Our opinion of Waterberg Plateau Campsite

Waterberg Wilderness Private Nature Reserve was our first non-urban destination – a relatively easy 300km or about 4.5 hour drive north mostly along tarred road from Windhoek. This privately owned reserve lies east off the B1 and adjoins the Waterberg Plateau National Park.

To access it, you have to drive on a fairly challenging gravel road which then turns to rocks and sand to reach reception, which is close to Waterberg Plateau Lodge. Once you’ve completed your check in paperwork, you can then backtrack to where the Plateau Campsite is located. We were allotted campsite no. 6, which was a short, easy walk to the “ablution” or bathroom block.

Sort of circular in shape, to one side of the site was a small shaded, raised concrete area with a table and benches. Next to this was a firepit, an elevated braai (barbecue) on a concrete surface, a tap (with potable water) and bin. I didn’t see any power points. Firewood was available for free, and some was waiting for us at the site, but it was a short walk of about 100m down the road to get more wood if you wanted it.

The ground was red sand, super soft and raked free of rocks, so sleeping on this was absolutely fine. If I had to pick a fault, it was that we could hear the kids at campsite no.5 next door who were screaming pretty loudly the first night. Luckily, that family was gone after one night. In terms of wildlife, we saw a genet on a tree by our site, heard a baboon pacing around our tent one night and lots of birds but there were no mozzies.

The toilet block contained four “bathrooms” for four campsites – but each “bathroom” was exclusive to each campsite. None had doors, which was a little awkward. However, all were sort of open up the top for circulation so all you had to do was yell out to make sure no one was inside before you walked in. The shower pressure was excellent and the water lovely and hot.

There was a circular, medium-sized plunge pool up on a hill close to the campsite. This was freezing – as are all pools in Namibia – but a welcome place to hang out on hot, sticky afternoons. There was also a restaurant at the lodge, but we didn’t eat there as we cooked all our own meals.

What attracted me to Waterberg aside from rhino tracking as an available activity was its walking trails. Knowing that I’d have been cooped up in an aeroplane for over 24 hours, I was keen to stretch my legs. Various well-marked trails allowed visitors to trek all around the reserve – we took the Dassie Trail. Just be mindful that distances are much longer than the maps suggest!

Rating: A

Comment: The campsite with the best facilities on our trip.