TOURIST INFORMATION
Waterberg Tourism Information Centre
P.O. Box 721, Bela-Bela, 0480
Tel +27 (0)14 736 4328
Fax +27 (0)14 736 6668
The needle of the compass shudders as it swivels resolutely south-west to the Waterberg Region - vast, peaceful, incredibly beautiful and more than three million years old. Situated in the magnificent Waterberg Mountain Range, this region is a harsh but rewarding area of startling beauty, a beauty which lies in its superb vistas, mountain gorges, clear streams and rolling bushveld hills, all rich in indigenous species of plant and animal life - including the 'Big Five'. This is an area where the heat is quenched and aching muscles soothed by the mineral baths of the myriad hot spring resorts.
The Waterberg ('Water Mountain') is a unique wilderness area of South Africa yet to be fully discovered. One of the country's lesser known geographical wonders and blueish in colour, the range supports a biome spanning over 15,000 km², offering breathtaking valleys far from the madding crowd of the bustling tourist centres. Mokopane has a wonderfully interesting ethno-cultural museum and is home to the Game Breeding Centre of the National Zoological Gardens of Pretoria. The centre features exotic and indigenous animals and is a wonderful destination for a family outing. Makapan's Valley Caves, where the earliest hominid remains were discovered, nestle discreetly in the Strydpoortberge. The Waterberg Region is one of the most mineral-rich in the world, the landscape formed by tectonic movement six hundred million years ago.
This geological phenomenon caused the formation of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. During this period of tectonic activity, mountains and valleys disappeared into a molten lake that was exposed when the earth's crust ruptured. The upper layers beneath the surface of the earth subsequently cooled to form the Bushveld Igneous Complex. Numerous towns are included in the complex which yields massive quantities of minerals such as chrome, platinum, nickel, iron, tin, tungsten and other metals which gave rise to the thriving mining industry of the region. Thabazimbi ('mountain of iron') was established in 1952 and iron ore is still being mined here today. The coal deposits around Lephalale provide the fuel for Escom's Matimba Power Station, the largest dry-cooled power station in the world.
The mineral deposits formed by volcanic lava of long ago have resulted in a richly fertile soil type in the Waterberg area. Nature has responded by providing plant life that is both versatile and bountiful. The soil is also ideally suited to different types of farming. Other significant towns in the region include Bela-Bela, Modimolle, Mokopane and Mookgophong.
Each town is worth visiting as each boasts a surprising number of historical, cultural and natural attractions and offers a host of activities to enjoy. The region encompasses vast tracts of bushveld savannah punctuated with clusters of trees and tall savannah shrubs, with the extensive and mountainous Waterberg area and Springbok Flats in the south. Forming the larger portion of the bushveld region in the Limpopo, the Waterberg Region ranges in vegetation type from unimposing little rolling hills to huge sheer cliffs of stark red rock. The region is made even more beautiful by the streams that trickle leisurely through it.
For many the bushveld savannah that characterises the region is the most typical and beautiful veld type in South Africa. The endless stretches of grass dotted with sandstone buttresses and marula and fever trees hold countless treasures for the traveller to discover and enjoy. The natural attractions of the Waterberg remain its greatest allure: the Waterberg Savannah Biosphere, Nylsvley wetlands, Marakele National Park, Lapalala Wilderness Area and the hot mineral springs of Bela-Bela. Little wonder the area has been described as a geographical marvel supporting a biome of about 14,500 km² and offering scenic vistas, exciting game-viewing in its numerous game reserves and a holiday in the mountains - rustic and close to nature or splendidly opulent in luxurious lodges. The natural splendour of the Waterberg Region appeals particularly to those in need of a place to unwind.
