Kololo Game Reserve
Kololo Game Reserve is situated in Limpopo, the northern most province of South Africa, in the heart...
Kololo Game Reserve is situated in Limpopo, the northern most 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 is about 3,5 hours drive.
The reserve
The reserve covers 1500 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 giraffes, 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 elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalo, and leopards.
Doing nothing and still intensely enjoying the reserve? Kololo has many pleasant spots (e.g. small river beaches) where you can relax and picnic. 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 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 kilometers 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 that 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, and 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.
Wildflowers 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.
"It is our 2nd visit to Kololo. We like it because with kids it is great. We are close to the Welgevonden that all the kids were able to experience on a game drive (regardless their ages). We were able to rent bikes (even an adult bike with a child seat) so we could all enjoy the beauty of the Waterberg in one of the trail. It has a self catering option wich is highly convenient with kids. I would only suggest to equip a little more the villa for cooking, number of plates, etc... It is a quiet place very enjoyable surrounded by great nature and animals that you get to see either with the kololo game drives, walking or cycling. The river is also very nice on a hot day."
"<p>We had a wonderful time in the Fish Eagle lodge with privacy. The combination with Welgevonden NR is fantastic.</p><p>The crew was nice and helpful</p><p></p>"
"A nice lodge to spend a couple of days at. We enjoyed it very much. Thanks to Lettie, the chef, for well prepared and tasting meals. The staff is international, friendly and competent. Early morning walks offer close encounters with all sorts of flora and fauna. The evenings offer breathtaking, starry skies."
"All the staff treated us like royalty and we took advantage of many of the activities that they have like the game drive, walk and cycle. I really enjoyed the special touch of a coffee break during the game drive and Dean was an excellent guide! The animals in Kololo are just precious- it was really special to walk to our room in the evening and see little impalas and warthogs scurrying away. The restaurant is fabulous and all the meals are prepared to perfection. I will not hesitate to recommend this lovely place to anyone else. Thank you for a wonderful weekend."