Kololo Game Reserve is situated in Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa, in the heart of the protected Waterberg nature area, close to the village of Vaalwater. From Vaalwater it is another 36 km drive of which 29 km on an untarred road. From Oliver Tambo International Airport it is about 3,5 hours’ drive.
The reserve
The reserve covers 3,000 hectares and is malaria-free and child-friendly. It owes its name to the Kololo, the Sotho name for Klipspringer, a small antelope species. We carry the Kololo with pride in our logo. The reserve offers a wide variety of nature and animals. Rocky hills, rivers, forests, and savannah are home to giraffe, kudu, impala, baboon, zebra, warthog, eland, birds (more than 300 species) and much more.
Walking, biking, safari and more!
The marked paths allow you to walk and bike freely across the reserve, coming eye to eye with the animals. You can also explore the reserve by car: with a safari truck you can make a tour, guided by one of our experienced rangers. He or she will tell you all there is to know about bird species, animals, vegetation and many other interesting “nice-to-knows” about the African bush. The open safari truck seats 10 guests and has a roof to protect against sun and rain. With this game drive truck we also do Big Five Game Drives in Welgevonden Game Reserve: your best chance to see elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard.
Doing nothing and still intensely enjoying the reserve? Kololo has many pleasant spots (e.g. small river beaches) where you can relax and picknick. And from the two viewing decks at the restaurant you have a great view across Welgevonden and with a bit of luck you can spot the animals whilst enjoying a delicious sundowner.
The Waterberg
Kololo Game Reserve is situated in the Waterberg area, a beautiful nature area with a wide variety of landscapes and wildlife. The area has been declared a biosphere reserve by the UNESCO. Kololo Game Reserve is a member of the “Waterberg Biosphere” project, which means that the reserve must meet strict requirements. These requirements demand that the original state of the park is maintained, that there are economic and ecological measures in place for protecting nature, and that work is being done to fight local poverty in which education plays an important role.
The Waterberg is a geographical wonder which supports a biome of some 14 500 square kilometres and encompasses vast stretches of bushveld, dotted with clusters of trees and tall savannah shrubs. Mountains, gorges, cliffs, open fields, wetlands, streams and rivers are the foundation for a rich diversity of flora. A place teeming with animals and birds.
Animals and plants on Kololo Game Reserve
The magnificent diversity of the Waterberg is visible both in the natural environment and in the facilities and attractions of Kololo. The reserve stretches over 3000 hectares of untouched African bush, consisting of open savannah grass plains, thick bushveld, mountains and valleys, making it the ideal habitat for a wide variety of game. View impala, kudu, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, zebra, eland, nyala, waterbuck, giraffe, blesbok and bushbuck as well as smaller species such as duikers, mountain reedbuck, klipspringer, steenbok, bush pig and warthog. Bird watchers will enjoy over 300 species of birdlife which are indigenous to the area.
The Kololo landscape is covered with an abundance of indigenous shrubs and trees. They form part of the backdrop of this scenic region and are an integral food source for the various animal species, living in the area. There are 84 different species of trees listed. These include Ficuses, Combretums, Rhuses, Acacias, Maroela, various cultivar of Aloe and Tamboti. For the convenience of our guests, these trees are identified along some of the walking and biking routes on Kololo.
Wild flowers and grasses abound and each season sees the bushveld covered with bright splashes of colour that will delight and inspire you. See Mother Nature at work as she changes her looks along with the seasons. Approximately 500 species of plants have been recorded in the Waterberg plateau and provide rich vegetation on which the game and birdlife thrive.