Masebe Nature Reserve

About Masebe Nature Reserve

Masebe Nature Reserve is situated about two hours' drive from Polokwane. The reserve lies within the Waterberg Biosphere (the world's only savanna biosphere reserve).

Did you know? Situated near the town of Marken, the Masebe Nature Reserve is a 4.500 hectare provincial park which is a joint venture between the Limpopo government and the Bakenberg community.

Masebe might be small – 4500 hectares but it has been described as intensely interesting by visitors. It forms part of the north-eastern side of the Waterberg escarpment with streams of water freely flowing from the mountain to form a myriad waterfalls during the rainy season.

It is a communal owned nature reserve, run by the local Bakenberg community. Seven villages donated their land for use as a nature reserve and took on responsibility in partnership with the Limpopo government (Limpopo has large areas still devoted to rural communities who continue to live as they have for centuries).

What makes Masebe Nature Reserve interesting is the variety of rock formation that combine with vegetation and rivers to make it especially beautiful. The scenery is one of the major reasons people visit Masebe. That and its three bushveld San Rock-art sites that have survived principally due to the inaccessibility of the area, which has kept it so well-conserved.

One rock formation in particular is known as Magagamatala. This huge 300 metre-high sandstone buttress that towers over the Mogalakwena River defines the southern boundary of Masebe.

The local Telekishi community has set up a visitor centre in the nature reserve to offer guided tours of this historic site – it played a part in the 1854 Boer settler skirmishes. The reserve includes sable, tsessebe, giraffe, zebra, nyala, eland, kudu and leopard, and as such is safe for hiking. Its hiking trails and rock climbing facilities are another reason for its popularity.