Hartebeespoort Dam boat cruise and cableway from Johannesburg

Float past the Magaliesberg, then rise high for a full-circle view of the dam

This six-hour tour from Johannesburg pairs a two-hour boat cruise on Hartebeespoort Dam with a ride on Africa's longest mono-cableway, delivering panoramic views of the Magaliesberg mountains from water level and from the air. The boat includes a gourmet buffet and drinks. The cableway offers 360-degree sightlines across the dam and surrounding landscape. Hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide are included. Children from age three are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat cruise and aerial cableway tour

• Enjoy 2-hour scenic boat cruise
• Have buffet with finger and fork meal
• Take aerial cableway for panoramic views

The experience

Hartebeespoort Dam sits about an hour north of Johannesburg, and the day starts with a two-hour boat cruise across its water. You board the Hartebees vessel and settle in for views of the Magaliesberg range rising from the shoreline while a gourmet finger and fork buffet and your choice of drinks come around. The cruise is the slower half of the day: time to sit, eat, and watch the mountains.

After the boat returns to shore, you transfer to the Aerial Cableway, which climbs 560 meters above the dam. It is the longest mono-cableway in Africa and rotates as it rises, so you get a full 360-degree sweep of the Hartebeespoort Dam, the Magaliesberg, and the surrounding landscape. The views open up gradually. By the top, you can see across the entire basin. The cableway itself is the point: no walking, no hiking, just the ride and the sightline.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as is an English-speaking guide for the day. The tour runs six hours total, which includes travel time from your hotel in Johannesburg. A minimum of two passengers is required to depart. Single travelers may incur an extra charge. The tour suits all fitness levels since both the boat and the cableway require no physical exertion.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Johannesburg.
• an English-speaking guide.
• a two-hour boat cruise with a gourmet buffet and drinks.
• and a ride on the Aerial Cableway with 360-degree views of the dam and Magaliesberg mountains.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 13

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Tsalanang Tours

Is this one for you?The day moves at a relaxed pace (two hours on the water, then a cableway ride with no walking or climbing), so it suits anyone wanting mountain and water views without physical effort or early starts.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the boat cruise on Hartebeespoort Dam?

The boat cruise lasts two hours and includes a gourmet buffet of finger and fork meals plus drinks of your choice while you float past the Magaliesberg mountains.

What is the Aerial Cableway and what will I see from it?

The Aerial Cableway is Africa's longest mono-cableway and rises 560 meters above Hartebeespoort Dam, rotating to give you 360-degree views of the dam, the Magaliesberg mountains, and the surrounding landscape as you ascend.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Johannesburg are included, along with an English-speaking guide for the full day.