What to do in Waterberg

A striking and scenic corner of South Africa, the rugged wilderness areas of the Waterberg set the scene for a wonderfully low-key safari. Up here, there are relatively few other people, and the game viewing and lodges are exclusive and peaceful. There’s no rushing around either; instead, days are filled with slow but fruitful game drives (morning, afternoon and in some places, evening), leisurely boat trips, horseback safaris and walks, all providing a different perspective on the wildlife and landscapes. At the end of the day, a sundowner surrounded by the ever-changing mountain scenery is the ultimate cherry on top. Wildlife-wise, the Big Five are all present, but the cats can be elusive. There is, however, an excellent population of both black and white rhino, and wild dogs are present in some parks (Madikwe is a good example), but not all. There is plenty of plains game around and the variety of habitats results in several different antelope species including tsessebe, eland and gemsbok, usually only found in much drier northern areas. Off-road driving also aids in the search for wildlife.