The Waterberg

The Waterberg - so named by early Trekkers (early explorers) for its bounteous supply of clear water - covers an area of some 15 000 square kilometres in the Northern Province and includes the magnificent Welgevonden Private Game Reserve.

The past decade has seen great changes in the region. From being largely a farming area for many generations starting with the Trekkers, the Waterberg now embraces game ranching and conservation.

The Regional Climate

The average annual rainfall is 125mm.

In summer both days and nights are warm, with maximum temperatures reaching about 38 degrees centigrade.

Winter months have warm days, but the evenings and early mornings can be cool.

Welgevonden Private Nature Reserve

Welgevonden is one of the largest privately owned reserves in South Africa, covering 37 000 hectares of land.

Pienkies du Plessis, the owner of the original Welgevonden farm, had the idea of acquiring neighbouring farmlands and establishing a nature conservancy that would return the land to its original state of wilderness. Welgevonden became the first bushveld development in which each owner has freehold title to 500 hectares of pristine bush, traversing rights in perpetuity over the entire 37 000 hectares and custodianship of wildlife on the sanctuary.

Welgevonden is very pro-conservation and strict rules have been drawn up to preserve and minimise impact on the natural environment for future generations.

Major game species have been reintroduced into the reserve since 1994. All these reintroduction projects have been a major success, tripling the game population in size over the past five years. From an original pride of five lions, 22 now roam freely within the reserve's boundaries. We have also had remarkable success with elephants: from just fewer than 50 released into the reserve, 74 now reside here. Other major reintroduction projects include white rhino (for which Welgevonden is renowned), buffalo and special antelope species such as sable, roan, and gemsbok. Other species, which were already on the farms when Welgevonden was established, have been allowed to flourish. These include leopard, antelope, giraffe, warthog, bush pig, aardvark, pangolin and many more. Black-backed jackals and the very rare brown hyena have also prospered in the conservancy.

Within Welgevonden, 270 bird species have been recorded. For those who love trees or simply enjoy scenery, Welgevonden's magical landscape has much to offer.

Location of Sediba Private Game Lodge Address: Sediba Game Lodge Welgevonden Game Reserve Limpopo Province South Africa