Welgevonden Game Reserve
A small Big Five game reserve only 3 hours drive north of the International airport. Welgevonden is located in a malaria-free safari area and is home to Africa's Big Five making it an attractive safari proposition.
Welgevonden Private Game Reserve Highlights
A couple of new up-market lodges and some visits by Nelson Mandela, together with a touch of good marketing has brought the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve to people's notice. It has suddenly become a wonderful weekend safari destination out of Johannesburg because of three main reasons; it is only 3 hours drive north of the International airport; it has the famous 'Big Five" animals; and it is Malaria-free.
These important factors make it an attractive safari proposition. The highly attractive terrain is in the rusty-red foothills of the Waterberg (Water Mountain), whose pleats and folds are thickly layered with bush willow. Narrow valleys of golden rocks course with streams and a variety of fauna including succulents like Euphorbia candelabra, whose name is derived from its shape.
Due to heavy summer rainfall, the soil is leached of nutrients and therefore the vegetation is predominantly sour bush, as opposed to the sweet bush of the lower-lying hotter Kruger area. However, the animals don't seem concerned and game watching is good.
- Welgevonden offers guided tours to the bushman paintings, where guests will be informed about the men who painted, why the paintings are different, and how the San people danced for rain.
- This Reserve is malaria free, a declared Heritage site and now part of a greater conservancy area of 100 000 ha of game sanctuary.
- Welgevonden is home to over 50 different mammals, including the Big Five, and boasts one of the largest populations of white rhino on a private reserve anywhere in Africa.
Sediba Private Game Lodge consists of two suites, namely Letlapala and Letlapa. Guests may stay at either of the two lodges as each provide a similar sense of wellbeing and complete relaxation.
Clifftop Safari Hideaway arranges picnics and bush breakfasts on the banks of the Sterkstroom River, nearby elephant back safaris, quad biking and horse riding. It was also awarded Best Hotel Interior at the African Hotel Awards in 2011.
Makweti Safari Lodge is a luxurious, intimate camp with five elegant thatch and stone suites accommodating just 10 guests.
How to get there
Sun Safaris can arrange a rental car for guests and maps and directions will be provided upon booking with us. The roads leading up to the Welgevonden are tarred and in good condition. Sun Safaris can also arrange all private road transfers for our guests. For guests who would prefer a more luxurious mode of transfer, light aircraft transfers can be arranged from Johannesburg.
Welgevonden Private Game Reserve Game Viewing and Activities
All the big game is here including rhino, elephants, buffalo, zebras, antelopes, as well as leopard, lion, hyena, although not in the same density as around the Kruger region. Bird watching is good particularly during the rainy season.
