to end a Cradle day if you are driving yourself: two hours on the water at Hartbeespoort Dam with a buffet of local dishes and the Magaliesberg as the backdrop. By far the most-reviewed Hartbeespoort activity on GetYourGuide.
- Two hours on Hartbeespoort Dam
- South African buffet on board
- Views of the Magaliesberg from the water
Day trip from €153 Johannesburg: Cableway and Lunch Boat Cruise Half Day Tour
Hartbeespoort’s two signature experiences with transport included: the aerial cableway to the crest of the Magaliesberg for wide views over the dam and the Highveld, then a lunch cruise on the water.
- Ride the cableway to the top of the Magaliesberg
- Lunch cruise on the dam
- Transfers from Johannesburg
Wildlife tour from €72 The Elephant and Monkey Sanctuary
A half-day to two sanctuaries in the hills above Hartbeespoort Dam, about half an hour beyond the Cradle. You learn about African elephants up close on a guided programme and then walk elevated boardwalks through indigenous forest among free-roaming rescued primates.
- Guided elephant sanctuary programme
- Forest walk at the monkey sanctuary
- Transfers from Johannesburg
Guided game drive from €33 Hartbeespoort: Lion and Safari Park Guided Tour
If you have your own car, this is the cheapest good way to do the Lion & Safari Park. You meet at the park and join a ranger-led drive through the predator camps and the antelope area. Easy to combine with Maropeng in the morning or Hartbeespoort Dam afterwards.
- Guided drive in a park vehicle
- Lions, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas
- No transfer — meet at the park
