World-Renowned Reserve & Home of The Big 5

Welgevonden Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s premier private game reserves, covering over 45,000 hectares of protected wilderness in the Waterberg region. It is internationally recognised for its conservation practices and forms part of the UNESCO-designated Waterberg Biosphere Reserve.

A hippopotamus partially submerged in water with only its head visible.

Wildlife & Biodiversity

The reserve is home to the Big Five and one of the largest populations of white rhino in Africa. Permanent residents also include giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, hippos, buffalo, numerous antelope species and over 250 bird species.

The balance of nature is carefully preserved, ensuring minimal human impact and exceptional wildlife encounters.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a white striped shirt and shorts observing zebras in a rocky, green landscape with trees and a partly cloudy sky.

Landscapes & Biomes

Welgevonden encompasses five distinct biomes, offering extraordinary variety: rolling savannah, wooded hills, deep river valleys, open plains, rocky outcrops and cliffs. The reserve borders Marakele National Park, further enhancing its ecological richness.

An adult elephant with large ears and a long trunk, surrounded by bushes and trees, in a natural habitat.
A cheetah standing outdoors with a blurred background of grass and plants.
A man wearing sunglasses and a gray t-shirt standing in a grassy field, facing away, looking at zebras and other animals in the distance with green hills and partly cloudy sky.
A baboon sitting on the ground among dry grass and rocks in a forested area, holding and eating something with both hands.
Five lions, two adult females, one adult male, and two cubs, walking across a dirt trail in the savannah during sunset.
Young brown calf standing in tall grass in a sunny outdoor setting.
Open landscape with trees, grass, and hills in the background during daylight.
Close-up of a young zebra in natural habitat with blurred background.
Two large African buffaloes with dark black coats and curved horns are fighting each other in a grassy plain.
Three lions eating a carcass outdoors on dry grass.
A bird perched on a branch surrounded by small green leaves, with a blurred natural background.
A deer with large ears standing amidst green foliage in a forested area.
A giraffe standing among dense green trees and bushes in the wild.
Three hippopotamuses resting on grassy terrain in a savannah landscape with trees and a dirt path in the background.
A lion lying on the grass in a savannah landscape, surrounded by bushes and small trees, with sunlight filtering through the foliage.