Explore/South Africa/ZA GP/Magaliesberg Loop — Pretoria to Johannesburg via Hartbeespoort & Cradle of Humankind
Magaliesberg Loop — Pretoria to Johannesburg via Hartbeespoort & Cradle ofHumankind.
Distance
165 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
700 m
Magaliesberg Loop — Pretoria to Johannesburg via Hartbeespoort & Cradle of Humankind.
The classic Gauteng escape day ride. Pretoria heads west on the R513 through Magaliesberg foothills to Hartbeespoort Dam, the recreational lake nestled below the mountain range. South across the dam wall and along the R560 toward Maropeng — the UNESCO Cradle of Humankind site holding hominid fossils up to 2.5 million years old. Loop closes south into Johannesburg. Urban bookends with a genuinely rural Magaliesberg twisty middle section on the R560 and R563.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance165 km
Days1
Total climb700 m
DifficultyEasy
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The route.
PretoriaStart · Start in Pretoria. Head west on the R513 toward the Magaliesberg foothills. Beat the morning traffic — leave before 8am.
Hartbeespoort DamScenic Point · Recreational dam at the foot of the Magaliesberg mountain range. Cross the dam wall on the R513 for spectacular water and mountain views. Aerial cableway nearby for an optional break.
Hartbeespoort TownRestaurant · Resort town on the dam, locally called Harties. Several cafes and craft markets. Fuel and food before heading south into the Cradle.
Maropeng — Cradle of HumankindScenic Point · UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitor centre at Maropeng covers the human family tree, with hominid fossils from Sterkfontein dating up to 2.5 million years. The R400/R563 approach is the proper moto road of the day.
JohannesburgEnd · End in Johannesburg. Most riders return to Pretoria via the N1; the loop is usually run with two bikes shuttling, or end here for a Joburg overnight.
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