Maanhaarrand is a tiny village in a ruggedly rural area in the foothills of the Magaliesberg Mountains, in the southern section of the Central North West Province. The name means Lion’s Mane after the appearance of the ridge behind the village, which is part of the Magaliesberg Mountain Range.
Maanhaarrand is famed for its scenic beauty with the most ancient mountain range in the world as its backdrop, and there are many country retreats, guest farms, game farms and lodges in the area of Maanhaarrand and the Maanhaarrand Pass – a gravel pass of the R763 that is also known as ‘Breedt’s Nek’.
The village and area are together a popular holiday and weekend retreat for both Gauteng and Rsutenburg residents and there a number of holiday rentals available.
Guest farms and retreats offer many activities, from hikes and walks to fishing; from bird-watching to horse-riding.
Nearby attractions include the Magaliesberg Mountain Sanctuary Park and the Cradle of Humankind.
The Maanhaarrand area also has an interesting archeological heritage. The outlines of Iron Age villages can be seen in aerial photographs, and the remains of these villages have been found with ash heaps containing both human and animal bones. Rock Art dating back to the Stone Age has also been found here.
Getting there: From Rustenburg take Oliver Tambo Drive south past then Kgaswane Mountain Nature Reserve and continue on this road as it bends to toward the east along the lip of the Magaliesberg Mountain Ridge. From Johannesburg take the R41 north-west via Krugersdorp and the town of Magaliesburg.
