Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge

Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge is situated in Muldersdrift in Gauteng which is approximately 40 minutes away from Sandton, Johannesburg. Here is a complete guide on how to get there, how much it costs and all the activities available for your trip to the Cradle Moon Lodge

History

Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge is situated within the cradle moon conservancy. The conservancy is made up of an area of around 1500 hectres of land.

The Cradle Moon Conservancy is comprised of various farms including the Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge which was previously known as the Heia Safari Ranch.

There are various animals which can be found in the conservancy and these include zebra, rhino, kudu, leopard, eland and many many more.

How To Get There

Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge is located about 32 kilometres away from Sandton, Johannesburg. There are various routes which can be used to get to the cradle moon lodge. The easiest and simplest option from Sandton, Johannesburg would be to travel north on Stella Street towards West Street. Thereafter you take Republic Road and the M5 for 31 kilometres. Finally you turn left onto Sunset Boulevard to enter the conservancy.

This route above has no tolls along the drive. There is one entry gate to enter the Cradle Moon Conservancy.

Here is a map of the route from Sandton, Johannesburg to the Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge.

Cradle Moon Conservancy Entrance Fees

Entrance fees are payable when you enter the Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge. These payments can be made at either the reception or the activities office once you enter the lodge area. Upon receipt of payment, you will be given a band that is to be placed around your hand. There are no entrance fees that are paid at the Cradle Moon Conservancy entrance gate as fees are paid at the offices at the lodge.

The conservation fee payable at the Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge is R50.00 per person.*

Please note that you will not be allowed to leave the premises (the exit gate at the conservancy) without showing the security these armbands. Furthermore, these bands are removed by security and discarded when you exit the Cradle Moon conservancy.

Cradle Moon Lake

The lake is around 32 hectares and is home to a family of hippo. In addition, there are numerous species of fish, birds and reptiles in the lake. Cradle Moon has various activities available on the lake. These include boat cruises and fly fishing.

The Franz Richter dam wall is the largest stone dam wall on the continent. This dam has five crests and there is a walkway along one of the crests. And this allows visitors to view the dam wall and the beautiful lake. There are a wide variety of waterbirds that live around the lake and there is also a dead tree at the centre of the lake.

Are you are enjoying this, check out the previous post on the  Dinokeng Game Reserve Guide, which is situated in Hammanskraal, Gauteng where you will find the big 5 roaming free and you can go on a self-drive at the reserve.

Activities at Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge

There are various activities available at the lodge, these include mountain biking, running and hiking trails, game drives and walks. In addition, there is also accommodation options offered in the form of fifty rondavels scattered around the premises. The lodge offers over fifty kilometres of trails and homes twenty species of wildlife which ensures that there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Please note that the Lodge is not a self-catering venue. As a result, no food and drink may be taken into the site.

Hiking, Cycling and Trail Running

There are four different routes available for mountain biking and hiking through the cradle moon lakeside game lodge with varying distances available to suit different fitness levels. And the lodge offers over fifty kilometres of trails to be enjoyed. In addition, the lodge is an ideal spot for hiking in the Muldersdrift area.

*Rates:

Bands for activities are available for purchase at the Activities Centre:

• Hiking R70.00 per person
• Mountain biking R70.00 per person
• Bike Hire R200.00 per bike
• Trail running R70.00 per person

These rates include the R50.00 conservancy fee.

Game Drives

Another one of the activities on offer are game drives. These are trips around the conservancy with experienced game rangers. As a result, you are able to view all the flora and fauna as well as the different wildlife that are part of the conservancy.

Pro tip:
Carry cameras and binoculars for better spotting of wildlife and be patient, you tend to spot these beautiful creatures when you least expect it.

*Rates:

Book these in advance at the reception office:

• Game Drives (2 to 4 Guests) R380.00 pp
• Game Drives (5 to 8 Guests) R315.00 pp

These rates exclude the R50 conservancy fee.

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Boat Cruises

There are different options available where you are able to cruise along the lake heritage. This is a great way to view game and birdlife from a different perspective. And if you are lucky you may be able to spot the resident hippos.

*Rates:

Book these in advance at the reception office:

• 4 – 10 guests Boat Cruise R190.00 pp
• 11 – 24 guests Boat Cruise R155.00 pp
• Boat Cruise (Exclusive) R3100

These rates exclude the R50.00 conservancy fee.

Other activities

There are numerous other activities available at the cradle moon lodge, these include swimming, paddling, fly fishing, rowing and canoeing. These activities have varying prices which can be found here.

Cradle Moon Restaurant and Deli

There are two restaurant areas available at the lodge. The Cradle Moon restaurant is located behind the reception offices whilst the other seating area is a large deck situated along the dam wall. The latter allows you to enjoy your meal whilst having a wonderful view of the dam and lake. In addition, there is also a Deli on the premises which stores several items which is an ideal place to stock up on goods if you are staying at the premises or if you want to prepare a picnic box to enjoy near the dam.

The Cradle Moon Restaurant offers an a la carte menu everyday between 07:00 am to 21:00 pm. Currently the restaurant is working on a first come first serve basis and therefore bookings are not necessary. Therefore, you will need to get to the restaurant early to ensure that you secure a table. During lunch both seating areas for the restaurant get very busy so plan accordingly.

Meals on offer at the restaurant include pizza, burgers, wraps, light meals like salads and hearty meals like steaks and chops. In total our meal for two people cost R255.00 exclusive of the waiter’s tip. This amount comprised of drinks which were a Mango crusher (R45.00) and a Carrot, apple, ginger juice (R45.00); and meals of Arancini balls (R75.00) and Panko prawns (R90.00). These meals were described as light meals but were filling and very delectable.

Accommodation

Guest accommodation is available at the Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge. These include fifty thatched bungalows or rondavels. The bungalows consist of two bedrooms and accommodate between three and four sharing guests. Other facilities available at the bungalows include en-suite bathrooms, WIFI in the rooms and tea/coffee stations. Each bungalow also has a covered veranda where you can enjoy views of the lodge and wildlife. There are no fridges or televisions in the bungalows.

Please note that the Lodge is not a self-catering venue. As a result, no food and drink may be taken into the site.

Facilities

There are other facilities available at the cradle moon lodge, these include:

• Conference facilities which offer conference rooms for between forty to one hundred and twenty people;
• Wedding venues which include outdoor weddings on the banks of the lake;
• Nomadic tents which provide an eighty seater outdoor venue for functions and birthday celebrations.

Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge Contact Details:

• WHERE: Plot 59 Beyers Naude Drive, Muldersdrift, 1747

• COST: R50.00 conservation fee and differing prices for various activities

• TIMES: Reception 6:30am to 9pm; Reservations office weekdays 7am to 5pm

Items to carry:
Carry sunblock and wear a hat to protect you from the sun. During the summer months, the sun is very strong and there isn’t much shade when you are walking around.

• CONTACT NUMBER: +27 11 919 5000

• E-MAIL: reservations @ cradlemoon.co.za

• WEBSITE: https://www.cradlemoon.co.za/

Recommendation

There are lots of things to do and see at the Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge. It makes for a lovely day out for the entire family. And there is something to do for everyone.

What did you think of the guide to the Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge? So do you have more to add on? Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post, check out the previous post on Six Things to do in Hartbeespoort which highlights six exciting activities you can complete in this small town in the North West province.

Looking for more inspiration, check out the South Africa page which has other posts on things that you can do in this dynamic country.

* Please note that all prices and contact information are correct at time of publication. Please check the venues websites as prices may change without notice. *

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