African Wildlife & Environment Issue 80

DESTINATIONS

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.

Mocking Cliff-chat, a common, tame species, regularly seen at the upper cableway station

installed. The cableway underwent 500 hours of testing, complying with the Canadian Standards Association specifications. 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. 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?

John Wesson jwesson@wessanorth.co.za

Getting there The longest mono-cableway in Africa is situated off the R 511 from Johannesburg, one km to the north of the town of Hartbeespoort in the North West Province, in the Magaliesberg Biosphere reserve. The aerial cableway is open from Wednesday to Sundays all year round but in severe weather conditions it will close. For those planning a visit its recommended that you wear comfortable shoes and bring along a jersey or jacket, sunhat and sunscreen. For guests or spectators, there is a restaurant at the base station where you can wait before you enjoy the adventure. For further information about costs and bookings please look at their website

54 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 80 (2021)