Since its establishment in 1989, the Waterberg Nature Conservancy has evolved into an important voluntary organisation in the Waterberg, advocating nature conservation and environmental protection, all the while educating its members and the community.
Conservation efforts protect not only the charismatic creatures the Waterberg is renowned for, but also precious ecosystems and vegetation types endemic to the region.
The vast basin plateau is dissected by numerous rivers, principally the Mokolo which rises in the southern hills and the Palala (Lephalala) which rises in the south-east.
The Waterberg is home to hundreds of bird species, of which 21 are threatened. The large rivers, streams and wetlands, cliffs and mountainous areas are important habitats for many game species.

Waterberg Nature Conservancy

Welcome to the new website for the Waterberg Nature Conservancy.

We hope that you will find all you need here - as a visitor or as a member.

The Waterberg Nature Conservancy (WNC) was established in 1989 as a voluntary organisation primarily seeking

To promote, conserve and protect the fauna, flora and wilderness areas, historical sites, river systems and natural heritage sites within the Waterberg;

To promote the awareness of environmental issues by way of education, research, sustainable utilisation and tourism; and

To promote the upliftment, education and needs of the people living and employed in Vaalwater and the greater Waterberg area.

Recent meetings have covered conservation and environmental topics such as - the ground hornbill conservation; elephant herd size management; fish in Limpopo Province, particularly the Mokolo and Phalala Rivers; the invasive pom-pom weed; groundwater; a screening of “An Inconvenient Truth”, and “The African Bushveld, A Field Guide from the Waterberg”.

Objectives of the Waterberg Nature Conservancy:

To promote, conserve and protect the fauna, flora and wilderness area, historical sites, river systems and natural heritage sites within the Waterberg Mountains
To promote the awareness of environmental issues by way of education, research, sustainable utilisation and tourism.
To promote the upliftment, education and needs of the people employed within the Conservancy and surrounding rural communities.
To promote, support or oppose legislation or other measures affecting the Conservancy and its members.
To represent its members in dealing with government departments, other authorities and the public generally and to do all such things as may be in the interests of the Conservancy.

Interests of the Conservancy:

Residential tourism development
Application of the EIA guidelines prepared by the WNC
Land claims in the area
Municipal Property Rates
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
Community driven projects e.g. Telekishi Walking Trail, financially supported by the WNC
SMS transmitted fire warning system

The Waterberg's Own Copper Butterfly

Google Earth Inspires Rediscovery of Lost Butterfly Species

A South African butterfly species that lepidopterists feared had gone extinct more than a decade ago has been rediscovered after a search on Google Earth revealed a habitat much like the insect’s former home. That tip refocused a stalled search for the lost species that had not been seen since the mid-1990s.

Raptor Populations and Nesting

In order to monitor and assess population trends in raptors, Joseph Heymans, LEDET Biodiversity Officer based in Modimolle, is compiling a database of raptor nesting sites in the Waterberg.

Can Alien Vegetation Help Alleviate Poverty?

We often talk about the importance of eliminating alien vegetation in the Waterberg and beyond. Here below is my edited version of an article in Science and Development Network about a very technical study published in Ecology Letters.