mountains

The call of the People in the north of our country are spoilt to have the Magaliesberg on their doorstep. There’s so much to do, but also untouched natural splendour in abundance when it’s time to recharge your batteries.

The Magaliesberg – a stretch of land that extends from Rustenburg in the west to Pretoria in the east – is the type of destination where everyone in your household will be catered for when it comes to things to do. The mountain range is 120 km long and its highest peak is 1 780 m above sea level. Rustenburg, however, is a fair distance from the closest ocean, which means the peak, about 35 km southeast of the town, stands approximately 300 m above the ground. But that doesn’t matter when you kick off your Crocs underneath your awning and sit back to appreciate the surroundings. That mountain may be only 300 m high, but it provides a sense of calm that you certainly won’t find in the city. And while you’re relaxing, the adventureseekers in the family are spoilt for choice with things to keep them busy or to get the adrenaline going. Treetop tours, elephant rides, golf courses, game viewing, quad bike tours... it’s all on the menu – not to mention all the water sport fun you can have at the Hartebeespoort Dam. Oupa can practise his golf swing, and Miracle Waters – a famous scuba-diving spot – is also part of this world. If you’ve ever reflected on who you are and where you come from, the Magaliesberg is a good place to seek these answers. The Cradle of Mankind lies east of the town of Magaliesburg, along the R400. It’s in this area where our ancient ancestors lived more than 3 million years ago and where almost 40% of the world’s human fossils have been found. It’s a homecoming of sorts.