About Magaliesburg

Magaliesburg, Magaliesberg

The sleepy little village of Magaliesburg lies in the Witwatersberg - the actual Magaliesberg Mountains are a further 8 kilometres or so north of here - its nearest neighbours the unassuming towns of Doornhoek and Hekpoort, an easy hour's drive from Johannesburg.

There's a steam train, the Magaliesburg Express, that delivers day-trippers on a regular basis from Park Station in Johannesburg where they spill out on the forecourt of the Magaliesburg Country Hotel. Magaliesburg serves as a weekend mecca and tourist destination of note with numerous guest houses, country restaurants, hiking, birding, rock climbing, hot-air ballooning and mountain biking in the area.

Magaliesburg itself seems to have stood still with the passing of time, and in complete contradiction to the surge of development in Johannesburg. It makes for a pleasant change, particularly as with time's slowing, there is the impression of extended minutes on the clock to spend on the myriad things to do in the area.

Driving around and through the little towns in and around Magaliesburg makes for a pleasant afternoon meander, made all the more enticing by the development of a local artists' route, through the neighbouring Cradle of Humankind up to Hartebeespoort Dam, with a wealth of pottery, jewellery, crystals, sculpture and other crafts for enticing stops en route.

Those after more lively activities will not be disappointed, and there is also trout fishing, clay pigeon shooting, archery and any number of spas and wellness centres to choose from. Canopy Tours - a tree top experience not to be missed - is also active in the area.