Specials
The Waterberg
"The Waterberg ... so named by the early trekkers for its bounteous supply of clear water. Eugene Marais, the noted author and father of African ecology, observed that the passage of wagons was impeded by the enormous amount of water to be found throughout the region. The name is apt, for in times of good rain, one will find a continual seepage and flow of water from within these mountain ranges.
Straddling an area of some 15 000 square kilometres in the Northern Transvaal, it has largely gone unnoticed for the past eighty years. Within its brooding mountain ranges it had a reputation for gun runners, tax evaders and hunters, to be followed by serious minded pioneer folk and their families, who set down deep roots within these hills and plateaus.
In spite of the name Waterberg, the region is also known to experience extreme droughts. It is largely a sourveld area and farming is difficult. During the past decade there have been great changes as a result of farmers finding it increasingly hard to eke out a decent living, which has seen the conversion from conventional farming to game ranching and conservation.
I predicted some years ago that the Waterberg would yet emerge as the most important and significant conservation area in South Africa with the greatest potential for tourism, game ranching, hunting and environmental education. The diversity of both plant and animal life is considerable. Whilst recognising that most of the big game species were eliminated by the turn of the century, conservation has seen the return of the elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, all the major species of antelope, and in time, the lion.
It has a beauty unmatched, from its soaring craggy heights on the southern escarpment with the Seven Sisters guarding the plains, to the north-eastern buttresses of spectacular rock formations, rising sheer out of the bushveld plains. The central plateau provides a stunning feeling of emptiness and yet man has lived within these mountains for the past 2000 years - a fact we should be ever mindful of.
Within its vastness there is only one town. The area is completely devoid of pollution, industry and forestry, and is very low in human numbers. The challenge is to create a conservation area of international importance to the benefit of both the environment and man. Great strides have already taken place with the establishment of the 80 000 hectare Waterberg Nature Conservancy, of which Lapalala Wilderness is a key element, on the northern side of the area. To the south-west, one finds the emerging Marakele National Park, destined to be one of the finest national parks within South Africa. Bordering Marakele is the recently created Welgevonden Game Reserve - a reserve which is going to play a major role in wildlife conservation. These three conservation areas cover an area of over 1400 square kilometres, and represent the flagship of a future conservation vision: restoring the wildlife, protecting the environment, providing employment opportunities, upliftment, pleasure, relaxation and learning for those who too would venture into this wilderness world of the Waterberg."
Clive Walker-Lapalala-Wilderness-1 August 1995
Straddling an area of some 15 000 square kilometres in the Northern Transvaal, it has largely gone unnoticed for the past eighty years. Within its brooding mountain ranges it had a reputation for gun runners, tax evaders and hunters, to be followed by serious minded pioneer folk and their families, who set down deep roots within these hills and plateaus.
In spite of the name Waterberg, the region is also known to experience extreme droughts. It is largely a sourveld area and farming is difficult. During the past decade there have been great changes as a result of farmers finding it increasingly hard to eke out a decent living, which has seen the conversion from conventional farming to game ranching and conservation.
I predicted some years ago that the Waterberg would yet emerge as the most important and significant conservation area in South Africa with the greatest potential for tourism, game ranching, hunting and environmental education. The diversity of both plant and animal life is considerable. Whilst recognising that most of the big game species were eliminated by the turn of the century, conservation has seen the return of the elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, all the major species of antelope, and in time, the lion.
It has a beauty unmatched, from its soaring craggy heights on the southern escarpment with the Seven Sisters guarding the plains, to the north-eastern buttresses of spectacular rock formations, rising sheer out of the bushveld plains. The central plateau provides a stunning feeling of emptiness and yet man has lived within these mountains for the past 2000 years - a fact we should be ever mindful of.
Within its vastness there is only one town. The area is completely devoid of pollution, industry and forestry, and is very low in human numbers. The challenge is to create a conservation area of international importance to the benefit of both the environment and man. Great strides have already taken place with the establishment of the 80 000 hectare Waterberg Nature Conservancy, of which Lapalala Wilderness is a key element, on the northern side of the area. To the south-west, one finds the emerging Marakele National Park, destined to be one of the finest national parks within South Africa. Bordering Marakele is the recently created Welgevonden Game Reserve - a reserve which is going to play a major role in wildlife conservation. These three conservation areas cover an area of over 1400 square kilometres, and represent the flagship of a future conservation vision: restoring the wildlife, protecting the environment, providing employment opportunities, upliftment, pleasure, relaxation and learning for those who too would venture into this wilderness world of the Waterberg."
Clive Walker-Lapalala-Wilderness-1 August 1995