A mini safari in the Cradle

Just an hour from Joburg, urbanites can swap the bustle for the bush, enjoying game drives and outdoor activities at Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge, while staying in the Cradle of Humankind

- Linda Piegl

Set in the massive Cradle Moon Conservancy north of Johannesburg, Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge offers an authentic bush getaway for the city-weary. Open to day visitors and longer-stay guests, the conservancy spans 1 600ha of farmland, owned by several landowners committed to preserving and rehabilitating local fauna and flora.

Resident species include rhino, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, various antelope, hyena, jackal and aardwolf. Previously called the Heia Safari Ranch, the centrepiece is a 32ha dam on the Crocodile River, the largest stone dam in Africa. Standing 20m high and 300m wide, the cascading water can be admired from ground level and has been the backdrop to many a selfie.

The property is the vision of late German tourism personality Franz Richter, reflecting his passion for Africa and the bush. By creating the dam and Lake Heritage, he provided an environment that attracted abundant water birds, and a hippo family also moved in.

THE WILD SIDE