Hartbeespoort Area Profile

Hartbeespoort at a glance

Location
Hartbeespoort, informally also known as "Harties", is a small resort town north of Johannesburg in the North West Province of South Africa. Situated on slopes of the Magaliesberg Mountain, it’s known for the Hartbeespoort Dam and the whitewater rapids of the Crocodile River.

History
The area is steeped in history, especially from the Anglo-Boer war. Hartbeespoort is the collective name of a few smaller towns situated around the Hartbeespoort Dam, including the towns of Meerhof, Ifafi, Melodie, Schoemansville and Kosmos. 

The name “Hartbeespoort” means "gateway of the hartbees" (a species of antelope) in Afrikaans. Previously it was known as Schoemansville, named after General Hendrik Schoeman, a Boer General in the Anglo-Boer War, who owned the farm that the Hartbeespoort Dam was built on.

Property market
Being only 40 minutes’ drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria facilitates permanent living with superior lifestyle benefits, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet close enough to commute for work or leisure purposes. 

Currently, the average price of properties in Hartbeespoort is just over R 2 million. Most demand is generally within the R1 million to R5 million price range, however there has also been recent significant interest and negotiations for the upper price segment of between R5 million and R20 million. 

Businesses and investors in the area are experiencing an increase on their returns, especially when compared to leisure investments at the coast, due to its convenient locality and all the activities on offer.

Attractions
Hartbeespoort has become a hive of activity and is a very popular weekend getaway. Many regard this as a retreat from the concrete jungle of city living. 

Harties sure has no shortage of things to do and see. What draws many people here is the beauty of Hartbeespoort Dam. The 1620 hectare dam, cradled in the lap of the mountains, offers an array of water sports, and many other activities. 

If you’re looking to enjoy breathtaking views and stunning scenery, then take a leisurely ride up the Harties cableway. There’s lots to do at the base station and at the top. Kids can wander along the Dassie Loop walkway, where educational placards describe points of interest seen from the top, or play in the KidZone, while parents enjoy some much-needed rest.

Want to get up close and personal with a cheetah? The Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre was established in 1971 as a cheetah conservation project and has continued to perform an important role in the preservation and protection of cheetahs and has bred over eight hundred cheetah cubs.

Loving the big cats? Then the Lion & Safari Park will be right up your alley. The park offers a wealth of exciting activities such as animal interactions, guided game drives and self-drives.  You are guaranteed to get super-close to some of Africa’s favourite animals whether you go on an informative guided tour or self-drive.

Conservation is something everyone should have the opportunity to get involved with. The Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary is a privately owned, non-subsidised sanctuary. The sanctuary is one of only eight free-release primate sanctuaries globally. On the same property, you’ll find the Elephant Sanctuary. The sanctuary provides a safe haven and “halfway house” for African elephants. Visitors have the opportunity to touch, feed, and walk trunk-in-hand with the elephants.

Connecting Hartbeespoort with Hekpoort, you’ll find Kommandonek Pass. A drive over Kommandonek not only provides wonderful views out over the dam but access to what is left of one of four strategic blockhouses which defended Kommandonek that date back to the turn of the century.

If you want to get an idea of traditional South African culture, then the Lesedi cultural village is a perfect outing. If you're staying overnight, you are welcomed by the family of the homestead in which you will be staying, and the head of the house then becomes your personal guide for the duration of your stay. You’ll get the chance to visit five traditional homesteads inhabited by Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele tribes who live according to tribal folklore and traditions of their ancestors.

Just outside of town, Miracle Waters is a spring-water dive site in a former open cast chrome mine. Although there are no corals or tropical fish, there is about 10 meters of visibility in this clear, warm water and the opportunity to see numerous Kurper, Black Bass and more. Surrounded by natural bush and farmlands with a view of the beautiful Magaliesberg mountain range, this is an experience like no other.

Amenities
If you’re looking for some retail therapy, then The Village Mall is where you should be. The mall is an exciting, one-stop destination, that’s set to captivate Hartbeespoort’s fast-growing lifestyle community. This uniquely designed development, with the look and feel of an Italian piazza, is ideally located, easily accessible and perfectly positioned.

Sediba Shopping Centre is centrally located on the R27 within the heart of Hartbeespoort. Boasting over 45 shops, they offer a fast and convenient shopping experience for everybody. 

If you have children of your own, then Hartebeespoort will surely meet all your educational requirements. Mountain Cambridge School is an independent school offering an internationally recognised quality education who strives to equip their learners to be “real world ready”. Students leave confident, effective, well-mannered, articulate, educated and enthusiastic citizens of the world who will contribute positively to society.

Pecanwood College High School is an independent co-ed high school. With a beautiful setting amongst the Magaliesberg Mountains, the school has a Christian ethos and caters for 279 learners from Grade 8 to Grade 12. It also has a pre-prep and prep school for younger learners. 

PLG Hartbeespoort Academy opened in January 2016 under new management and is situated in the lovely countryside of the Hartbeespoort Dam area. The school’s biggest drawcard is the beautiful mountain landscape that surrounds it, the fresh air and wide open fields. The school offers pre-primary, primary and high school education as well as full boarding facilities for Grade 5 – Grade 11 pupils.

If you’re looking for a place that has it all, then get in touch with us and we’ll find your perfect home.