Western Limpopo
Overview
The Waterburg mountains are the central focus of Western Limpopo. The Waterberg
Biosphere is a massif of approximately 15,000 square kilometers. It was the first
region in the northern part of South Africa to be named as a Biosphere Reserve by
UNESCO. The ecosystem of the Waterburg can be characterised as a dry deciduous forest
or Bushveld. Also within the Waterberg are archaeological finds dating to the Stone
Age, and nearby are early evolutionary finds related to the origin of humans.
Things to do and see
Game drives with the big five, mountain hiking, camping, rustic holiday get-aways,
and more. Get spoiled with hot springs and minieral baths in the town and surrounds
of Bela-Bela. The mineral waters at Bela-Bela were discovered by the Tswana in the
1800s and named Bela- Bela, meaning ‘the water that boils on its own’. These hot
mineral springs bubble out of the earth at about 22 000 litres per hour and have
a temperature of around 53ºC. The water is rich in sodium chloride, calcium carbonate
and other salts that are believed to have healing properties
Because the entire region has no malaria there are many beautiful private game reserves with lodges. The Marakele National Park is definetely worth a visit - although a
four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended.
Climate
The climate in the Waterberg is subtropical. The rainy season
is typically from November to March. During the wet season, most of the many rivers
in the Waterberg rise substantially and roads, especially the dirt roads, can become
impassable quickly. The winters, however, are dry and pleasantly warm. With an average
of 286 sunny days every year there is plenty of time to enjoy the wild wonders of
the area.
Accomodation
Being a very popular international and local tourist destination, the accommodation
in the Western Limpopo area is generally of a very high standard.
Accommodation options range from exclusive game lodges to comfortable self catering chalets and apartments. Accommodation can also be found in a variety of hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments. Camping and caravanning are also
popular accommodation choices. If you're wanting a real 'bush' experience, you'll
find it here as well.
Towns
Thabazimbi, Vaalwater, Bela Bela, Nylstroom, Naboomspruit, Mokopane, Ellisras, Northam.