Mokolo Dam Nature Reserve

Close up of Nyala male - Mokolo Dam Nature Reserve

The Mokolo Dam and nature reserve lies just north east of the Marakele National Park and roughly 50 kilometres south west of Lapalala Wilderness Game Reserve on the northern slopes of the Waterberg Mountains.

Mokolo is a relatively small nature reserve that nonetheless attracts visitors for the lovely picnic spots and fishing around the dam, and the interesting concept of 'photographic hunting', where hunters are allowed to 'shoot' animals in a way that does them no harm and allows those visitors who abhor canned hunting to visit without conscience. This part of the Waterberg (water mountains) is malaria-free with an incredible feeling of peace and tranquillity, despite its proximity to Johannesburg and Pretoria – one is but three hours' away. The experience one reaps whilst here is completely removed from city living. What awaits one is a completely organic encounter with the limitless space and untroubled repose of nature.

Mokolo Dam into which the Mokolo River flows, is fairly massive and water enthusiasts, campers, anglers and birders all regard the reserve as a sanctuary, set as it is against the beautiful mountains. Mokolo Nature Reserve is true African bush, benefitting from both sweet and sour veld that offer open savannah and more dense bushveld to the animals that roam here.

The Mokolo Dam is also included as a site of one of the camps of the Africa Ivory Route, over 3.6 million hectares of national parks, nature reserves and game farms that stretch across the Limpopo Province. A unique wild and untamed 'take' on travelling the Limpopo – roads are rudimentary and a 4x4 is requisite - the route spans no fewer than four major mountain ranges: the Strydpoortberge, the Waterberg and the Drakensberg Lebomobos.