Birds of the Magaliesberg 2023

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS: JOHN WESSON HARTIES AERIAL CABLEWAY

In 2010, Zargodox (Pty) Ltd began a private initiative with the aim of growing tourism in the Hartbeespoort area, and purchased the old cableway. In collaboration with Swiss company Rowema AG, Zargodox invested time and expertise into rejuvenating the old installation and bringing the area back to life. Fourteen six-seater hi-tech cable cars, new galvanized cabling, touch-screen technology, auto-cabin spacing, and conveyor programming technology was installed.The cableway underwent 500 hours of testing, complying with the Canadian Standards Association specifications.

There is a self-service express restaurant at the top of the cableway, where you can buy light meals to enjoy on the terrace or at one of the viewing decks. You may also want to sip on a cocktail at the bar, while admiring the view from the terrace. If you have children, why not sit under the shade at one of the picnic tables and watch them play on the jungle gym in the Kidzone play area? You can do some shopping at the Little Shop at the Top, or just sit back and enjoy nature, taking in the tranquility and the calls of the birds. The crest

of the mountain range is a must for birders wanting to experience some of the birds that frequent this habitat.You may well be lucky enough to see some endangered Cape Vultures circling overhead from the nearby breeding colony in Skeerpoort, or the Verreaux’s Eagle as it hunts for Rock hyraxes (dassies), especially in the early morning as they come out to sun themselves.The Biosphere boasts a bird list of over 450 species. Recently a project was launched by WESSA Northern Areas region to bring back the endangered Aloe peglerae (Turk’s Cap Aloe) to the cableway area from where it To help visitors explore the mountain, the Harties Cableway has set out the one km ‘Dassie Loop’ walkway. Informative signs along the way explain points of interest that you can see from atop the mountain; on a clear day you can see the Coca-Cola Dome in Randburg, most of Brits and even some parts of Pretoria.

On 14 August 2010, at the re-opening of the cableway, the then Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, congratulated the team behind the rejuvenation of the cableway and stated: “Anyone who has been to Switzerland will tell you that the Harties Cableway is up there with the best.This is a world-class facility, and we need many more products like this”. The Aerial Cableway was named ‘Best Conference Venue’ at the North West Provincial Tourism Awards in 2012. The fun doesn’t begin and end with the cable car ride itself. A trip to the top of the mountain will quickly turn into a day of enjoyment, away from the pressures of city life. On top, you feel as if you are in another world, and there is plenty to enjoy in this small paradise.

Sweeping views of Hartbeespoort Dam and surrounding areas from the Cableway deck

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