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The North West

The wondrous world north of Johannesburg is often overlooked, which we think is a shame! Here, you can spot the Big Five in various malaria-free game reserves, which together form the 'Waterberg' region. These parks are less discovered and therefore more off the beaten track.

Off the beaten track

If you visit South Africa, you’ll naturally want to experience a good safari. The largest park in South Africa is Kruger National Park. It’s often thought to be the only option, but there’s more to explore. From Johannesburg, you can drive to the various game reserves in Waterberg in about three hours. This region is one of the five districts in South Africa’s Limpopo Province and is protected by the 15,000-square-kilometre Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. This reserve has been designated a UNESCO heritage site and has become home to some of South Africa’s most accessible luxury reserves.

A fun fact: around the mid-19th century, a group of Dutch Voortrekkers set off from Cape Town in search of Jerusalem and, upon arriving in Waterberg, thought they had reached Egypt. This just goes to show how vast and diverse South Africa truly is!

Pilanesberg

Pilanesberg, a malaria-free game park, is home to—yes, you read that right—more than 7,000 animals. In the 1980s, Operation Genesis was launched to strengthen the native wildlife population in the area. This was achieved by installing game fencing and supplementing existing species with animals from other overcrowded reserves.

Today, the park boasts over 7,000 animals, 360 bird species, and well-maintained roads to ensure you have the best possible experience. Additionally, the area has a volcanic soil, which helps maintain its rich ecological diversity. 

Welgevonden

Welgevonden Private Game Reserve spans 37,000 hectares of landscape and is located in the heart of the rich ecosystem of the Waterberg District in Limpopo. Here too, Operation Genesis played a key role in the revival of the African wilderness. Private farms in the area were consolidated under the leadership of Pienkes Du Plessis. This visionary man understood that humans should not disturb this magnificent region. His vision was simple: all traces of human activity had to disappear from the landscape, and species that had gradually gone extinct needed to be reintroduced.

The newly combined reserve was named after the original farm, Welgevonden, which translates to ‘well found’.

Madikwe

We’re heading a little closer to the Botswana border, to Madikwe Private Game Reserve—the fifth-largest safari park in South Africa, home to the Big Five, of course. In addition to the Big Five, this park is also home to wild dogs and a variety of unique bird species. It remains one of South Africa’s lesser-known parks, making it a hidden gem, as it is considered one of the best-protected wildlife areas in Africa.

Even before Madikwe Game Reserve was officially established, neglected farms and old fences were removed. A few of these remnants were preserved and are now used to house staff and wildlife rangers.

Okay, this family-friendly park does come at a price—accommodation here is strictly four-star and above. Unfortunately, visiting the park is only possible when staying at one of the lodges or luxury tented camps.

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