Located in the heart of the Waterberg plateau in Limpopo, a tranquil bushveld safari awaits at AfriCamps Waterberg. Whether you like to relax and recharge, or a jam-packed adventure is more your speed, here you’re always surrounded by wildlife and tranquil bush scenery.

The camp is only a 2.5-hour drive from Pretoria, 30 km northeast of Vaalwater, and invites you to experience the unspoiled wilderness of the Waterberg Biosphere. Surrounded by 2,500-hectare game reserve encompassing wetlands, open fields, bushy areas and a rocky ridge, the family-friendly AfriCamps Waterberg offers various exciting game viewing opportunities in a malaria-free environment.

Highlights on the reserve include horseback game viewing safaris, guided game drives, hiking, astronomy shows (hosted by camp owner, Dr. Phillip Calcott), and birdwatching. Guests can encounter giraffe, zebra, eland, wildebeest, roan, tsessebe, sable, buffalo, kudu, impala, blesbok, waterbuck and ostrich on the property. There is abundant birdlife, particularly close to the dams and wetlands.

A ‘’Culture Tour’’ of a nearby African village and a ‘’Step into the Past ‘’Tour that includes a visit to the historical Davidson House and the Herbert Baker-designed St John’s Church nearby is also on offer.

The property provides unique facilities that round off your bushveld experience perfectly. Cool off in the farm’s 15 m semi-heated swimming pool, challenge the family to a game of volleyball, and visit our lookout decks, Tree Tops, or the Aardvark deck for endless bushveld views.

For the kids, the adventure playground is a firm favourite. With Waterberg’s hot summers and moderate winters, the camp is a year-round holiday or weekend destination.

Staying in one of AfriCamps’ 10 fully equipped boutique glamping tents allows guests to get closer to nature while enjoying life’s little comforts like a fully furnished open-plan kitchen, living and dining space, indoor fireplace, two separate bedrooms with luxurious extra-length queen-size beds, electric blankets, a private en suite bathroom with a spacious rain shower, outdoor wood-fired hot tubs on the decks, Wi-Fi, and 24/7 access to solar power.

So where exactly is the Waterberg?

The Waterberg plateau, a very special part of South Africa, is a mountainous massif of approximately 654,033 hectares in north Limpopo Province, forming a sort of natural ‘’castle’’ or inverted saucer with ramparts of rock formations around the edges. At the foothills of this castle are many towns: Modimolle, Mookgophong, Mokopane, Lephalale, Thabazimbi and Bela-Bela. The portals to the massif that forms the castle are all beautiful passes: Sandrivierspoort, Bakker’s Pass, Bokpoort, the Kloof Pass, the Beauty Road and other lesser-known access routes. There is archaeological evidence that the San and, much later, the Pedi, retreated to this haven in times of danger.

AfriCamps’ tents are situated along a ridge in the very heart of this plateau where the scenery is one of open vistas stretching to distant horizons bounded by the blue outlines of mountains and hills that form the ramparts of the Waterberg ‘’castle’’. The sparsely populated plains and bushland of this upland plateau are filled with wildlife and the beauty of unspoiled nature. The air is unpolluted and the water pure. The low level of light pollution contributes to this being one of the most perfect sites for astronomy in the country.

En route to AfriCamps Waterberg, you will pass Vaalwater, the only town on the plateau. Traditional South African hospitality can be encountered at several restaurants and the well-appointed Zeederberg Centre with well-stocked Spar, upmarket Black Mamba Curio Shop, Syringa Café and Carla’s renowned bakery cater for local and international guests. The number of game vehicles in Vaalwater reflects the nature of the Waterberg as a hidden paradise of private game reserves.