Home Waterberg Wilderness Flora & Fauna

Flora & Fauna

Realm of Biodiversity

The special appeal of our nature reserve is attributed to the variety of landscapes and habitats: the plateau of Waterberg Mountain, the sheer sandstone cliffs, the lush vegetation on the slopes, the sheltered valley and the open plain on the border of the Kalahari. Each habitat offers special conditions for plants and animals. Flora and fauna is therefore characterized by an amazing diversity.

Flora

  • Waterberg Wilderness Flora

    Grasses, shrubs, trees ... With its green slopes, the Waterberg is one of the most diverse plant areas in southern Africa

  • Waterberg Wilderness Flora

    Rock-splitting fig on the plateau of the Waterberg

  • Waterberg Wilderness Flora

    Up 140 species of lichen occur at the Waterberg

With about 480 plant species the Waterberg is regarded as a floral 'hotspot', even more so because some species are endemic - they only occur in Namibia or in the immediate vicinity of the Waterberg. The reason for this is the mountain’s location and in particular its geological singularities. Waterberg is the first elevation on the western fringe of the Kalahari: a barrier of approximately 50 km which intercepts with rain clouds. The red sandstone stores precipitation and releases this moisture during the long dry season (May - September).

Huge fig trees and rare plants such as ferns or the African flame tree grow at the upper end of the valley, where our spring keeps the ground damp throughout the year. When the rock depressions on the plateau fill up with water during the rainy season, aquatic plants and even turtles make their appearance.

Fauna

  • Waterberg Wilderness Fauna

    The Waterberg is a paradise for baboons

  • Waterberg Wilderness Fauna

    Reintroduced at Waterberg Wilderness: White rhinos which originally occurred at the Waterberg

  • Waterberg Wilderness Fauna

    The heaviest bird on earth which is still able to fly: The Kori bustard

Animal life is highly diverse. Baboons live on the rocks around the plateau, the dense bush on the slopes is inhabited by Damara Dik-Dik (the smallest antelope species), klipspringer, kudu and leopard. The tree and shrub savannah of the plain below is home to giraffe, eland, oryx antelope and hartebeest, impala, blue wildebeest, zebra and springbok. The white rhino move about between the open plain and the sheltered valley. Other than leopard, one will find predators such as cheetahs, some small cat species, hyenas and jackals.

Bird lovers also adore the Waterberg: It is home to more than 200 species – including ostrich, Kori bustard and birds of prey such as the secretary bird, the Cape vulture, lappetfaced and whitebacked vulture, black eagle and bateleur. Then there are the more uncommon species like Rüppell’s parrot, rockrunner and Hartlaub’s francolin. Even various species of geese, ducks, egrets and spoonbills can be seen when the large clay pan in the plain fills up after good rains. Many different weavers and their nest-building can also be observed during the rainy season.

For more information about the Waterberg click here