When I think back on our visit to the Waterberg Plateau National Park, and what I could possibly share that makes it so unique, I reflect on shifting light; cast and formed by the famous mountain side. It’s funny – we live beneath Devil’s Peak, yet from this angle the landscape didn’t even remind me of home. The light at Waterberg gives a dual experience to guests who visit over night and witness the sun moving across the sky from sunrise to sunset.
Waterberg Plateau Park is a national park in central Namibia encompassing the Waterberg Plateau, 68 km east of the town of Otjiwarongo. The Waterberg Plateau is a particularly prominent feature, elevated high above the plains of the Kalahari of Eastern Namibia. – Namibia Wildlife Resorts
As we took a left towards the national park, the road changed from black to red. As we slowly wound our way up the gentle slopes, passing a beautiful kudu, we watched as the sun slipped behind the plateau – drawing us from warm light into its sweeping shadow.
Prefer to Watch? We’ve Got You.
CITY SLICKER’S GUIDE TO WATERBERG PLATEAU PARK
Throw Back to Family Trips
It had been more than two decades since my last visit to the Waterberg Plateau. With my dad having recently passed away, it felt meaningful to return to a place we once shared as a family. Back then, we stayed in a chalet on the right (while facing the mountain). This time, we were in a single chalet to the left, offering a new but still familiar experience.
This bungalow included a writing desk in a semi-separate room as well as a large bathroom (no bath). While the desk was available, we actually found peace in doing a bit of work at the dining room in the afternoons, while we had a snack and watched duikers graze on the lawn.
With its own carport, braai area and tiny outdoor table, the chalet makes self-catering possible. The fridge is quite small, so it wouldn’t hold much food, but it’s manageable for a night or two.
The room is secured with a sliding door, which made us feel a little bit vulnerable due to the baboons we could hear barking in the distance. We know how smart and strategic they are when food is available (and, actually, we saw smaller monkey’s “robbing” the house next door when we were last here as kids), but other than that it was a peaceful stay.
In the evenings, we loved sitting outside listening to the symphony of birds, monkeys, warthogs and mongoose as the light faded. And although we had the option to cook, we enjoyed breakfasts and dinners at the lodge’s dining hall instead.
We have to include a quick mention of "Mr Hog". A huge warthog who had established a home in the nearby storm drain. Each day he'd pop out with this large horns and pert tail. A rather adorable (albeit grumpy) addition to our stay at Waterberg Plateau.
Hiking the Plateau
Conversely, when we hiked up the face of the mountain, moss also luminescent against the vibrancy of the orange boulders, sunlight speckled upon the paths as we stomped our way up, the light was bright and vibrant across the land.
As two, unfit 40 something’s, it was a manageable hike, however, you are required to do some boulder climbing and manoeuvring so if you don’t have full use of your hips and knees, this may not be the hike for you.
We also got lost on our way down. The way up is clearly marked, but the way down, not to much. Nevertheless, we found our way and enjoyed running into a few creatures along the way.
Historical Dinners and Breakfasts
One of the best features of Waterberg is the restaurant and bar. An old police hall, it really encapsulates a bygone time and transports guests to yesteryear.
The food was also particularly good at Waterberg (when comparing to other NWR locations where the food isn’t bad; it was just best at Waterberg).
Scanning the dozens of photographs along the dining room hall, we could imagine the wild parties that must have kicked off in the bar next door. Having grown up in Namibia, I have a faint clue about the “wild animals” of Namibia.
Family Friendly
Waterberg also includes a swimming pool area which looks dirty from the top of the plateau, however, the pool has actually been painted green to blend into the nature surrounds. A visiting family was having a wonderful time in the pool as we popped in to see the faciliaties.
Final Thoughts
is a family-friendly NWR resort that makes a lovely location to camp, enjoy a fire in the evenings, or stay in the chalets. Guests can enjoy the walkways around the resort to observe birds and other small creatures. The surrounding areas are also incredibly beautiful, making this a lovely pitstop when road-tripping through Namibia.
