De Wildt Cheetah sanctuary The cheetah centre is only two kilometers from Moonlight Backpackers Lodge, and home to a variety of wildlife (not only cheetahs). The centre became world renowned when they were the first to successfully breed cheetahs in captivity. They are also well known for the great successes that they have with the breeding of cape hunting dogs, or better known as wild dogs, which is the second most endangered predator in Africa. The centre operate two tours daily, and you have the option of booking "running with the cheetahs" additional to the normal morning tour. It is essential to book a tour in advance.
Elephant sanctuary The Elephant Sanctuary provides a safe haven for our elephants and offers a unique platform for guest education and interaction. All the programs are guest and elephant driven, which means the most important part of the operation is to ensure happy elephants and satisfied guests. The close encounter with elephants guests experience at The Elephant Sanctuary is truly one of a kind. You can book a ride on an African elephant, additional to the normal daily tours, which can be combined with lunch or a dinner. The elephant sanctuary is only eight minutes from Moonlight Backpackers Lodge.
Lesedi cultural village The village are run and operated by local people, introducing some of the South African cultures to guests. A very informative tour covers five of South Africa's traditional homesteads including Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele. You will be treated to a wonderful display of traditional African dancing, song and music during the tour. Make sure to take some extra money that you will easily spend in the arts and crafts (made by the people from the village) shops at lesedi cultural village. Both the morning and afternoon tours includes a fantastic meal, where you can feast on some of South Africa's traditional and more modern meals.
Bush babies monkey sanctuary All tours are structured and guided. Walk through natural indigenous forests on elevated wooden walkways and experience a variety of exotic monkeys in an exquisite natural environment. The experience is described as a non-interactive game-viewing opportunity to see once-captive primates in a wild environment. Tours are highly informative and the walk is leisurely, winding its way through a tranquil forest setting.
Ama Zwing Zwing zip line Adventure is on your doorstep and this one should be on your must-do list of experiences! The tour is around two hours long. Enjoy this unique adventure of sliding on steel cables while viewing the game below! With a total length of 1,3km, made up of 7 slides, this adventure in the sky continues over ten platforms ranging in height from 2m up to 14m. Climbing the staircase takes you up to the highest platform where you can enjoy refreshments while taking in the breathtaking view of the surrounding Magaliesberg mountains and the Crocodile river. The longest slide is 240 meters long. A meal at Amazingwe lodge is included.
Canopy tours The tour is a unique eco-adventure that takes clients on a 2,5 hour tour down the spectacular Ysterhout Kloof, set in the ancient Magaliesberg Mountains. Eleven platforms have been built against the cliffs and rock faces of the kloof and are joined by long steel cables that clients slide along to reach the next platform. Much like a "foefie" slide, the canopy tour essentially involves zigzagging down the kloof while stopping at each platform to admire the expansive views and surrounding ecology. Included in the price: refreshments, all equipment and a light meal at Hadeda's restaurant
Bill Harrop's hot air balloon safaris You're sipping fine champagne while hovering gently above the tree tops of the beautiful Magalies River Valley, or drifting majestically high above the Magaliesberg range, just 45 km north of Johannesburg's northern suburbs, a region boasting some of the best ballooning weather in the world. The exceptional peace of this unique and almost supernatural view of the world will forever remain as a truly cherished memory. After landing, savour a delectable and generous champagne breakfast at our new, traditionally exquisite and beautifully appointed restaurant.
Restaurants and pubs There are 16 restaurants offering a great variety of food, within 15 minutes from Moonlight Backpackers Lodge. One of the most popular must be Upperdeck open air restaurant in Hartbeespoort dam. They have life bands on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, which is the most popular day with around 1000 people enjoying a meal and the music on Sundays. Wednesday nights is a very popular night, when a 500 gram T-bone steak, chips, spinach and pumpkin only cost R39, and you will be entertained by a fantastic musician. Their website: www.theupperdeck.co.za Other very popular restaurants are Squires, Catelino's, Red Dragon, Silver Orange, The Office and many more.
Golf There are many well known golf courses within 20 minutes from Moonlight Backpackers Lodge. A few popular courses are:
Health and day spas Book a relaxing day with your girl friends at one of the many health spa's close to Moonlight Backpackers Lodge. A few popular spa's are:
De Wildt 4x4 trails and hiking trails An amazing experience for all 4x4 enthusiasts. The De Wildt 4x4 venue is only three kilometers from Moonlight Backpackers Lodge, and offers a challenging course up the Magaliesberg mountains. See the below website for a few brilliant photos. They also have a lovely walking / hiking trail up the Magaliesberg mountains. You are guaranteed to see a variety of wildlife which is on the property. You can relax at the sports bar in their beautiful thatched lapa after your walk or 4x4 expedition, or have a picnic under the trees at their picnic site, or braai (BBQ) at one of the many sites. Don't forget to cool off in the pool.
Curio markets, arts & crafts, art galleries Hartbeespoort dam must have one of the largest arts and crafts (curio) markets in southern Africa, with a large variety of arts and crafts from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Senegal, Malawi, Tanzania and Mali. Close to the markets is Welwitchia country market where you will find interesting and useful home crafts.
Hartbeespoort dam and the surrounding areas are well known for the large number of artists, which means that there are more than ten art galleries in Hartbeespoort dam. Many of the art galleries are in Scott Street. Jo Roos is a very famous sculptor / painter, who lives and works only two kilometers from us. See his website (Click here)
Horse riding and horse trails Saddle Creek Ranch nestles in the Hekpoort valley in the foothills of the magnificent Magaliesberg mountains. We offer horseback riding with a difference, riding western style on "a well trained, obedient calm and friendly" trail horses, with various rides into the bushveld and foothills. Our rides are suitable to the individuals. For the beginner the emphasis is on a safe, relaxed and enjoyable ride on horses that will not "run away" with you. The experienced rider can choose a more "spirited horse" for a lively, exhilarating ride. Western style riding is becoming more popular, and Saddle Creek Ranch is ideal to learn to ride like a cowboy.
Hunting (Rifle & bow) South Africa offers some of Africa's best rifle and bow hunting opportunities, if not the best. We offer very affordable hunting packages to suit the pockets of all hunters, including those people who would normally not be able to afford an African hunt. All our guides are very experienced and registered. You will be transported in comfortable vehicles to the hunting areas, and we use only the best hunting vehicles (land cruisers with hunting frames and winches). We own a number of hunting farms, as well as have partnerships with a number of other game farms throughout South Africa. Hunt at affordable prices. No rifle, no problem.
Camelotte wedding venue This beautiful wedding venue is situated in De Wildt close to Hartbeespoort dam and Brits. The buildings look like an old style castle, and the gardens are lovely. They have a beautiful church, where you can tie the knot. Have a look at their website for many photos of this outstanding venue. Many of our past clients were guests of a wedding at Camelotte wedding venue. We have only heard very good remarks and how wonderful and beautiful the wedding was from these clients. The venue is only two kilometers from Moonlight Backpackers Lodge, where your friends & family can stay in comfortable & affordable accommodation.
Snake park & zoo Hartbeespoort dam snake and retile park is built on the shores of the dam, and only ten minutes from Moonlight Backpackers Lodge. The park has daily shows with the snakes, as well as penguins. The park is home to a large variety of other mammals, such as lion, hyena, leopard, tigers, bears, wolves, monkeys, apes, jaguars and many more. They also have an enormous variety of birds including vultures.
This is a great way to treat yourself and the kids. You can book a boat trip on a flat deck boat, that departs from the park. Open every day.
Sun City The world renowned Sun City is only one hour from Moonlight Backpackers Lodge. Enjoy a wonderful day at Sun City where you can visit the crocodile farm, do quad biking, relax in the sun at the man made ocean (Valley of the waves), do a cable slide, try your luck at gambling, eat at one of the many restaurants, experience the waterslides, enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants, do a hot air balloon trip, ride an elephant, or just wander about taking in the amazing sights and views. We offer transfers / shuttle service from Moonlight Backpackers Lodge to Sun City and back at R 250 per person (minimum of 5 people).
Pilanesberg national park The park is situated next to Sun City and is in a malaria free area. Set in the crater of a long extinct volcano, the Park ranks among the largest of the parks in South Africa (it is in fact the fourth largest park) and covers an area of 55 000 hectare. Over time, wind and water have carved a spectacular landscape with rocky outcrops, open grasslands, wooded valleys and thickets. Moonlight Travel & Livingstone Trails offers full day tours to Pilanesberg national park at R900 per person (minimum 5 people), including transport, registered guide, entrance fees, lunch. Overnight camping tours can also be arranged.
LivingstoneTrails Livingstone Trails and Moonlight Travel operate 24 tours with weekly departures. Our shortest safari tour is 3 days, and the longest is 16 days. We have a 3 day, 4 day, 5 day & 6 day tour that departs every day to Kruger national park, where our camping clients will stay in our own campsite inside the park, and the bedded accommodation clients will stay in a lovely 3 star lodge. We have a number of tours going to the Okavango Delta and Chobe national park in Botswana, as well as the magnificent Victoria falls in Zimbabwe. All game drives are done in open game viewing 4x4 vehicles. See Moonlight Travel for discounted tours.
