Waterberg

The Waterberg offers a mosaic of exceptional scenic landscape, a fascinating cultural heritage, an abundance of wildlife species and many nature-based tourism opportunities. Welgevonden Game Reserve is Heritage Site of 33000 hectares bordering Marekele National Park, located in the Waterberg Biosphere.

Entabeni Private Game Reserve is also located in the Waterberg. Less than a 3-hour drive north of Johannesburg, this 12000 ha malaria-free reserve boasts 5 eco-systems. The upper escarpment offers majestic craggy rock formations and wide open grass plains. This is separated from the lower plateau by 600m high cliffs. The lower escarpment is about three degrees warmer and comprises sandy wetlands.

Vaalwater is the central village of the Waterberg area, the heart of the Bushveld region. The Waterberg is situated about 2 hours north of Joburg, is one of South Africa’s best keep secrets. Its rugged beauty, together with its diversity in plant and animal life, has led to the development of several exciting eco-tourism projects such as the biosphere reserve, the Waterberg Nature Conservancy - the amalgamation of conservation areas in order to protect more than 150 000 hectares of the Waterberg-habitat.

The Waterberg-range, incorporating many rivers, streams and swamps, stretches for 150 kilometres in a long arc from Thabazimbi in the West, Nylstroom in the centre to Potgietersrus in the east. Apart from the spectacular scenery of the mountains themselves, there are many game sanctuaries, nature reserves and farms.

75 mammal species include big game such as elephant, lion, white and black rhino, hippo, leopard and buffalo. African python and the Nile crocodile are also resident, and it is a birdwatchers’ paradise with more than 300 bird species.