Waterberg Plateau National Park - Namibia

Not far from Namibia's busy town of Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa Region you will find the Waterberg Plateau and the Waterberg Plateau National Park. The plateau and the national park are named after the prominent table mountain that rises from the plateau, the Waterberg. This unique flat-topped mountain has stunning scenery and excellent variety of wildlife. The plateau is largely made of sandstone, often sculpted into amazing shapes, and dotted with freshwater springs. These springs are why the plateau gets its name, Waterberg. The plateau is highly permeable and surface water flows through it easily, but it can't flow through the mudstone below it, resulting in the emergence of several springs at the base of the southern cliffs.

These natural springs play an important role in keeping the vegetation on the plateau lush and green. There are almost 500 various plant species on the plateau and some of these are endemic. Visitors can see Wild Fig trees, Coral trees and also Flame Lilies amongst other unusual specimens for this region of Namibia.

The National Park is the ideal place to protect endangered creatures as this flat topped mountain in Namibia has sheer sides creating a lofty surface where the animals live in peace. The top of the plateau is scattered with a number of different habitats including wooded areas, grasslands and verdant ravines and is particularly well suited to hiking trips. The park is unusual in that you can't drive yourself around. Instead you must either hike or take one of the park's organised drives with one of their guides.

Some of the endangered species that have been reintroduced to the Waterberg, adding to its existing wildlife of giraffe, kudu, leopard, brown hyena, cheetah and wild dog, include white rhino, and roan and sable antelope. The birdlife is equally impressive, with over 200 species being found on the plateau, including the spectacular Verreaux's eagles and Namibia's only breeding colony of Cape vultures. The Rare and Endangered Species Trust (REST) is working hard to save these raptors especially since the rapid decline in their numbers over recent years. This rapid decline has two main contributors, the changing environment and the increasing use of farm poisons (both intentional poisons, and the chemicals in fertilisers and pesticides). The trust has introduced what they refer to as a vulture restaurant, which encourages the vultures to eat at a particular area where carcasses are prepared and left out for them. The "restaurant" is open once a week, on Wednesday morning.

Hikers would usually book in advance to do one of the excellent wilderness trails, but for those who possibly haven't booked there are still some good marked trails around the camp area, and even up to a lookout point on the plateau. One of the guided hiking options at the Waterberg Plateau involves the tracking of Rhino and following Hyena and Leopard movements. The Waterberg has the highest concentration of Leopard in Namibia and with its 200 metre elevation, the views to the horizon are Spectacular. The organised drives last about three hours take place twice a day, in the morning and late afternoon. The drives take visitors around the plateau in search of game, visiting the permanent waterholes and some of the hides. These are best booked with the park office as soon as you arrive.