Waterberg Game Reserve in South Africa is a conservation area with diverse wildlife and limited accommodation. It is known for its African leopard conservation and offers opportunities for wildlife viewing, guided tours, and mountain biking.
Waterberg Game Reserve is often regarded as one of South Africa’s best kept secrets. The Waterberg Range extends more than 90 miles (150 km) from Thabazimbi in the west to Potgeitersrus in the east. The reserve has rivers and marshes within its nearly 100,000 acres (400,000 hectares) of land. It is thought to have more wildlife viewing opportunities than any other reserve in Africa. Some 37,000 acres (150,000 hectares) within Waterberg Game Reserve is a specially protected conservation area and one of the signature projects is the conservation and study of the African leopard. A population of approximately 77,000 people live in the Waterberg region.
Accommodation within Waterberg Game Reserve is limited. Accommodation consists of a few safari tents on a campsite and the number of visitors allowed is limited. This makes the Waterberg an extremely coveted place for tourists to visit, and there are often waiting lists for a place to stay on the reserve. Campground typically allows a dozen people at a time. Fresh drinking water, beds and electricity are available, but visitors must bring their own food to prepare. The campsite is close to a watering hole which sometimes provides an opportunity to observe wildlife.
Wildlife in Waterberg Game Reserve is diverse and abundant. More than 250 bird species and a large number of reptiles have been cataloged in the area. Leopards and brown hyenas are commonly sighted. The larger mammals that can be seen include giraffes, wildebeests and zebras. There are also Chacma baboons and vervet monkeys, as well as numerous species of African cats and mongooses. The mountains of the reserve offer the opportunity to see several species of animals that cannot be seen in other reserves, such as the cliff-hopper and the mountain reedbuck.
Waterberg Game Reserve is located approximately halfway between Johannesburg and Botswana. The reserve is about a two and a half hour drive from either direction. Visitors can bring their own vehicles to drive through the reserve for wildlife viewing. All-wheel drive pickup trucks or jeeps are often recommended due to the rugged terrain. Four-by-four vehicles are usually a requirement during the rainy season, between March and October. Guided walks and vehicle tours can be arranged in advance with reserve officials. Some visitors enjoy mountain biking in the reserve, although there are no maintained trails and often a route has to be improvised.
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