Waterberg Plateau Park | (Official GANP Page)

About

Waterberg Plateau National Park is located in the central park of Namibia on the eastern side of the central highlands. The park covers an area of 156 square miles (405 sq km).

The heart of the national park is the extensive table mountain that towers over the plateau. The plateau rests high above the Kalahari plains of eastern Namibia. It appears as if the plateau is endless stretching a distance of 31 miles (50 km) long and 9.94 miles (16 km) wide. Some believe it is more impressive than the renowned Table Mountain in South Africa.

The plateau reaches heights up to 656 feet (200 m). The Waterberg wilderness is a green oasis in the Kalahari region. The wooded and diverse vegetation and remoteness of the park make this a wildlife haven. Acacia bushes, evergreen trees, broad-leafed wooded areas, and grasslands create an ecosystem that enables a series of threatened species to survive and even thrive.

Some of the most popular species include the black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, giraffe, oryx, kudu, roan antelope, sable antelope, and a series of other smaller antelope. Some of the predator species include leopard, hyena, cheetah, and wild dog. Cape vultures and Verreaux’s Eagles are two of the highlights from the over 200 species of birds found nesting or migrating through the park’s borders.

It is quite challenging to reach the plateau, which has made the area an excellent place to protect wildlife species from poachers. The park is known for hiking treks and wildlife game drives to see the rhinos.

Photos

Things to See

The Waterberg Plateau and the table mountain landscapes are the backbones of the park. This is a unique area near the plains of the Kalahari Desert. The landscapes are a highlight, but many people find the rare and endangered species to be a highlight of the park.

Black Rhinoceros

The southwestern black rhinoceros of Namibia is a subspecies of the black rhinoceros. The species is rated as near threatened by the IUCN with poaching serving as the primary threat to survival.

This subspecies displays the traditional prehensile lip. It has adapted well to the arid conditions of the plateau and surrounding savanna and desert climates. The adults reach heights up to 71 inches (180 cm) and lengths up to 12.3 feet (3.75 m). They can weigh as much as 6,385 pounds (2,896 kg). The females are usually a little smaller than the males.

Things To Do

Rhino Tracking

The national park provides guided rhino tracking tours. This is a hiking endeavor that allows visitors to track rhinoceroses on foot. This is a great way to engage in exercise and one of the most fascinating creatures in the world.

Waterberg Plateau Park Trails

Waterberg Plateau National Park is a great place for trekking and hiking in the wilderness. There are trails through the gardens, across the plateau, and around the Waterberg wilderness. There are nine short trails located around the camp which provide experiences of different parts of the park.

Botanical Gardens Trail

This is a trail that ranges from 1.2 – 3.3 miles (2 – 5.3 km) that meanders through some of the vegetation that is located in the area.

Plateau Hike

This is a trek up and along table mountain. It delivers striking panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness.

Fountain and Porcupine Trail

This is a loop trail that ascends 1,036 feet (315 m) while meandering 6.5 miles (10.5 km) through the landscape and vegetation with chances to see wildlife.

Waterberg Wilderness Trail

This is a three-day guided adventure traveling over (42 km) across the plateau. The park warden leads the primitive trek with backpacking everything you take.

Unguided Plateau Trail

This is a (50 km) multi-day trek that travels the Mountain View Trail along the plateau and amongst the sandstone kopjes. This is a backpacking adventure and an excellent way to experience the landscapes, wilderness, and wildlife of the park.

Park Protection

Waterberg Plateau National Park was created to protect rare and endangered species. The area within the park and surrounding plateau is remote and inaccessible. This makes it much easier for the park to protect endangered wildlife.

The park and plateau region have been leveraged by the Namibian government and environmental services to breed, protect, and export rare species to support other national parks in the country. The Black Rhinos were reintroduced in 1989, and the park has a committed effort to protect and develop the species for sharing with other Namibia parks.

Along with protecting amazing landscapes the table mountain and plateau deliver, the national park is committed to helping rare and endangered species thrive so they can help repopulate other national parks in the country.

Sources

All Trails, Best Trails In Waterberg Plateau National Park, https://www.alltrails.com/parks/namibia/otjozondjupa/waterberg-plateau-national-park, retrieved August 2020.
Expert Africa, Waterberg Wilderness National Park, https://www.expertafrica.com/namibia/waterberg-plateau-national-park, retrieved August 2020.
Info Namibia, Waterberg Plateau Park, https://www.info-namibia.com/activities-and-places-of-interest/waterberg/waterberg-plateaupark, retrieved August 2020.
Ministry of Environment, Waterberg Plateau Park, http://www.met.gov.na/national-parks/waterberg-plateau-park/231/, retrieved August 2020.
Rhino Africa, Waterberg Plateau, https://www.rhinoafrica.com/en/destinations/waterberg-plateau/2983, retrieved August 2020.
Siyabona Africa, About Waterberg Plateau, Namibia, http://www.siyabona.com/waterberg-to-etosha-guide-info.html, retrieved August 2020.
Waterberg Wilderness, Park Site, https://www.waterberg-wilderness.com, retrieved August 2020.