Kwalata Wilderness

Leopard as seen at at Kwalata Wilderness

Kwalata Wilderness, close to Lapalala Wilderness Game Reserve in Limpopo, lies in the heart of the biosphere reserve in the beautiful Waterberg just over 300 kilometres from Johannesburg. The greys and blues of the Waterberg Mountain range provide an infinite backdrop to the bushveld, copious numbers of indigenous trees and a vegetation that hums with the richness of the African bush. This is one of few African wilderness destinations that has true access to 'unpeopled veld' and holds a wonderful charm for those who can't travel beyond to the nether reaches of South Africa or to the heart of the Kruger National Park.

Kwalata Wilderness is situated in one of the world's richest ecosystems and enjoys an abundance of wildlife that includes 18 species of antelope, including a few of the rarer species like Tsesebe and Nyala, and four of the Big 5 – elephant, white rhino, Cape buffalo and the leopard. Kwalata is also regarded as one of the largest hunting destinations in the Limpopo Province, which may or may not be your thing.

The main appeal to the Kwalata Wilderness and similar smaller private reserves in these northern parts of the Waterberg is the complete lack of resort-type feel to the personal more rugged charm of nature at its best - wild, craggy and and unmistakably bushveld, and as close to nature as you will get on the plains of Africa.

Note: KwaLata Game Reserve is in the Dinokeng Big 5 GR, just 100 km from OR Tambo, whereas the KwaLata wilderness is in the Limpopo close to Lapalala wilderness Game Reserve.