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A Little-known Corner of South Africa

The Waterberg is a wild, rugged and little-known corner of South Africa with spectacular mountains, clear streams and undulating bushveld. It’s dotted with big five parks and game farms that form part of the enormous Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. The Waterberg is one of southern Africa’s most beguiling mountain ranges.

Situated some 180 km north of Pretoria, it straddles a vast area of 15 000 square kilometres. Its southern escarpment presents a line of soaring crags dominated by the Seven Sisters, its central plateau comprises wide-open grasslands and the north-eastern ramparts rise out of the Bushveld in a series of towering formations.

Home to Early Hominids

With plenty of groundwater, these mountains were home to early hominids for up to three million years and were later inhabited by hunter-gathering San. In the 19th century, the Waterberg had a reputation for gun runners and big-game hunters, its fringes loosely settled by hardy pioneer families and mining prospectors.

Getting There

The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve lies two hours’ drive north of Pretoria on the N1 and stretches from Marakele National Park in the southwest to Wonderkop Nature Reserve in the northeast. Vaalwater is the berg’s central town and heart of the region.By Justin Fox