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Welgevonden offers luxury safaris in a beautiful malaria-free wilderness two and a half hours drive from the airport in Johannesburg. The Waterberg Mountains, where the reserve is located, are scenically impressive. Those who visit Welvonden have a choice between personal and luxuxury lodge accommodation.
Need Advice?Welgevonden (which translates to "well found") lies on the Waterberg plateau. The reserve comprises 37 500 hectares and consists of mountain bushveld crisscrossed by streams and rivers.
No private vehicles are allowed to minimize the impact of humans on the area, and only a limited number of guests are accommodated at any given time. Constant conservation research improves management protocols and the game-viewing experience on offer, including numerous antelope species and the Big Five. Ancient Bushman rock art in this conservation area is just one of the many unique attractions.
This fully guided expedition of a week and a half focuses on the rich animal life and diverse cultures with which South Africa is blessed.
Explore one of the world's most remarkable countries from some of South Africa's most luxurious lodges and hotels.
On this privately guided tour, you will experience incredible destinations in northern Namibia in the company of an experienced African Sky guide.
African Sky Safaris & Tours recommends the following lodges in Welgevonden Private Game Reserve.
Ekhutuleni is built at the foot of a ridge in the central part of Welgevonden Private Reserve. It is a small, intimate lodge that offers a classic safari adventure in this Big Five Reserve.
Tshwene is a luxurious retreat built in a densely wooded valley. The lodge is unique in that it lies within the treetops, offering stunning views of the surrounding area.
Clifftop commands a beautiful setting on the edge of a gorge with the Sterstroom River meandering far below. The luxurious lodge offers two open 4X4 safari activities daily, led by resident rangers and trackers.
Malaria is a big concern in the northeastern parts of South Africa. In areas where there are malaria-carrying mosquitoes, visitors should take anti-malarial prophylactics as prescribed by their physicians. These pills may have side effects and are not an option for pregnant women or young children. Welgevonden offers you peace of mind – a full northern South-African safari experience without the worries and risk of malaria.
Rhino poaching is a big concern in South Africa today, and anti-poaching campaigns have been well publicized. The Welgevonden reserve is famous for its white rhino population, and you will have the privilege of seeing one of the largest white rhino herds found in Africa. Their conservation efforts are notable, as they have a rhino identikit database established specifically for all known individuals on the reserve.
All the lodges in the Welgevonden Game Reserve conform to a strict aesthetic code – secluded and hidden from view. It does not disturb the nature around the lodge. You can expect to see animals quite close to where you are staying. It also means that you don't see many other people – many properties only accommodate ten guests – so minimal disturbances exist.
When it comes to experiences to savor in Welgevonden, you'll find that they stretch beyond the rewarding Big Five game viewing.
It is easy to access the Welgevonden Game Reserve by air, as there are several landing strips and a helipad. The flight is only about 45 minutes when you travel from Johannesburg. Of course, flying is slightly more risky than driving, as the weather determines whether you can depart or land. Flying is also a great way to see a part of South Africa from an altitude, so make sure you get a window seat!
Welgevonden is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Johannesburg via the N1. The game reserve is north of Johannesburg, situated in the Waterberg District of Limpopo. We will transport you in an air-conditioned vehicle. The drive is scenic and will allow you to see parts of Gauteng and Limpopo as you travel.
It is warm, mainly at the Welgevonden. There are three distinct seasons in the Waterberg region where the game reserve is situated. The dry season is from May to July. During this time, it is pretty cold. From August to October, it remains dry in the game reserve, but the days become warmer, and thunderstorms become prevalent in the late afternoon.
The rainy season is from November to April. During this time, it is hot, with the average maximum temperature reaching about 30 degrees Celsius. There is no best time to visit the Welgevonden Game Reserve; you can enjoy all the activities all year round; be mindful of the weather when packing.
In 1993, Welgevonden was divided into 500-hectare blocks sold to corporate and private clients based on freehold title. All internal fences were removed, and the perimeter fence was electrified to prevent animals from straying onto neighboring properties. Shortly after the proclamation, translocation programs were launched to restock the area with animals found here historically.
Welgevonden is home to all the large mammals for which the African bush is known. Here you will find elephants, black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, and cheetahs. The very rare African wild dog also occurs. The reserve is home to buffalo, hyenas, foxes, and antelope ranging from kudu to duiker.
Other large antelope such as sable, eland, giraffe, waterbuck, and tsessebe can be viewed here, along with smaller species such as impala. Around the rest of the camps, monkeys and baboons are liable to get up to mischief.
The area is particularly well suited to raptors, as these birds love to use the up-drafts generated by the cliff faces of the Waterberg. Wahlberg's eagle is a prominent visitor during the summer. You can spot many other eagles, falcon, and hawk species.
The Waterberg, which translates to "Water Mountain" in Afrikaans, is an anomaly in geographic terms as it is a remnant of erosion and not a product of volcanic activity or continental drift. The iron and manganese found in these mountains give the rocks their distinctive red, purple, and orange coloring.
The reserve is a mixture of mountains, dense bush, and savanna wilderness and the many effervescent streams that flow through the reserve have been instrumental in carving out the impressive gullies and ravines. Three rivers run through Welgevonden on their way to the Limpopo River.
The five most popular activities at the Welgevonden Game Reserve are open 4X4 game drives, guided walks, bird watching, stargazing, and guided tours of Bushman rock art. The guided tours to view wildlife offer the opportunity to have up close and personal encounters with the animals that inhabit the area - at a safe distance, of course. With over 300 bird species, including the blue crane, found here, you will have ample opportunity for birding.
Stargazing is spectacular in Welgevonden, as it is far from the city lights and pollution. The only thing that can interfere is if the moon shines too bright. This activity is best in winter, when the Milky Way, Southern Cross, and other constellations are at their brightest. The guided Bushman rock art tour is exciting and informative. These paintings are believed to be 2000 years old; they were made – using ocher, iron oxides, crushed ostrich egg shells, coal, and even blood.
