The Ultimate Waterberg Travel Guide: Limpopo’s Hidden Gem

The Waterberg region in Limpopo Province, South Africa, is renowned for its pleasant climate, sweeping bushveld landscapes and significant mountain ranges. Besides exceptional safari experiences ranging from the Big 5 to small mammals and birds of prey, guests can engage in various outdoor activities. Travellers can enjoy picturesque sunsets over the sweeping African wilderness and listen to the natural sounds surrounding campfires while enjoying African hospitality. The Waterberg region provides an opportunity to create lasting memories in a captivating setting.

About the Waterberg Region 🌄

The protected area features vast grasslands and bushveld wilderness, stretching over 150 kilometres along a mountain range from Thabazimbi to Vaalwater. This malaria-free area within the Waterberg District Municipality is a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve with Big Five game reserves and cultural landmarks.

Weather Waterberg Limpopo

Situated in the heart of the Limpopo, the Waterberg weather is mostly sunny and pleasant all year round. Expect high temperatures and afternoon thunderstorms.

• 🌞 Summer: November to March.
• 🍂 Autumn: April is the start of Autumn.
• ❄️ Winter: (May to July), the climate remains mild with sunny blue skies, although nights can be chilly, especially in July, and typically no rainfall.

📍 Getting There 🚗

The Waterberg is approximately a 3-hour drive from Johannesburg, making it an accessible destination for local and international travellers. This region is home to several towns, Bela-Bela, Modimolle, Vaalwater, Thabazimbi, Lephalale, and Mookgophong, offering various amenities and services. Altogether, animals at Bela Bela Mabalingwe Nature Reserve.

🚗 Just 40 minutes from the Bela-Bela district Municipality, you can also detour to Dinokeng Game Reserve — Gauteng’s only Big Five reserve! 🦁 🐘on your way from Pretoria to Bela Bela, the Waterberg region.

👉 Explore my Comprehensive Guide to visiting South Africa for more travel tips and hidden gems 🇿🇦✨

✨ Activities & Adventures

Top Things to do in Waterberg, Limpopo

🦁 Wildlife & Adventure: Discover the thrill of the Waterberg Biosphere on Big Five safaris at Marakele National Parks🦒.
🥾 Hiking Scenic Trails: Lace up your boots and explore the rugged Waterberg landscapes on foot.
🌿 On challenging hikes such as Limpopo’s Vasbyt trail, to leisurely scenic walking trails throughout the Waterberg.
🐘 Adventures with Elephants: Engage with elephants at Elephant Whispers / Waterberg Elephant Sanctuary.
🐆 Cheetah Experience: Conservation initiatives at Lapalala Wilderness / Waterberg Cheetah Project.
🦁 Big 5 adventures just a short drive from Johannesburg at Mabalingwe Game Reserve.
🚙💨 4×4 Trails: Explore rugged Marakele National Park, spotting 🐾 wildlife along scenic self-guided 4×4 trails.
🎭 Cultural Tours: Immerse yourself in local culture across the Waterberg region.
⛰️ Visit traditional villages near Vaalwater to meet community leaders, learn about daily life, and taste local dishes.
🍲 Witness artisans crafting pottery, beadwork, and weaving around Thabazimbi 🧵✨

🏞️ Waterberg Regions & Places

Dotted with private game reserves and national parks, expect wildlife encounters and photography opportunities. It is a haven for many animal species, ranging from the Big 5 to small mammals and birds of prey. 

🌄 Bela-Bela

Most famous for its natural hot springs, Bela Bela (formerly known as Warmbaths) is one of the most popular holiday resort towns in South Africa, some 90 minutes from Johannesburg and an hour’s drive from Pretoria. The Tswana name “Bela Bela” means “water which boils on its own,” referring to the hot springs with stable temperatures of around 53°C. What to do in Bela Bela is easy with the several holiday resorts, sanctuaries with a diverse fauna and flora, game reserves, nature reserves, and lodges. 🏡 🌿

🌳 Activities & Top things to do Bela Bela

• 💦 The ATKV Klein-Kariba Resort is conveniently located just 8 minutes (6.1 km) from Bela Bela. This family-friendly resort boasts water pools, outdoor activities and adventures, quad biking, fishing 🎣, hiking, birding🦜, a 9-hole short-iron golf course, and an 18-hole mini-golf course.
• 💆 A Forever Resort Hydro & Spa, with its hot springs, is one of the best spas in Bela Bela. It also has a water park with slides, swimming pools, a ski dam, and other water activities.
• 🌊 Water Activities: Enjoy swimming and relaxation at the hot springs.🕶️🧢
• 🥾 Hiking Trails & Trail Walks: Scenic nature walks and hiking in verdant bushveld Reserves and lodges.
• 🐦 Birding opportunities: Spotting local birdlife, African Hoopoe, Hornbills, and other species.
• 🐎 Horse Riding & Quad Biking: Explore scenic trails on horseback or quad bikes.
• 🐘 Adventures with Elephants: Engage with elephants at nearby Elephant Whispers / Waterberg Elephant Sanctuary.

🏨 Accommodation Options

• The Forever Resort Bela Bela offers apartments and Self-catering accommodations – reported theft issues at the Bela Bela Caravan park.
• Warmbaths hotels, B&B and guest house accommodation in Bela Bela. 🏡
• ATKV Klein-Kariba is a 3-star hotel that offers apartments, villas, tent-houses, and self-catering chalets.
• Tent Houses for a glamping-style experience at the ATKV Klein Kariba Bela Bela.
• Rustic mountain cabins and camping at nearby Mabalingwe reserve.🦒
• Camping in the Waterberg: Klein Kariba Caravan Park, Sondela Caravan Park, Klein Paradys Caravan Park, and Mbizi. ⛺
• To check out specials on a range of Accommodation in Bela-Bela visit Where to stay in Bela Bela.

🦏 Mabalingwe Game Reserve in Bela Bela

Looking for Big 5 game reserves near Johannesburg, a romantic getaway, or a family retreat, the premium Mabalingwe Nature Reserve provides the perfect escape from life’s rush. As one of Limpopo’s Big 5 Game reserves, animals in Mabalingwe Game Reserve roam freely. The reserve’s name means “Spots of the Leopard”, and comes from the phrase “mabala ya ingwe (Zulu), reflecting its abundance of wildlife. This untamed South African bushveld Reserve is home to animals ranging from the Big 5 to small mammals and predators. Located just a two-hour drive from Johannesburg, and 29 km outside Bela Bela. 🐾

🐘 Adventures with Elephants

Located on a beautiful, verdant wildlife reserve in the Waterberg region of Limpopo, Elephant Sanctuary Bela Bela is home to some Gentle Giants who were considered a problem. Fortunately, the Hensman family came to their rescue through the Rory Hensman Foundation, after educational hands-on interactions and the love and attention these so-called ‘problem elephants’ deserve. The seven elephants at Adventures with Elephants are involved in numerous research projects that benefit the entire species and humanity.

You can now have close encounters with these Gentle Giants. Learn about these giants’ intelligence and interaction – bonding with humans. Visiting Adventures with Elephants is very special and for a good cause – altogether support the initiative. Located about 34 kilometres outside Bela-Bela (Warmbaths) on the road to Thabazimbi – 8 km past Mabalingwe – between Thandeka Game Reserve and Zebula Golf Estate & Spa.

To book an experience, Phone: +27 79 431 7655 – GPS Coordinates: 24°46’53.8″S+27°57’03.3″E

🌅 Sondela Nature Reserve & Spa

The Sondela Private Game Reserve offers beautiful landscapes, wildlife experiences, a Wildlife Centre, and opportunities for relaxation. Located only 12 12-minute from Bela-Bela and 70 70-minute from Pretoria, it is an excellent choice for a weekend getaway. 🌿

🌄 Thabazimbi

Gateway to SANparks Marakele National Park and several nature reserves, it is known for its iron ore mining and beautiful natural landscapes, and it attracts tourists and nature enthusiasts with its outdoor activities and wildlife. 🦒🐾

🦁 🦏 Marakele National Park

Located near Thabazimbi, the SANParks Marakele National Park showcases the rugged beauty of the flourishing Limpopo Waterberg Mountains with bushveld and forested highlands. Malaria-free and home to the Big Five plus over 250 bird species, including the world’s largest Cape vulture colony.

🌄 Mokopane & Waterberg Wilderness Reserve

Formerly named Potgietersrus, Mokopane in the Waterberg Region, Limpopo, South Africa, celebrated for its pristine landscapes and rich wildlife, preserves a complete record of human occupation from the Early Stone Age to the Iron Age. The gateway to Private Waterberg Wilderness Reserve is conveniently located about three hours from Johannesburg and serves as a midway point to Botswana. Mogalakwena is a Rural town nearby. 🌿🐾

🌄 Laphalale & Lapalala Wilderness

Formerly known as Ellisras, Lephalale, east of the Waterberg Coalfield ⛏️, it makes a popular last stop for safaris heading to Botswana and the Okavango Delta. The stunning 48,000-hectare Laphalale Nature Conservation Area in Limpopo’s Polokwane is popular for its pristine rivers and diverse habitats. 🐾

The scenic Lapalala Wilderness made history as the first private reserve in South Africa to reintroduce the black rhino in 1981. Home to the iconic Big Five and the Lapalala Wilderness School, which provides environmental education, emphasising the importance of conservation. Traversed by the Palala and Kgogong rivers over 60 km, a unique ecological destination.🦁

🌄 Mokolo Dam Nature Reserve

The scenic 46 km² Mokolo Nature Reserve (formerly the Hans Strijdom Dam) attracts visitors with scenic picnic spots around a peaceful dam near Lapalala. Its unique “photographic hunting” concept lets guests capture wildlife images and attracts fishermen, birders and water sport enthusiasts. Located in the Waterberg Biosphere and about 50 km southwest of Lapalala, northeast of Marakele National Park, between bushveld and sandstone mountains.

🎣 What fish can be found in the Mokolo Dam? Anglers can catch largemouth bass, bream, carp, and catfish, but one should be cautious of crocodiles.🐟

🌄 Modimolle

Formerly known as Nylstroom, it is a town located near the southern edge of the Waterberg Massif with access to nature reserves with bushveld and wildlife experiences. The Waterberg District is a UNESCO Biosphere and a land of beauty and diversity in Limpopo Province, with abundant Private game reserves and private game farms. Vaalwater is a small community near Modimolle in Limpopo.

🌿 🦜The Nylsvley Nature Reserve covers 40 km² along the seasonal floodplain of the Nyl River, near Mookgophong (formerly known as Naboomspruit), and is 42 km southwest of Mookgophong. It is considered one of South Africa’s top birdwatching destinations during summer. The 4,000-hectare Nylsvley Conservancy is part of the country’s most extensive floodplain and is recognised as an internationally renowned RAMSAR site.

✨ Bonus safari tip: Extend your adventure beyond the Waterberg with a visit to Dinokeng Game Reserve – just a short drive from Bela Bela! 🦁🐘

🐘 Welgevonden Game Reserve – Vaalwater

👉 Whether for a romantic getaway or a family adventure, the premium Mabalingwe Big 5 Game Reserve offers a memorable stay in a stunning natural setting. While Kruger National Park is world-famous and remains South Africa’s flagship safari destination, the Waterberg region offers a Big 5 malaria-free alternative. Guests can enjoy thrilling Big Five game drives on Mabalingwe’s expansive 8,800 hectares. 🌿🦁

✨ Game reserves such as Welgevonden Game Reserve and Marakele National Park deliver unforgettable Big Five encounters without the crowds. With protected bushveld and grassland, wildlife can roam freely across private game reserves and public national park land thanks to its biosphere reserve status.

🌿 Lake Fundudzi🌿⛰️✨🛖

Also known as “People of the Pool”, Lake Fundudzi, nestled in the Soutpansberg Mountains, was formed by an ancient landslide, creating a serene and sacred body of water, located near Thohoyandou and Louis Trichardt (Makhado). Surrounded by the lush sacred Thathe Vondo Forest, it is rich in biodiversity. The lake holds deep cultural significance for the Venda people as a site for traditional rituals and ceremonies. Access to the lake is restricted and requires special permission from Venda leaders.

🏨 Where to stay – Accommodation Waterberg Limpopo

Accommodation in the Waterberg: Options range from luxury safari retreats to family-friendly game lodges, each offering an authentic stay surrounded by the bushveld. Marakele Private game lodges are nestled inside nature reserves and game reserves. Whether it’s a private game reserve stay or a national park lodge, you’ll benefit from guided game drives, rare wildlife sightings, and access deep into protected bushveld and grassland. Staying inside the reserve often gives you more than just a safari—it provides an immersive nature reserve experience within the Waterberg Biosphere.

🌟 Travel Tips

• 🌞 Best Time to Visit: The Waterberg region is mostly sunny with clear blue skies and pleasant temperatures. Autumn 🍂starts in April. The winter months ❄️ (May to August) are ideal for game viewing with sunny days but colder nights.
• 🚘 Getting There: The Waterberg District is accessible by road from Johannesburg (approx. 2.5–3.5 hours).
• 🧳 Packing Essentials: Lightweight, neutral-coloured clothing, a hat, and sunscreen.🕶️🧢
• 📸 Camera, binoculars, and a light jacket for cooler mornings and evenings. 🔭

🚗 Car Rental: Make your trip stress-free – visit DiscoverCars – the perfect car rental for your adventure, just a click away.

💡 Travel smart – A Good Travel insurance plan gives you peace of mind wherever your adventure takes you.

🦁 The Dinokeng Game Reserve, located under an hour from Bela Bela, is a prime destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. This expansive reserve offers thrilling game drives and guided walks, allowing the chance to see the Big Five and look👀for other wildlife🐾 in their natural habitat. With its beautiful landscapes and rich biodiversity, Dinokeng is a must-visit for anyone wanting to experience the African wilderness.

✨ From Waterberg to the rest of Limpopo! Discover mountains, wildlife, culture, and adventure across South Africa’s northern province. ➡️ Explore the complete Limpopo Travel Guide

👉🏞️ From bushveld to beaches – see everything South Africa has to offer in my Complete South Africa Travel Guide 🌍

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